International Rotations Dublin Arrival

18-APR-2014

International Rotations Dublin Arrival

Written by: Lucy Adkins

This month, two groups of two students are visiting Ireland. Emily Sorah and myself our doing an exchange with the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland (RCSI). Matt Hensley and Sean Smithgall are doing an exchange at Cork University in Cork, Ireland. This picture was taken on our first day in Dublin in front of the university with Mr. John Hayden, who is a faculty member at the school of pharmacy.

Emily and my rotation is set up similar to how we would have a rotation at ETSU. We are visiting four different pharmacy sites and learning the differences in each. The first week, I was placed at Dargons Pharmacy, which is an independently owned pharmacy. The pharmacy was very unique in that it works closely with the methadone clinic, Simon Community Needle Exchange, physician offices in the area, as well as a nearby Salvation Army which has many homeless long-term tenants.

There were many differences, but overall, many things were also the same. Some of the most interesting differences were that they dispensed methadone (which was a green sticky liquid), daily to about 40 patients that came in. Their dose was measured out into cups the day before and the pharmacist was responsible for supervising them taking the doses. Most of the patients who were on methadone, were previously heroin addicts.

The patients are either 'private-pay' or 'medical-card'. Patients qualify for the medical-card due to low income. Unlike in the United States, patients did not have medical or prescription insurance. Patients have a general practitioner (GP) that is responsible for their care. They get paid a flat fee per year for the patient, not per visit or service.

The week at Dargons was extremely interesting for me as well as them. I talked to the pharmacists and technicians back and forth about many differences. I think we all had a really good time learning from each other.

Next week, I will be at Saint John of Gods private psychiatric hospital. Emily spent last week there and found it very interesting!

Over the weekend, Emily and I took a train to Cork to visit Matt and Sean. We hope to post some pictures soon of our trip to the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone! We all got excited when we went into the 'Poison Garden' where they had opium poppy, deadly nightshade (atropa belladonna), foxglove (digitalsis), and black cohosh.