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UA pharmacy intern saves patient's life

Posted at 5:26 AM, May 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-25 12:58:51-04

A University of Arizona pharmacy call center intern has saved a patient's life.

Andrew Garcia, a UA pharmacy student who recently graduated with a doctoral degree, saved a diabetic patient's life over the phone. He gave the woman a full review of her medications over the phone, and realized she was suffering from hypoglycemia. 

The call center frequently responds to medical emergencies.

"A couple minutes into the call I noticed that something was off, because the patient kept asking me to repeat what I was saying and it sounded like she was very out of it," Garcia said in a statement. "I realized that the situation could have ended very badly had we not been fortunate enough to be doing a medication review with this patient at just the right time."

Garcia reported the issue to superior Jenny Bingham, who relayed the call to police. Officers found her unconscious on the floor and treated her for the condition.