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Allergy Season Especially Challenging for Patients with COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease, characterized by a gradual loss of lung function. The airways in the patient's lungs are blocked, and breathing takes more effort. The American Lung Association of Ohio estimates that 110,719 adults in Franklin County (10% of the county's population) have COPD. Allergy season is especially difficult for these individuals. There is no cure, but with proper medication and disease management, patients can maintain an active lifestyle.

 

Unfortunately, not all of them are getting the treatment they need. While COPD affects approximately 20% of the U.S. adult population, a study conducted in 2000 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only about 10 million (63%) American adults afflicted with COPD were under a physician's care. This means that over 6 million people suffer with the disease without proper medical care or access to rehabilitation services.

 

For our patients with COPD, the main deterrent to effective treatment is financial. All of our patients live at or below 200% of the poverty level (annual income of or less than $23,540 for 1 individual; $48,500 for a family of four). For them, the $400 to $600 a month needed to purchase inhalers is not an option. That's where we come in. Every day, we help patients obtain the inhalers they need at no cost and offer regular visits (usually monthly) to ensure their proper use.


Time to Quit? We Can Help!
Smoking Cessation Program

The Breathing Association states that tobacco use is to blame in over 85% of lung disease cases, and Ohio had the third highest cigarette-smoking rate, 27.6% for adults, among all 50 states in 1999.The prevalence of current smokers in Franklin County is 21.7% (232,521 persons). 

 

The CPCO Smoking Cessation program was launched in February 2015 to provide underserved patients with the tools and resources necessary to empower them on the journey to smoking cessation success. By providing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) at no cost as well as biweekly motivational counseling and support by our pharmacists and student-pharmacists, patients develop the confidence and skills required to stop for good. 

 

Once a patient is enrolled, he or she works with the pharmacist or student pharmacist to identify triggers, develop plans of action to work through those triggers, and set goals for the next visit.  A 14-day supply of NRT is dispensed and the patient follows up and sets new goals at every refill.  Patients receive reminder telephone calls to ensure proper use. Success is measured by active participation in each counseling session, reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked, and the ultimate endpoint: reaching a nonsmoker status, defined as self-reported abstinence from tobacco for at least 24 hours.  

 

2015 FORE Christ Golf Tournament:
On the Green to Raise Some Green
Tourney Organizer Ron Eppley (right) and Executive Director Allan Zaenger take a break from the action at the 2014 event.
Golf Tourney Tees Off on July 25, 2015

For the fourth year in a row, Lord of Life Lutheran Church has named the Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio its official charity for the FORE Christ Golf Tournament. 100% of all proceeds raised will go to help uninsured and underinsured individuals in Franklin County get the medicine they need. 

Please plan to join us in July. You can  email us here if you are interested in playing, sponsoring a hole for $100, or donating a raffle prize. See you on the course!

Texas String Scramble
Chapel Hill Golf Course
Mt. Vernon, Ohio

Registration 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Dinner following golf

Prizes
Scramble Winner
Longest Drive
Shortest Drive
Closest to the Pin

Since 2010 ...
4,250 unique patients qualified for services

202,000 prescriptions dispensed 

$17 million in market value of pharmacy services and medicines  
We rely on volunteer pharmacists to supplement our professional staff. If you are interested in donating your time, please  email us

 

Thank You!

In addition to gifts of cash, we benefit from a variety of in-kind gifts and services to help us meet our mission. 

 

While we cannot accept donations of medicine or medical supplies from the public, we often receive office supplies and gifts for our patients like hats and hygiene kits.

 

Thank you to all of our   in-kind donors from January 2014 to present.

 

AstraZeneca

Capital Choice

Carroll Charities

Church of the Messiah:     Pamela Bertram &   United Methodist Women

Direct Relief

Dispensary of Hope

Holly Fahey

Lord of Life Lutheran         Church: Affirmation Class & Parents

Merck

OhioHealth

Omnicare

Pfizer

PharMerica

West Ohio Conference of the UMC

 

If you are interested in donating items, please email us here

 

Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio
200 E. Livingston Ave
Columbus, OH 43215
charitablepharmacy@gmail.com
phone: 614-227-0301
Fax: 614-227-0387