By Barbara Lockard
As a student, Clay Miller delivered pizzas. As a pharmacist, he’s delivering prescription medications and providing screenings to his “customers.”
This accessibility to health care has a lot of similarities to providing pepperoni and mushrooms to hungry individuals.
“Pharmacists are actually the number one most accessible health care professional,” said Miller. “I started thinking about how convenient it is to order a pizza and wondered why we couldn’t do this with medications.”
In January 2020 Ohio Northern University’s HealthWise Pharmacy launched a prescription delivery service. Currently in the advertising/promotion phase of the program, HealthWise is encouraging local residents to take advantage of free delivery as well as medical screenings. Miller, who earned his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2019 from ONU, is currently serving a 12-month pharmacy practice residency.
Prescriptions are delivered on Wednesdays by Miller and another pharmacy resident Megan Stephan. They rotate schedules and collaborate on providing the best care for their patients.
“We are very similar to the HeathWise Mobile Clinics,” Miller added. He and Stephan offer blood pressure, glucose and lipid screenings and can even provide immunizations.
“We are more than happy to tailor each appointment to the patient’s needs.” While patients pay for medications, there is no charge for the pharmacist’s services.
HealthWise uses the concept of “layered learning,” on home visits, bringing students along if the patient gives permission.
“We want to offer comprehensive healthcare, not just little spurts,” Miller emphasized. “We will contact the patient’s physician and work together.”
While many people think of a pharmacist as the friendly face dispensing prescriptions in a retail setting, the profession is becoming very involved in patient care. Pharmacists now give immunizations, provide counseling on prescription medications, perform medical tests and even offer shoe fittings for diabetic patients.
HealthWise Pharmacy
HealthWise Pharmacy is the clinical enterprise of ONU’s College of Pharmacy. Healthwise has built relationships with the community, individuals and physicians. It’s an independent pharmacy that’s open to all area residents.
“Our purpose is to reach out and provide services that our community needs,” said Miller. He is also looking at barriers to health care in Hardin County. These are called the “social determinants of health” and can include socioeconomic status, transportation and level of education.
Miller grew up in Manchester, Ohio, near Akron. He initially came to ONU to play football and discovered that the University had a College of Pharmacy. “I joke that I came to Ada for the football but stayed for pharmacy.” In addition to his residency, he is currently advisor to Sigma Pi Fraternity and works with a campus multicultural organization, Brother to Brother.
Miller sees the role of pharmacists as constantly changing. Students entering the program are looking at a variety of opportunities, not just in healthcare but in private industry. A typical pharmacy class at ONU is 140-170 students and Miller assists with the student interview process.
If you’re interested in learning more about the prescription delivery program, or any service of HealthWise, call 419-772-3784.
