Marra Burr, Pharm.D. joins the Towncrest Pharmacy professional staff as our new Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. Dr. Burr is an Iowa City native and a 2009 graduate of the Drake University College of Pharmacy. She recently completed an Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at the Iowa City Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center with practice experience in anticoagulation, lipid management, geriatrics, medication management, pain management, behavioral health and primary care. Professional affiliations include the Iowa Pharmacy Association and American College of Clinical Pharmacists.

Grant Titterton, Pharm. D. joins the Towncrest Pharmacy professional staff as our new Pharmacy Resident. Towncrest Pharmacy partners with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy's "Community Pharmacy Care Residency" program which trains new pharmacy graduates in advanced topics in community pharmacy and pharmaceutical care. Grant is a graduate of the Drake College of Pharmacy and hails from Byron Illinois. He will be replacing outgoing resident Steve Wise, who accepted an academic position in Texas following his graduation from the residency program.

TOWNCREST PHARMACY RECEIVES ACCREDITATION, ILLUSTRATING ITS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT CARE

Towncrest Pharmacy, which also sells durable home medical equipment, has achieved the Award of Accreditation from the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation, based in Waterloo, Iowa. This award is achieved only when home medical equipment suppliers demonstrate a high level of quality practices in their business operations and patient care techniques. Towncrest Pharmacy earned the three-year accreditation after completing a comprehensive application that focuses on patient care, financial stability, and a commitment to quality operational practices and procedures. Accreditation by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation assures Medicare and other payers that the highest levels of quality are practiced within all areas of the company.

“We sought accreditation by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation to demonstrate that our company is committed to providing excellent patient care and safety in a financially solvent environment,” says Michael Deninger, President of Towncrest Pharmacy. “This award also reinforces that our commitment to quality is ongoing.”

Towncrest Pharmacy Launches TakeAway™ Program for Consumer Drug Disposal

In response recent news articles about the improper disposal of medications and their contamination of ground water, Towncrest Pharmacy is now offering a new medication take-back program. TakeAway is a statewide program utilizing community pharmacies as take-back sites for Iowans to safely dispose of unused or expired medications that may be dangerous to others and to the environment if not disposed of properly.

“As members of the community, pharmacists are in a prime position to ensure the safe and proper handling of medications, from dispensing to disposal,” said Randy McDonough, co-owner at Towncrest Pharmacy. “Unused or expired medications pose risks to our families, communities, and the environment.”

The Office of National Drug Control has found that prescription drugs are the drug of choice among 12- and 13-year olds, while a third of all new abusers of prescription drugs were between the ages of 12 and 17. Consumers are disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the drain, adding pharmaceutical pollution to our water supplies. In addition, medicines thrown in the trash can end up in landfills if not first picked up by children, pets, or anyone rummaging through trash.

Randy McDonough is a member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association which launched TakeAway in partnership with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy on November 1st. TakeAway provides a consumer drug disposal option for unused and/or expired medications to be incinerated in a waste-to-energy destruction facility. By working together, pharmacists across the state of Iowa hope to make a difference for the environment and our communities through TakeAway Environmental Return System.

For more information on TakeAway, including a list of acceptable and non-acceptable items, please visit our TakeAway program page or visit the Iowa Pharmacy Association's page at www.iarx.org/takeaway.

The Concern with Expired and Unused Medicines

All medications will eventually expire. When casually dumped in the trash or flushed down the toilet, these drugs can make their way to our waterways and into the soil, even sometimes into our drinking water. Scientists have just recently begun examining the effects of certain drugs on wildlife and ecosystems. The safest approach is a cautious approach.

From another point of view, drugs that are not discarded properly can end up in the wrong hands or paws. Prescription drug abuse is a current issue in the U.S and some are willing to go to great lengths for access to the drugs they want. Animals, including, household pets, can accidentally consume medications left in the garbage unless steps are taken.

Luckily, the DEA and other environmental groups have issued guidelines on how to dispose of unused/expired medications. Keep reading to learn more.

Recommendations from Credible Organizations
The American Pharmacist Association and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service list 4 small steps that can make a huge difference:

1) DO NOT FLUSH unused medications. This is no longer the best option, due to recent data showing that drugs could be having a negative impact on the environment. *There are several exceptions to this rule, however, listed at the bottom of the page.

2) When tossing unused medications, protect children and pets from the potentially negative effects. Put medications in a sealable plastic bag. Crush solid medications or dissolve them in water (simply pour in liquid medications), and mix with kitty litter, saw dust, coffee grounds, or a non-appealing material. Seal the bag and dispose of in your trash. Your trash should end up in a properly lined landfill to prevent any substance from leaking into the earth and our waterways.

Remove and destroy all identifying personal information from the drug container. Recycle or throw out the container.

3) Check for approved local collection programs or hazardous waste facilities. Local programs are a great and easy way to dispose of drugs in the best possible way. Johnson County has a waste disposal facility that accepts most medication waste. Call them if you have any questions. (Info on other side)

4) Talk to your pharmacist. Pharmacists are medication experts and should be able to help figure out the best disposal method for your specific case

Storage

Correct storage ensures your medicines will last as long as possible. Talk to your pharmacist about the correct way to store your prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

If you are taking your expired or unused drugs to a take-back program, make sure to store the medications in a proper location in the mean time. Locked or hard-to-reach cabinets are good options.

Johnson County Hazardous Waste Collection Facility

319-356-5185

3900 Hebl Avenue SW

Iowa City, IA 52240

About 2 miles west of the city on Melrose Ave

Drop-offs are by appointment only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 7am–1 pm. Free for any Johnson County, Kalona, or Riverside residential customer! They also accept sharps if in proper sealed container (ie, detergent bottle) Website fall one line): http://www.icqov.org/default/

*Medications that SHOULD be flushed

Medications should be flushed only if the prescription labeling or insert states that it should be. Usually these drugs are powerful analgesics at danger for aversion. A handful of drugs that the FDA recommends be flushed down the toilet include:

• Actiq (fentanyl citrate)
• Daytrana Transdermal Patch (methylphenidate)
• Duragesic Transdermal System (fentanyl)
• OxyContin Tablets (oxycodone)
• Avinza Capsules (morphine sulfate)
• Baraclude Tablets (entecavir)
• Reyataz Capsules (atazanavir sulfate)
• Tequin Tablets (gatifloxacin)
• Zerit for Oral Solution (stavudine)
• Meperidine HCI Tablets
• Percocet (Oxycodone and Acetaminophen)
• Xyrem (Sodium Oxybate)
• Fentora (fentanyl buccal tablet)

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