Rx Response moves to alert status in response to Ebola, provides resources to retail pharmacy
WASHINGTON — Rx Response on Friday moved to alert status in response to the concern about Ebola in the United States, the organization announced.
Rx Response has urged members of the pharmacy community to provide a calming and educated voice in the community by reminding patients that that risk of Ebola infection here in the United States is very low. Rx Response also is urging pharmacists to remind people that there are many other endemic diseases and conditions that are far more likely to have similar symptoms to acute Ebola infection, such as influenza. On this front, Rx Response has urged pharmacists to reinforce in this Ebola environment the importance of people protecting themselves for the upcoming flu season by getting a flu shot.
In response to the need for information, Rx Response has developed a number of resources for community pharmacists, owners and retail pharmacy staff. Specifically, Rx Response has developed:
An Ebola Resources webpage;
Guidelines for pharmacists;
Guidelines for independent and small chain pharmacy owners; and
A new blog, “What can be done across the health care community to best respond to infectious diseases like Ebola?”
Rx Response also has responded to a number of public and private sector requests for information, including questions from pharmacists on what to do with a sick patient in the pharmacy.
Rx Response is a charitable non-profit with members comprising the bio-pharmaceutical supply chain whose mission is to help ensure the continued flow of medicine during times of emergency.