“I love what I do,” she says. “I love working here at the clinic and helping patients.”
Growing up in Winchester, Virginia, used to do the rounds with her grandmother at the nursing home where she worked as a nurse.
“She would give medicine to the patients and she would introduce me as her granddaughter to them, which was really nice” Corey remembers fondly.
Then in 10th grade, she met a pharmacist, who noted that this field could allow women to have a family, and balance a home and work life.
Those two things, as well as the fact that she was “really good at science and math,” led Corey to pursue pharmacy studies at Virginia Commonwealth University before becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn of School of Pharmacy.
Today, she’s the Pharmacy Director at , where she’s worked for the past 15 years, dispensing all types of medications, help, and advice to the patients.
Giving shots to take away the fear
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications and inform patients about the drugs and their use.
But for Corey and the four pharmacy techs who work with her, the job also entails easing fears and giving injections when patients are too afraid to do it themselves.
For instance, she notes that many diabetic patients are sometimes unsure of how (or too afraid) to inject insulin when they are first prescribed the life-saving medication.
In those cases, she may do the shots herself.
“We can give them the first insulin shot,” she says. “We try to take away the fear they have.”
Some patients on Ozempic, a diabetes and weight-loss drug, “come in every week to get injected,” she adds.
Or they come in for help using their glucose monitors.
The idea for her is to help the patient in any way she can to make sure they stick to their medications.
Finish your prescription
Following a recommended prescription is essential if the patient wants to get better, especially if he/she is taking an antibiotic.
“If it’s an antibiotic, you finish it,” she emphasizes.
She explains that stopping the medication once you start feeling better can cause resistance.
“A few bugs may still be in your body and make you sick again and if you start taking it again, your medicine may not work or they (the bacteria) may become immune,” Corey says.
But if it’s something that you’re getting over the counter, such as the pain medication Tylenol, it’s OK to stop if you’re feeling better. “That’s why we often put, use as needed,” she says.
Patients should also consult with their pharmacist, or their doctors, if they notice any problems once they start taking a medication
“Some medications may upset the stomach for a few days as your body is gtting used to the medicine,” she explains, but if it persists much longer, “you have to stop it right away and talk to your doctor.”
Similarly, a few foods may affect the effectiveness of the medication, such as grapefruit juice, Corey notes.
Most medications can be stored at room temperatures, but there are exceptions, such as insulin.
For instance, Corey says that they usually dispense three bottles of insulin at a time, so she recommends that they keep the one they’re using at room temperatures and the other two in the refrigerator. This makes sure the insulin maintains the potency and efficiency and because “it’s less painful to inject them than when it’s cold,” she says.
Delivery Services
The mission of Clínica Romero is to be a one-stop shop where patients can be seen by a doctor and get their medicine within 30 minutes or less.
But if the medicine is not available right away or they need to special order it, they can also deliver it to the patient’s home.
The clinic instituted this service during the pandemic, but kept it after seeing how useful it was. Monday through Friday, they can deliver within an 8-miles ratio of the two branches where they have a pharmacy: the Marengo site in Boyle Heights and the Alvarado clinic in Pico-Union.
Corey emphasizes that somebody has to be at home to accept it. “We can’t leave it on the curb,” she says.
Patients from the other branches may also pick up their medication at those sites, as they deliver them there.
It’s all part of making things easier for the patients, and helping them get better, something Corey’s been doing for over 20 years.
She remembers one time when she took the blood pressure screening of a woman and discovered that it was so high, she immediately recommended she go to the emergency room, because she was at risk of having a stroke.
“She came back later and thanked us,” Corey says.
That’s the best part of what she does, knowing that she’s potentially saving people’s lives.
“I love what I do,” she says. “I love working here at the clinic and helping patients.”
RESOURCES
Clinica Romero Pharmacy Servics
Patients can call in for refills or questions at:
Alvarado site: (213) 201-2749
Marengo site: (213) 201-2750
Medicine Safety Tips
*Keep a list of all your medications
*Follow label directions
*Take medicine on time
*Consider using a pill organizer
*Store medications in a dry and secure place
*Don’t share medications with anybody
*Dispose of unused medications
Dr. Don García: “You should get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible”.
Write a Reply or Comment
You should Sign In or Sign Up account to post comment.