Pharmacy Hero: Pharmacist Provides Culturally Competent Care to Non-English Speaking Patients

Today, we’re celebrating Edris Kosar, PharmD, founder and owner of Banadir Pharmacy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. About 80% of the pharmacy’s patients are non-English speaking new immigrants, and Kosar said they typically enjoy coming into the pharmacy and having in-person consultations with the staff. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created obstacles in providing these services.

“COVID-19 quarantine has presented a unique challenge to this demographic,” Kosar said in a message to Pharmacy Times. “In addition to the common anxiety, stress, and apprehension everyone is feeling, they cannot access their most trusted health care team.”

In order to alleviate some of those fears, Kosar and his team translated materials on COVID-19 into their patients’ native languages and posted them in the pharmacy windows, as well as attaching flyers to their prescription bags. They also printed a list of the most vulnerable patients and aim to call at least 5 patients each day to check on them. Finally, the team has increased their delivery services from 50% to 80%, including drivers who speak the patients’ languages and have gone through cultural competency training.

Pharmacy Times^® wants to celebrate the amazing pharmacy staff members who are on the front lines every day. Nominate someone in your pharmacy by emailing AAntrim@pharmacytimes.com with their name, position, and why they’re a hero!