MSVF offers free antibiotic resistance prevention tools for physicians

November 2011

The Medical Society of Virginia Foundation (MSVF) has partnered with Anthem, the Virginia Department of Health and Get Smart Virginia to promote Get Smart about Antibiotics Week, Nov. 14-20. The groups work together to offer free Get Smart Virginia educational tools and resources to health care professionals and community organizations in Virginia.

Get Smart about Antibiotics Week began in 2008 in an effort to have a one week observance of antibiotic resistance and to:

• Educate parents and caregivers about the importance of appropriate antibiotic use
• Support health care providers in efforts to prescribe appropriately
• Support pharmacists to educate patients about appropriate antibiotic use and symptomatic therapy
• Encourage communication between parents and health care providers about antibiotics
• Attract community and media to increase the number and visibility of local media stories on the importance of appropriate antibiotic use for upper respiratory infections

With the Get Smart Virginia: Know When Antibiotics Work antibiotic resistance awareness campaign, MSVF and the Virginia Department of Health find ways to promote the message that antibiotics need to be used appropriately and judiciously. Based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, the organizations developed educational resources and tools that are used in physician offices, clinics, schools, pharmacies, daycare centers and other venues to educate the public about appropriate antibiotic usage. These materials have been distributed across the commonwealth.

To find some additional resources or to learn more about MSVF’s antibiotic resistance awareness efforts, please visit http://foundation.msv.org/wewash.