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Board to expand public education on pharmacist consultations, translation access and AI risks
Summary
The board added objectives to promote public awareness of pharmacist‑provided consultations, recommended expanding translation supports for consultations, and discussed a one‑page fact sheet to warn patients about health misinformation from AI tools.
The California State Board of Pharmacy said on June 10 it will expand communication and education efforts to highlight the value of pharmacist‑provided consultations and to improve translation access for patients.
The communication and public‑education committee recommended creating materials that explain when and how to consult a pharmacist, partnering with community organizations and disease‑focused groups, and coordinating consultation outreach across committees. Members emphasized the value of direct engagement with patient communities and the need to coordinate messaging for multilingual audiences.
On translation, the board reviewed legal requirements that pharmacies provide interpreter services at no cost while they are open and display pointer‑language notices. Members discussed technological options—tablet‑based interpretation—for patients with hearing loss, and cautioned that lay or family translators may introduce clinical inaccuracy. Several members suggested testing or certification for staff translators rather than relying solely on ad hoc interpretation.
Members also asked staff to develop simple public-facing materials about the accuracy risks of artificial‑intelligence tools that patients might use for medication information. The committee described AI risks (automation bias, hallucinations, lack of patient‑specific clinical context) and proposed a short fact sheet advising patients to consult pharmacists for personalized guidance. The board flagged accessibility, cultural and generational differences in how patients use AI and emphasized pursuing accessible outreach channels.
Separately, staff reported current social‑media activity (X account, ~1,030 followers) and members discussed expanding platforms (for example, LinkedIn) while seeking Department of Consumer Affairs guidance on guardrails and two‑way engagement. Members asked staff to report follower counts by platform and to develop a communications plan that balances reach, accessibility and compliance with open‑meetings and other rules.
