Photo By Staff Sgt. Shannon Braaten | Tech. Sgt. Anthony Iannicello, 8th Health Care Operations Squadron, pharmacy NCO in...... read more read more
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KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The Air Force’s success as a fighting force is dependent on the capability of Airmen to withstand the physical rigors associated with combat and other military operations. Pharmacies fill a vital role in that task — supplying medication that is essential to effectively treat ailments and maintain a healthy and ready force.
It’s the pharmacies mission to screen, package and distribute medication to patients, ensuring they are prescribed the correct dosage to treat their ailment. Working behind-the-scenes, the Airmen assigned to the 8th Healthcare Operations Squadron within the 8th Medical Group pharmacy ensure the Wolf Pack is fit to fight, one medication at a time.
One such individual providing care to the Wolf Pack is Tech. Sgt. Anthony Iannicello, 8th HCOS pharmacy NCO in charge.
“Airmen can’t complete the mission without our support,” said Iannicello. “We provide that support through distributing medication and maintaining their health so they’re able to fight and deploy as early as possible.”
The difficult task of ensuring the Air Force’s greatest weapons system remains in peak form rests on the shoulders of all medical personnel stationed at Kunsan AB, but with over 2,000 military personnel, this can be daunting. Thankfully, the pharmacy team is up for the challenge, Iannicello said.
“My team is always ready,” said Iannicello. “They’re amazing medics with a lot of experience. Everything's challenging, but they embrace it with a certain excitement — which makes it even more fun.”
Always ready for a challenge, the pharmacy team offers more than medications. Through various unique programs, they assist in improving quality of life for Airmen on base. Among them, walk-in treatment for acute issues expedited by a pharmacist after a brief visit, smoking cessation and assisting Airmen with translating and filling prescriptions from off-base providers.
In addition to that, the pharmacy supports Agile Combat Employment via the creation and maintenance of medication kits. The ACE medical kits are curated to the specifications of independent duty medical technicians who offer medical care in the absence of a medical provider.
“These pre-made kits would have all the medications an IDMT would need in order to take care of their patient population while deployed,” Staff Sgt. Marco Cayago, 8th HCOS pharmacy technician. “Receiving medications would be one of the few, if not the only patient care that's available to deployers while on deployment and if we can help them alleviate their ailments then we'll be more than happy to support.”
Whether it's providing medication for troops down range or just a simple refill, the pharmacy provides expert medical support, while offering a personable touch.
“It’s fulfilling being able to help people when they come in,” said Iannicello. “The pharmacy is usually the last stop on their trip to the medical group — which might not be a great one depending upon what's happened in their lives. When I can, I try to provide that support and help, through just being there and building that last bit of support for them so they know that it's really gonna be okay.”
| Date Taken: | 10.18.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.18.2022 21:07 |
| Story ID: | 431604 |
| Location: | BUSAN GWANG'YEOGSI [PUSAN-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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