Tele-Patient: audiovisual education in the pharmacy.

T he Tele-Patient series of "on-the-counter" patient education films produced for use in the pharmacy by A-V Scientific Aids in cooperation with APhA has been on view in several national al}d regional pharmacy chains and in many community pharmacies for the past two years. "Although only 10 of the films produced so far were tailored specifically for pharmacists, we've found that pharmacists are ordering other films in the series, dealing with such medical topics as hypertension, dig-italis, diabetes, food allergy, dermatology , and bee and wasp stings," a spokesman for A-V Scientific Aids reported. _ APhA' s involvement in the project came about in response to mem-bers' requests for patient education devices that would supplement pharmacists' counseling in a cost effective manner (American Pharmacy April 1979, p. 44). The four-minute pharmacy patient education films, packaged in cassettes for use with a LaBelle projector, cover such topics as the dangers of mixing alcohol and drugs, the proper use of nitroglyc-erin and antibiotics, drug management of hypertension, safe use of ore drugs, drug product selection, patient profiles, generic drugs, and administering eye, ear and. nose drops. The Tele-Patient system readily becomes an integral part of a phar-macy' s patient education program and of the image that the pharmacy presents to the community, according to Marvin Faeges of Ohio Rexall Drug in Cleveland. "In the past two years, the films have become part of the practice-if the projector is not working, it's a discernible loss, something like the typewriter not working," he maintained. "It lets the patients know that the pharmacy is information-or-54 iented, not simply product-oriented-that it is an information system where they can get the tools to become involved as partners in their health care." In Faeges' pharmacy, the film is presented in an open area in front of the prescription counter, facing a bench where the waiting patient can sit and view the program. "We try to orient the cassettes to the individual patient's treatment, to let the patients think about their condition and its treatment, and to encourage them to become active partners," Faeges said. The programs make them aware, for instance ce, of any unusual reactions to the medication and encourage them to communicate with the pharmacist. When a new patient first comes to have a perscription filled, he or she receives a patient profile, explained. by the pharmacist on duty or by a clerk, and then views …