Keynote speaker Leana Wen, MD, shared a statistic with the audience at the 2017 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco during her address at the Second General Session. She said that 80% of the time, it’s the patient’s story that determines his or her diagnosis.

As pharmacists increasingly provide patient care services, listening to the patient is a significant part of how pharmacists and all health care providers can improve care.

“Ultimately, it’s about preserving the dignity and respect of people,” said Wen. “No matter how difficult your day has been, the work we do is bigger than each of us.”

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It’s an “everything on the line” day in Washington for Republicans and American health care. All week long, a scramble to the vote, promised by the GOP for years, to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare. On the very eve of the vote, House Republicans did not have the votes – their own votes – to do it. The home stretch today, a wild scramble. The horse-trading and trade-offs, hugely consequential for the American people. This hour On Point, the House and your health care. — Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Noam Levey, national health care correspondent for the Lost Angeles Times. (@NoamLevey)

Mary Agnes Carey, partnerships editor and senior correspondent covering health care reform and federal health policy for Kaiser Health News. (@maryagnescarey)

Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner and emergency room physician. (@DrLeanaWen)
 

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As a physician who has treated patients in the emergency department before and after the Affordable Care Act was instituted, I have seen firsthand how it has transformed the lives of many of my patients. And as the health commissioner for Baltimore city, I have seen how it has safeguarded the lives of more than 40,000 residents in my city, and millions more around the country, who would otherwise be uninsured.

Created in 2010, this is the first federal funding source dedicated to public health. It directly empowers communities to prevent chronic conditions and helps local jurisdictions be more agile in responding to health crises while reducing long-term health costs.

More specifically, these funds are used to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions that are major causes of death in the United States. The fund also provides support for cities to prevent disease outbreaks, ensuring that our nation is prepared to face developing threats such as bioterrorism and Ebola and other infectious diseases.

Through the ACA, the Prevention and Public Health Fund accounts for nearly one-seventh of the budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — approximately $1 billion a year.

Read the entire op-ed by Dr. Wen. 

Leana Wen, MD, MSc, believes pharmacists and all health care providers can impact individual patient care. During the Second General Session at the 2017 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco, Wen, who is currently Baltimore City Health Commissioner, will talk about the importance of the patient’s story. She’ll share lessons about approaching patients in a more holistic way to provide the best care possible.

In addition to her current role in Baltimore, Wen is also a Rhodes Scholar, TED speaker, and author of the book When Doctors Don’t Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests. Wen spoke with pharmacist.com in the lead-up to her keynote, which will take place on Sunday, March 26, about her experience working with pharmacists and what she hopes the audience will take away from her address.

Read the entire interview.