From Arrival to Aisles: Pharmacy Support for Newcomers

 

The Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health and doctors from the University of Minnesota presented a helpful overview and case study information to help pharmacists and providers address common medication challenges when caring for newcomers. 

Topics include:

• The triple trauma paradigm and trauma informed care 
• Building trust and understanding in western medicine practices
• Addressing potential misunderstandings though patient education
• Potential issues with as-needed medications
• Potential issues with chronic medications
• Working as a provider-pharmacy team
• Making every encounter an opportunity to educate
• Educating using prescription bottles
• Educating using pictures & videos
• Educating using teachback
• Educate using talking labels, translated labels, stickers, language line, pill boxes.

Recording

From Arrival to Aisles: Pharmacy Support for Newcomers (YouTube)

Slides

From Arrival to Aisles: Pharmacy Support for Newcomers (PDF)

ToolKit:

Improving Well-Being for Refugees in Primary Care: A toolkit for Providers
https://healtorture.org/improving-well-being-for-refugees-in-primary-care-a-toolkit-for-providers/

 

 

October is Medication Label Safety Awareness Month

October is Medication Label Safety Awareness Month.  Head over to the campaign landing page to get resources and ideas on how to get involved in this year's campaign. https://mailchi.mp/envisionamerica/mlsa2025 

The overall theme this year is "Medication Labels are not one size fits all" with weekly themes emphasizing a particular kind of accessible prescription label.   

• Week One (Oct 1-4): Medication labels are not one size fits all!
• Week Two (Oct 5-11): This label is too small! - Font Size Matters
• Week Three (Oct 12-18): I like texture! - Braille Labels Feel Great
• Week Four (Oct 19-15): Is this label too loud? - Adjustable Sound & Video
• Week Five (Oct 26-31): Lost in Translation? Not anymore! 

Medication Labels Are Not One-Size-Fits-All

 

 

 

Equitable Healthcare Through Language Access in Kansas

Earlier this year Alce Su Voz published "Enhancing Infrastructure for Equitable Healthcare Language Access Services in Kansas." This white paper gives insight into the current state of language access in Kansas hospitals and proposes several actions that state agencies.  Its suggestions and framework on how to improve language access in Kansas serves as a model for other states as well.

Here are some of the suggestions:

• Support development of institutional language access policy and procedures
• Provide reimbursed for interpreting services that are not covered under the MCOs,
• Assess the accessibility and quality of the interpreting services funded by the MCOs
• Gather data on needs and demographics using local health departments
• Create culturally-responsive educational materials
• Promoting the availability in the community of language access services at health
• fairs and community events
• Educate healthcare providers on the unique needs of specific cultural and linguistic groups present in their region
• Oversee state Medicaid and contracted MCOs compliance with the new Section 1557 regulations including Section 1557 coordinators, information in the top fifteen languages, and providing qualified interpreters.
• Expand outreach to Medicaid enrollees about the availability of language services
• Provide financial support for interpreter training and certification
• Programs to build a statewide workforce of qualified interpreters so jobs stay local,
• Ensure language access for speakers of less common languages and dialects

Read the full white paper and learn more about Alce Su Voz, their work, and resources here:
https://alcesuvoz.com/2025/02/26/read-our-white-paper/