The Half-Hour Health initiative founded by the Eta Chapter of the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a series of thirty minute presentations delivered by student pharmacists at community senior centers around the Madison, Wisconsin area. Student pharmacists have delivered presentations on the topics of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, heartburn, asthma, sleep changes with age, health and disease screenings, and health promoting lifestyle modifications. The Half-Hour Health programming aims to provide older adults with relevant information necessary for appropriate management of their health conditions and the medications used to treat them. The content of the presentations focuses on self-management of the health condition being discussed and strategies for participants to use that can prevent or slow the progression of the condition.
As a new initiative for the Rho Chi chapter and the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy, we have been able to provide a valuable service to the community in a short amount of time. Since the program’s creation in September 2014, 22 of the 28 Rho Chi members have prepared and delivered 15 presentations in which over 75 individuals have been in attendance. Our efforts have also led to a partnership with the Area Agency on Aging of Dane County, an organization dedicated to providing information and assistance in accessing services that help older adults remain independent.