Emergency contraception
is topic of talk

The latest research on emergency contraception and an update on access to it in Hawaii will be discussed at a free workshop from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. April 7 at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children's second-floor auditorium.

Pharmacists, physicians, nurses, public health professionals, health policy-makers and others who are interested are invited. The workshop will focus on improved access to emergency contraception here and nationally.

The speaker will be Donald Downing, clinical associate professor, University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle.

Downing teaches students and pharmacists about contraception and has been an investigator in federally and privately funded research and pilot projects in the United States and elsewhere.

His major practice and interests have included development of the nation's first pharmacist-provided emergency contraception, ongoing hormonal contraception and immunization services administered by pharmacists.

He has been instrumental in coordinating policy and training work on emergency contraception access in Washington state and California, as well as in other states working on EC access.

Hawaii pharmacists are allowed to dispense emergency contraception through a collaborative agreement with a physician under a 2003 state law.

Gov. Lingle signed administrative rules to implement the law.

Early registration is requested for the workshop because of limited seating. Neighbor Islanders interested in attending by videoconferencing should contact Reyna Nakata, rnakata@kapiolani.org or 808-547-5907.

For additional information, call Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies at 951-5805 or e-mail kariw@hmhb-hawaii.org.

The forum is sponsored by the Hawaii EC Access Workgroup, Hawaii Pharmacists Association and Kapiolani Medical Center.