Yokota pharmacy ensures a mission-ready force

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen from the 374th Medical Group’s pharmacy here ensure Pacific Air Force’s most important weapon system -- its people -- are fit, healthy and mission-ready.

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play a key role in reducing medication errors and improving pharmacy practices. The nine-person team here includes eight Airmen and one Japanese pharmacist. They handled more than 84,000 prescriptions last year.

Medication dispensing errors are rare in the military because of the heavy emphasis on safety.

“It’s very important that we verify that the information on the prescription is complete and accurate,” said Master Sgt. Jazmina Blackmon, noncommissioned officer in charge of the pharmacy.

“Attention to detail is very important here or someone can get hurt,” said Maj. David Walmsley, the pharmacist in charge of the team.

Pharmacy Airmen also count patient education as one of their priorities.

“Our job is to provide information to patients about the medications they use,” Major Walmsley said. “We make sure that the drugs they’re taking today are not interacting with prescriptions they’ve taken before. Allergic reactions, serious illness or even death may occur if wrong drugs or dosages are given to patients.”

Sergeant Blackmon said having the correct medication is especially important for Airmen deploying to support worldwide operations. They are required to have a 90-day supply before they deploy. These medications can range from tablets, patches and ointments to controlled narcotics.

Tech. Sgt. Adrian Crumrine, a pharmacy technician, said the pharmacy stocks more than 800 different drugs. Although the pharmacy is well stocked, at times the logistics of being overseas can be a challenge. It can sometimes take up to two weeks to get medications in stock.

When this happens at military bases in the United States, family members can go to local pharmacies and buy medications using their Tricare insurance.

“We just can’t send patients to Wal-Mart to get their needed medications, but we will do our best to get it here as soon as we possibly can,” Sergeant Blackmon said.

Pharmacy Airmen also play an active role in the distribution and inspection process. The team refills automatic dispensing machines every day in the pharmacy and throughout the hospital. They also conduct periodic inspections of all drug storage areas, ensuring that drugs are authorized and not expired.

“Narcotics accountability is a big part of what we do here,” Sergeant Crumrine said. “We are responsible for every single drug in the entire medical group.”

Along with a lot of responsibility, the job also brings a lot of satisfaction.

“Seeing our patients get better is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world,” Sergeant Crumrine said.