The Value of a Local Pharmacist in a Patient's Life

Caroline Bernal-Silva, a patient spokesperson for National Blood Clot Alliance, discusses the value of her pharmacist in her life, and how she still uses a pharmacist that she grew up with.

Alana Hippensteele: Hi, I'm Alana Hippensteele from Pharmacy Times. Today, I’m speaking with Caroline Bernal-Silva, a patient spokesperson for National Blood Clot Alliance, on the value of a pharmacist. Caroline, what is the value of a pharmacist to you?

Caroline Bernal-Silva: The value of a pharmacist to me is they are one of the most critical pieces of our medical team. I personally still use a pharmacist that I grew up with I like to say you know we look around for our different medical professionals, we get second opinions, and why don't we do that with our pharmacists because they are such a key piece to our medical story I feel very comfortable going to this farm system in particular because I've grown up with him he has seen me through all 11 years of my anticoagulation, and it's just a core piece to my medical team. And, Alana, it happens to be my birthday.

Alana Hippensteele: Happy birthday!

Caroline Bernal-Silva: Thank you. Guess who was the first person to text me?

Alana Hippensteele: Tell me!

Caroline Bernal-Silva: My pharmacist!

Alana Hippensteele: Oh, that's amazing, that's wonderful.

Caroline Bernal-Silva: There's a piece to our medical to our life our story especially if you're on lifelong anticoagulation and so there is a lot of value to having a pharmacist you work closely with.

Alana Hippensteele: Yeah, you mentioned this is the same pharmacist as when you were you were growing up, is that correct?

Caroline Bernal-Silva: Yeah.

Alana Hippensteele: That's amazing.

Caroline Bernal-Silva: He lives two hours away, so it takes a while to get to him. He mails me my medicine. But it's so great, it's just you have to have a good relationship with every part of your medical team. And like I said, the pharmacist is really at the core of that.

Alana Hippensteele: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today, Caroline.

Caroline Bernal-Silva: Thank you.