Where and How to Dispose of Medicines

Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy is an experienced pharmacist with a master of pharmacy and a master of science in pharmaceutical and healthcare marketing administration. For five years, Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy worked as a pharmacist at Present Express Pharmacy in Saginaw, Michigan. Besides selling medicine, many pharmacies are also authorized to collect unused, expired, or unwanted drugs.

When no authorized drug collection location is available, there are other ways to discard it. If the medicine is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) flush list, it must be immediately flushed in the toilet. Examples of drugs on the flush list are those with morphine, diazepam, oxycodone, and other ingredients. These medicines could be harmful to others, so it is essential to check before discarding them.

If the medicine is not on the FDA flush list, and there is no available drug take-back location, it is possible to discard them at home. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs in pills, drops, liquid, patches, and creams can be removed from their original containers and placed in the household trash mixed with something undesirable, such as dirt and used coffee grounds.

This mixture should then be thrown away in a closed container. If there is personal information in the original medicine packaging, it is indispensable to scratch it out before throwing it away as well.

MPF HPLA Program Trains Future Leaders in Pharmacy

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Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy is an experienced Michigan pharmacist with vast industry experience spanning more than 20 years. He is well versed in retail pharmacy practices and has an in-depth understanding of laws, standards, and regulations related to both new and existing drugs and formulations. In his present position, he serves as the pharmacist in charge at Express Pharmacy, where he ensures proper drug dispensing and counsels patients on how to use their medicine. Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy is a member of the Michigan Pharmacists Association.

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) supports its members with tools and resources they need to advance the pharmacy practice and offer quality health care services. The MPA promotes leadership development, provides continuing education opportunities, organizes conferences and meetings, and engages in advocacy. The Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF) is an initiative of the MPA that engages in numerous leadership initiatives such as the Health Professional Leadership Academy (HPLA). Established in 2012, the HPLA is a leadership program that equips practitioners with practical leadership skills in order to prepare them to become professional leaders in the future. The HPLA program includes online webinars, in-person workshops, and continuous mentorship facilitated by the academy faculty, leaders, and MPA staff.

Health care professionals from different backgrounds, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and other health care administrators, can enroll in the 9-month program. To date, over 100 graduates have successfully completed the program and become part of a growing body of leaders within the pharmacy and health care profession. Eligible professionals are required to dedicate 3-4 hours per month in order to prepare to take part in leadership discussions and webinars. Face-to-face workshops require participants to commit approximately 10-12 hours.

When to Consult with a Pharmacist

Portrait of a cheerful handsome pharmacist leaning on counter at drugstore.

After completing several degrees in pharmacology, Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy gained pharmacy experience as an intern with Rite Aid. Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy eventually held pharmacist positions with Rite Aid and Present Express Pharmacy. In these roles, he counseled patients on important information about their prescriptions and their conditions.

Pharmacists are knowledgeable and accessible health professionals who can provide essential medical information and services. There are many situations where consulting a pharmacist can supplement routine visits to a primary care doctor. For example, if a patient experiences severe side effects from a medication, the pharmacist should be alerted as soon as possible. He or she may be able to suggest treatments to manage symptoms.

Pharmacists should also be consulted if a customer needs to start a new medication to avoid dangerous drug interactions. In addition, pharmacists can also assist with other health-related issues, such as routine vital checks and immunizations. People who are having difficulty affording their prescriptions may also consult with a pharmacist to identify suitable generic replacements or connect to patient assistance plans.

Basic Rules for Playing Tennis

Tennis match which a serving player Free Photo

A resident of Saginaw, Michigan, Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy has served as a pharmacist at Present Express Pharmacy since 2010. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy enjoys a range of personal interests, including biking and playing tennis.

A game enjoyed around the world for centuries, tennis is a competitive sport played on a rectangular court with as many as four players, each using a racquet to hit a ball over a net. The goal of tennis is to earn points by landing the ball in the middle of the court with each shot, with four points needed to win a game.

The basic rules of tennis include avoiding getting a foot fault, which occurs when a player’s foot crosses the centerline or contacts the court, the sideline, or the baseline when serving. Players only have 25 seconds to make a serve after a point has been made.

Tennis players must also avoid having their arms cross over the net separate from the body when making a shot. Further, any shouting or grunting made during a shot that is deemed to have been done to intentionally cause a distraction is forbidden by the International Tennis Federation’s Hindrance Rule.

The MPA and Pharmacy Continuing Education Requirements

Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy is an experienced pharmacist who holds a master’s degree from Annamalai University in India. Currently, Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy serves as a pharmacist-in-charge at Express Pharmacy in Saginaw, Michigan. He also holds membership with the Michigan Pharmacy Association (MPA).

Since its founding in 1883, the MPA has advocated for the interests of pharmacy professionals in Michigan while advancing the quality of the profession and optimizing patient care. The organization’s non-student members, who include pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, are required to engage in continuing pharmacy education (CPE) to maintain licensure in the state.

The MPA partners with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to offer accredited continuing education activities for pharmacist and pharmacy technicians. Pharmacists are required to complete 10 hours of live continuing education credits in addition to 1 hour of pain and symptom management credits. Alternatively, pharmacy technicians can also obtain 5 hours of live CPE credits and 1 hour each in the areas of patient safety, pharmacy law, and pain and symptom management.

Credits obtained through MPA activities are reported through the CPE Monitor, an electronic tracking system required by the ACPE. For further information, visit http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/education/cerequirements.

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