NZSL Interpreters Take Medication management Services to the Deaf Community:
In my job I have the privilege of visiting people to discuss their medications. They share with me what they like and dislike about their medications, when they take them (or forget), and if they think they are working. I am also able to clarify what their medications do, strategies to remember taking them, and how to dispose of them once expired.
Talking to someone when you are unable to speak the same language is hard. I used to talk to one customer in an almost infantile manner – scribbling words on paper back and forth. I realised I had been giving medications to him for over 6 years at St Martins Pharmacy but had not had a proper conversation with him once. He kindly gave me permission to share his story.
An intelligent mid-life gentleman, Tyson McDonald holds down a job, is a supportive family member, is the manager of a successful Deaf rugby team and is involved in his faith community. Yet because NZSL is his first language, he faces barriers to accessing services that most of us take for granted.
I wondered how we could give the same level of service to Mr McDonald as hearing pharmacy customers receive. Soon afterwards I discovered that iSign can provide a NZSL interpreter to assist with communication. After arranging an appointment, the interpreter and I met Mr McDonald at his home for an hour to talk and sign about how he was using his medications.
We talked about how asthma is a potentially life-threatening inflammatory airway disease, and so it’s really important to use the preventer inhaler regularly to stop the airways getting scarred, swollen and inflamed. With this information, Mr McDonald decided to start using his preventer twice a day, instead of just when his breathing was a bit worse. We made an Asthma Action Plan setting out what medication to use when feeling good, when symptoms are severe and what to do in an emergency.
Mr McDonald told me of experiencing a persistent dry cough and so I asked his doctor to assess whether this was a side effect of his blood pressure pill, or due to only taking his preventer inhaler a couple of times a week.
Pharmacy records showed that his lipid-lowering medication was due to run out 3 months ago, so I contacted the doctor and confirmed that he is to continue this medication. We also synchronised his medications so they all run out at the same time, and clarified when and how often he takes them.
Mr McDonald has great motivation to keep healthy so he can continue to enjoy an active life. He chooses to eat healthily, avoids smoking, vaping and alcohol and is achieving his health and lifestyle goals – an example to us all.
Mr McDonald said it was highly valuable to have the assistance of the NZSL interpreter to help explain the medications and answer his questions.
The Medication Management Service (MMS) can improve people’s knowledge and use of medications. As the pharmacist has 45+ minutes to spend, you can ask questions about your medications that may not fit into your usual doctor appointment. If the pharmacist can’t answer your questions, they can contact your doctor for answers and reply to you.
If you are Deaf and would like to discuss your medication use, please ask your pharmacist (or Canterbury Community Pharmacy Group) for a free MMS visit* with an NZSL interpreter. It may be the first proper conversation you have with your pharmacist!
Joanne Poulson, Pharmacist