Developing Clinical Pharmacist-Authored COVID-19 News Items and Publications

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Discussions of COVID-19 therapeutic controversies dominate today’s news cycle. However, these discussions rarely feature clinical pharmacists. News anchors continue to report on the “doctors and nurses” who provide care for COVID-19 patients. But clinical pharmacists remain “invisible” healthcare professionals, largely out of the general public’s view. Clinical pharmacist-authored COVID-19 pieces can educate the public, political leaders, health care administrators, health professionals, and trainees. ACCP member Debra Goff, Pharm.D., FCCP, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at The Ohio State University of Pharmacy; and Infectious Diseases Specialist in the Department of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, engaged her hospital public relations team and local homeowners association in publishing informational pieces on COVID-19. She has also communicated with editors of pharmacy and medical journals, including JACCP, to determine options to fast-track COVID-19 papers. These papers are developed in collaboration with clinical pharmacy specialists in emergency medicine, critical care, and cardiology, and other clinicians/scientists. In addition, she has been quoted in public media news stories on cleaning your cell phone and germ-proofing plane seats. Through these efforts. Dr. Goff and colleagues are providing valuable education about COVID-19 while also raising awareness of the value of clinical pharmacists.