VA Stand Down

Each year, the Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) organizes the Veteran Affairs Stand Down at the San Diego High School Athletic Field to provide comprehensive services for homeless veterans over a three day period. 12 CSHP members volunteered their efforts to provide veteran patients with different pharmacy services such as medication reconciliation, medication counseling, hypertension screenings/education, and pharmacy management. 1st- 3rd year student pharmacists were able to sign up for multiple shifts and positions they were interested in, working alongside supervising pharmacists to assist the veteran patients. At the medication reconciliation tent, students interviewed patients and obtained thorough medication lists before they entered the medical tent. Volunteers stationed at the pharmacy were medication managers and helped with all areas of the pharmacy workflow. This included sorting medications, filling out paperwork, assisting patients with their questions and needs, and counseling patients on their non-prescription and prescription medications. A few volunteers also provided hypertension screenings and education to patients that wanted their blood pressure measured while they waited for their medications. The Stand Down provided a rewarding opportunity for student pharmacists to learn more about the San Diego Veteran community and observe different organizations coming together to provide veteran patients with the care and services they need.