News & Events

      The Myron E. Blough Memorial Scholarship, awarded to Allegany College of Maryland’s top pharmacy technician student each year, was recently presented to Amber Dean of Romney, WV. Also pictured are Richard Witt, right, a retired Cumberland pharmacist who teaches at the college, and John Balch of PharmaCare of Cumberland, where the late Blough last worked as a pharmacist. The Blough award helps the recipient defray tuition expenses as it recognizes outstanding achievement. The curriculum, which is completed in one semester of full-time study, prepares graduates to assist pharmacists in community, hospital and institutional pharmacies.

      Each year, thousands of children have eye accidents at home, at play or in the car. These eye injuries can damage a child’s sight and even cause blindness. Many common causes of eye injuries to children involve ordinary objects:

• Misuse of toys
• Falls from beds, against furniture or on the stairs;
• Misuse of everyday tools and objects (work and garden tools, knives and forks, scissors, pens and pencils)
• Contact with harmful household products (detergents, paints, glues)

      Be sure to always provide proper supervision, find and remove potential hazards to their vision, and practice good eye safety to be a good role model. At home, use safety gates at top and bottom of stairs. If objects have sharp corners, pad or cushion them. Put locks on cabinets and drawers that children can reach. Read all warnings and instructions on toys. Avoid toys with sharp edges or hard points, spikes, or rods. Be aware of items on the playground that are hazards. Keep children away from fireworks and sparklers.If you notice any of these signs or symptoms in your child, get medical help immediately.

• Obvious pain or difficulty seeing
• A cut or torn eyelid
• One eye does not move as well as the other
• One eye sticks out compared to the other
• An unusual pupil size or shape
• Blood in the eye
• Something in the eye or eyelid that can’t be easily removed.

      For more information, contact www.aao.org/eyecare or www.geteyesmart.org.

Pictured: Lisa Bohrer, RN,BC, Director of Wellness for PharmaCare, with the BRIDGE Preschooler

      This article was submitted by Lisa Bohrer, R.N.,BC, the director of Wellness, for the PharmaCare Network. She is available to speak on various health and wellness topics. For more information, contact her at 301-689-2909 or lbohrer@3ipc.com.

      Cumberland, MD – to increase convenience and access to postal services and products, residents in the Cumberland area have more choices when it comes to fulfilling their postal needs. A new Contract Postal Unit (CPU) opened at PharmaCare West, located at 64 Greene Street, Cumberland, MD 21502. A grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 12 at 11am.

      Customers can purchase stamps, mail letters and packages and purchase nearly all mailing services – including both domestic and international – at the same prices available at Post Offices. “A full line of postal products and services are available at the new CPU including postage stamps, Express Mail and Priority Mail services, packaging products, and much more,” says Cumberland Postmaster Edwin Turner. “The PharmaCare West location is another way we’re extending our services to our customers and making it more convenient to do business with us,” added Turner.

      Hours of operation at the new retail postal location are Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm, and Saturday, 9am to 1pm. The community is invited to attend the Grand Opening ceremony. For more information regarding CPU locations, please contact your local postmaster or CPU Coordinator Tammy Kenealy at 410-347-4616.

      “Make Fibromyalgia Visible” is the National Fibromyalgia Association’s theme for this year’s National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, officially observed on May 12. Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is designed to increase awareness and understanding of fibromyalgia a chronic pain disorder usually characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue and often psychological distress.

      To help with the public’s understanding of this common condition, The PharmaCare Network is hosting a free informational session at the Comfort Inn on National Highway in LaVale, MD on May 12th at 6 pm. Ali El-Mohandes, MD, a Pain Medicine Specialist and board certified Anesthesiologist, will be the speaker. Light refreshments will be served.

      Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex chronic pain illness that is recognized by the National Institutes of Health and the American College of Rheumatology. FM experts estimate that about 10 million Americans and approximately 3-6% of the population worldwide suffer with FM. While it is most common in women, the illness strikes men, women, and children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. For those with severe symptoms, FM can be extremely debilitating and interfere with even routine daily activities.

      For more information, contact Lisa Bohrer, R.N.,BC, Director of Wellness at PharmaCare of Frostburg at 301-689-2909 or e-mail her at lbohrer@3ipc.com.

      Calcium helps build strong bones. Between the ages of 10 to 18, is when a child makes the bone that must last a lifetime. Children must get enough calcium and exercise to reach this peak bone mass. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children who are:

• 1-3 years old get 500 mg per day (about 2 servings of milk)
• 4-8 years old get 800 mg per day (about 3 servings of milk)
• 9-18 years old get 1300 per day (about 4 servings of milk)

      Most children, especially teens, get much less than their recommended daily requirements of calcium. Milk is the food that is most often associated with being high in calcium. There are many other foods that are good sources of calcium. Some examples include:

• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Fortified soy milk, rice milk or goat's milk
• Calcium fortified orange juice
• Cooked dried white beans
• Dried figs
• Spinach
• Ice cream
• Instant oatmeal
• Oranges
• Sweet potatoes
• Broccoli

      Dark green, leafy vegetables, tofu, lentils, sardines and salmon are also good sources of calcium for children with a milk allergy. Another important way to keep children's (and your) bones healthy for the entire lifetime is through exercise. Weight bearing exercise is one of the most important things children can do right now to build bone mass and reduce the risk for osteoporosis later. Regular weight-bearing exercise such as jogging or jumping rope, can help people reach the best possible peak bone mass when they are young, and help keep that bone strength throughout life.

Pictured: Lisa Bohrer, R.N.,BC, Director of Wellness for PharmaCare, discusses the importance of strong bones with the BRIDGE Pre-Schoolers.

• Bleeding between menstrual periods
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse
• Bleeding after a pelvic exam
• Pelvic pain not associated with your menstrual cycle
• Increased urinary frequency
• Pain during urination.

There are two tests that can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early. The Pap test looks for precancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated. The HPV test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes. The Pap test is recommended for all women. Getting a Pap test regularly can find precancerous changes that can be treated so that cervical cancer is prevented.        The HPV vaccine (Gardisil) protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers. It is given in a series of three shots and is recommended for 11 and 12 year old girls and those 13 to 26 who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. Limiting your number of sexual partners, using condoms during sex and not smoking will also reduce your risk of cervical cancer.        For more information, contact the National Cervical Cancer Coalition at www.nccc-online.org. This article was submitted by Lisa Bohrer, R.N.,BC, the director of Wellness, for the PharmaCare Network. She is available to speak on various health and wellness topics. For more information, contact her at 301-689-2909 or lbohrer@3ipc.com.

Lisa Bohrer (left), R.N.,BC, director of wellness for PharmaCare, discussess cervical cancer screening with Leticia Shelton.

      The PharmaCare Network has the H1N1 Flu Vaccine available. The vaccine is FREE to everyone. PharmaCare Infusion offers on-site clinics for your organization or business at no cost. If you would like to schedule an appointment or on-site clinc, or have any questions please call PharmaCare Infusion Services at 301-723-2440 or e-mail them at mvalentine@3ipc.com.

      As noted by the CDC, supplies of the vaccines to protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus are increasing. The CDC is encouraging people who have been patiently waiting to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to get vaccinated now. Influenza is unpredictable, but flu is expected to continue for months, caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or regular seasonal flu viruses. This vaccine is the best way to protect against the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus. To view up-to-date information regarding the H1N1 vaccine, activity and other important facts and news go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

      PharmaCare’s newest retail pharmacy location is open to serve all customers – discharged patients, WMHS employees and the general public.

      Located on the main floor of the Medical Arts Center at the new Western Maryland Regional Medical Center – Willowbrook Road, Cumberland