Students from the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) are getting real-life experience assisting at COVID-19 screening events on the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus. The four testing events, held in the Vulcan Gym, are being conducted by Premier Medical Group and are open to the UH Hilo community and general public.
On August 21, several hundred people did the simple nasal swab procedure and are expected to receive their results by mail in three to five days. DKICP students assisted with collecting screening paperwork, checking vital signs, managing traffic flow and sanitizing all resources between each person.
Participating pharmacy students were Steve Aluoch, Marie Cidera, Kendrick Dalmacio, Tiana Enos-Dano, Jayden Kim, Tristan Magdalera, Analeslie Martinez, Madalyn McCaulley, Daijiro Oshitari and Tricia Stevens.
“I would absolutely go back and help out at another screening event,” said Stevens, a third-year DKICP student. “Volunteers are a valuable resource, especially during these uncharted waters. As the healthcare system works to solve the COVID-19 crisis, student pharmacists are able to step up and fill vital roles that make this process available to the community.”
Stevens underwent deep nasal swab testing twice and said the experience was swift and felt like a tickle deep into her nose. “The nurses were very comforting through the whole process,” she explained.
Upcoming COVID-19 testing is scheduled for September 18 and October 2.
—Story from the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy website.
