CPNP Participates in 2009 NAMI Annual Convention

For the fifth consecutive year, CPNP has participated extensively in the 2009 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Annual Convention held in San Francisco, California, July 6-9, 2009. The 2009 NAMI Annual Convention hosted 2200 consumers, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

According to Julie Kissack, PharmD, BCPP, NAMI Relationship Management Group Chair, attendees at the NAMI Convention are “always thirsty for any and all knowledge that our members can give them and they are so grateful and appreciative. Participation in this convention is incredibly rewarding as a result.”

CPNP contributed the following to the 2009 NAMI Convention.

  • Educational Programming: CPNP members Jessica Fung Galens, Charles Caley and Gene Makela presented a workshop entitled Staying on Your Medications: A Perspective from Pharmacy. What was scheduled as a 75 minute presentation, turned into a 2-hour presentation given the numerous questions from the audience.
  • Wellness Center: CPNP members provided 12 hours of one-on-one counseling to individuals concerning their questions on medications, medication interactions, side effects, and adherence strategies through the NAMI Wellness Center. The Wellness Center featured display tables with information and brochures about different topics related to health and wellness, as well as volunteers to offer one-on-one advice and coaching on these topics.
  • CPNP Booth: As a means to promote the profession and services of psychiatric pharmacists, CPNP members manned a CPNP booth for 19 hours during the Convention. Members assisting in manning the booth and visiting with consumers, family members and health professions included: Jessica Fung Galens, Jeanette Cavano, James Gasper, Chesi Ho, Patrick Finley, Michelle Twitty, Charlie Caley, Gene Makela and Julie Kissack.

Once again CPNP conducted a survey of attendees to learn more about their experience and perceptions of psychiatric pharmacists. Results included:

  • Less than 20% surveyed were aware that psychiatric pharmacists existed, however over 70% expressed an interest in learning more about psychiatric pharmacists.
  • Less than one-third surveyed had attended an educational session given by a pharmacist, yet nearly all felt this would be beneficial.
  • Websites most commonly utilized by those surveyed for medication information were WebMD, pharmaceutical industry product sites, the NAMI website at www.nami.org and Google.
  • One attendee commented “I think we need to consider the role of the pharmacist as another key partner in our support/treatment team.  There’s so much knowledge going to waste, and so many pharmacists are willing and wanting to be of service to us.” 

In an effort to providing service to consumers and caregivers, CPNP continues to conducts the following activities in partnership with NAMI:

The 2010 NAMI Annual Convention will be held at the Washington Hilton in DC, June 30 – July 4. CPNP anticipates continuing involvement in the Convention through many of the same activities as in 2009.

ABOUT CPNP
The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacist’s (CPNP) mission is to promote excellence in pharmacy practice, education and research to optimize the treatment outcomes of individuals affected by psychiatric and neurologic disorders by:

  • Facilitating the dissemination of information regarding psychiatric and neurologic pharmacotherapy, patient care and community support.
  • Facilitating programs in the areas of psychiatric and neurologic pharmacy at national meetings with organizations which support similar interests.
  • Improving care for patients with psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
  • Advancing the quality of research in the pharmacotherapy of psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
  • Supporting the Psychiatric Pharmacy Certification Exam process and programs preparing exam candidates.

If you are interested in membership or the Annual Meeting, please contact CPNP at:

 

College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists, 8055 O St., Ste. S113, Lincoln, NE 68510
402-476-1677 (phone/fax), info@cpnp.org, www.cpnp.org

 

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