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NACDS Supports Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s Innovative Project to Optimize Patient Care Community pharmacy based pilot helps expand pharmacists’ role in direct patient care services

admin2016-10-12T13:10:00-04:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Drug_Safety, Medications, States|

Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), in partnership with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, today announced plans to move forward with a new practice model to improve patient access to quality and efficient care, and advance pharmacy in a broader healthcare setting.

The innovative pilot project, “Advancing Community Pharmacy Quality: Leveraging Tech-Check-Tech to Expand Patient Care Services in Community Pharmacies,” aims to promote better access to patient care. Specifically, the pilot will examine a new practice model that fosters collaboration across healthcare settings and employs an enhanced operational model. This new practice model holds promise in transforming the nation’s healthcare system to deliver better access to clinical care by leveraging health care resources in a smarter way while ensuring patient safety and high operating standards.

Key component of this model involves trained and validated pharmacy technicians completing the final check of a prescription filled by another technician, a pharmacy technician verification process known as tech-check-tech (TCT). This process allows pharmacists to reinvest the time saved by providing direct patient care services such as immunizations, disease state testing and medication therapy management, among others, which has a positive impact on overall patient outcomes.

“NACDS is pleased to partner with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin on this project, which utilizes the full potential of pharmacists’ skills and shows great promise for improving patient access to care and healthcare outcomes,” said NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “Pharmacists are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for healthcare services, and this project provides a proving ground to demonstrate the collaborative role pharmacy is able to play in an evolving healthcare system.”

Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin Executive Vice President & CEO Christopher Decker, RPh, said, “The people of Wisconsin will benefit from greater access to patient care services and enhanced patient safety as a result of this pilot. The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin looks forward to partnering with community pharmacies as we implement and advance this exciting patient-care initiative.”

NACDS is supporting the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin with the pilot, which also includes collaboration with researchers from Concordia University. The Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board approved the pilot at their board meeting on September [ READ MORE ]

NACDS Partner Healthcare Ready Prepares for Hurricane Matthew

admin2016-10-06T13:04:19-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Community, Preparedness|

As the East Coast braces for Hurricane Matthew, NACDS partner Healthcare Ready, a nonprofit that works to protect patient access to healthcare during times of disaster, is monitoring the projection and anticipated impacts of the massive storm.

The group announced that it is preparing to activate Rx Open on October 7—a free, interactive map that shows open and closed pharmacies for both citizens and responders.

Healthcare Ready is coordinating with officials at Federal Emergency Management Agency the Department of Health and Human Services, and in the affected states, to provide assistance. State-specific resources, including guidance on business reentry, can be found on their website. Follow the group on Twitter for updates and, if you become aware of situations that may adversely affect healthcare supply or care in the affected area, or would like to request the assistance of Healthcare Ready, please contact the Healthcare Ready Support Team atalerts@healthcareready.org, or call 1 (866) 247-2694.

Register as a #PharmacyVoter before October 11 Deadline

admin2016-10-06T13:01:53-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: RxIMPACT|

Is it Election Day yet? No. But the deadline to register to vote—October 11—is fast approaching for the District of Columbia and the following states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, N.M., Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. NACDS RxIMPACT is calling on you to register to vote on Election Day, November 8.

It is a pivotal time and NACDS RxIMPACT Votes is ready to get you up-to-speed with the #PharmacyVoter get-out-the-vote campaign.

Time is of the essence as 41 states have voter registration deadlines between October 8–24.

It is a pivotal time and NACDS RxIMPACT Votes is ready to get you up-to-speed with the #PharmacyVoter get-out-the-vote campaign. It’s important that you not only register to vote, but also ensure your registration card information matches what is on your personal identification card (driver’s license, passport, etc.). Visit the NACDS RxIMPACT voter registration resource guide to ensure you follow your state’s voter registration requirements.

Also access NACDS RxIMPACT Votes Election Day resources at PharmacyVoter.org to register to vote, learn about candidates, review important election dates and identify polling locations. These resources will equip you with the information you need to identify your candidate of choice and vote on Election Day. An informed voter is an effective voter, so take this opportunity to use all the resources NACDS RxIMPACT has to offer and be sure to encourage others to join you as a #PharmacyVoter by using the #PharmacyVoter Social Media Guide!

CDC Recognizes Pharmacy Value, Urges Flu Vaccination

admin2016-10-06T12:59:51-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: CDC, Pharmacy_Value|

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) praised pharmacy’s vital role in healthcare delivery in a letter to pharmacists stating that the agency “recognizes and appreciates the increasingly important role that you play in public health, including vaccinating the public against seasonal influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases.”

In addition to recognizing the public health contributions of pharmacists to a well-functioning “immunization neighborhood,” the letter provides guidance to pharmacists for the influenza season and calls on pharmacists to assess patients’ overall vaccination needs and implement the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice for vaccinations beyond flu.

NACDS Co-Hosts Inaugural Pharmacogenomics Certificate Program with University of Pittsburgh

admin2016-10-06T12:57:01-04:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Medications, Pharmacy_Value|

NACDS co-hosted its inaugural Test2Learn™ Community-Based Pharmacogenomics Certificate Program with the University of Pittsburgh last week. NACDS and the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy adapted Test2Learn™ from an innovative University platform that enables students to learn by using real genetic data in highly-interactive exercises.

Study: Pharmacy-Based Heart-Risk Testing a Viable Option

admin2016-10-06T12:28:36-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Pharmacy_Value|

Pharmacies were shown to be an effective alternative to a regular medical exam in testing people for heart-risk conditions such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and cholesterol according to a recent study published in the journal Open Heart.

The experimental, pharmacy-based approach included a broad population sample, which helped to identify patients with previously undiagnosed heart-risk conditions. During the study, 30 percent of participants were found to have a heart-risk condition, which prompted pharmacists to recommend a physician consultation to nearly half of them, according to the study.

Significantly, the study also found that younger age groups were underdiagnosed with heart-risk conditions. The study concluded that pharmacies might be a more viable option for younger age groups, who, the study said, favor “the convenience and accessibility” of pharmacy-based services.

Elimination of Measles in Americas Highlights Vaccination Effectiveness

admin2016-10-06T12:26:39-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Vaccinations|

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that measles has been eliminated in all of the Americas, the first region in the world to have eliminated the highly contagious disease, which primarily affects children.

The ongoing effectiveness of vaccination in combatting diseases illustrates the vital role pharmacy plays in improving patient health and outcomes with preventive, evidence-based approaches.

The WHO credited sustained vaccination campaigns for eliminating the preventable disease in the region.

Before mass vaccinations began in 1980, measles caused more than two million deaths a year worldwide. Vaccines have played a critical role in reducing the threat of the world’s most harmful infectious diseases. Worldwide, measles cases have dropped nearly 80 percent in the last two decades.

News of the elimination of measles in the Americas highlights the effectiveness—and importance—of vaccination and underscores the role pharmacy plays in providing accessible, affordable vaccinations in communities across the U.S.—and the world. A recent survey of 45 countries found that 97 percent of them have community pharmacy locations offering vaccinations, demonstrating the expansion of pharmacy immunizations globally. The WHO estimates that vaccination saves between two and three million lives a year across all age groups.

All 52 states in the U.S. now allow pharmacist-administered vaccinations and NACDS continues to advocate for expanded access to pharmacist-administered adolescent vaccinations, recently collaborating with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) on presenting a webinar on the importance of timely vaccination for all teens. In addition, NACDS recently presented its second annual national tour to expand pharmacy-based point-of-care testing, which also includes a vital “train-the-trainer” component.

NACDS also remains committed to helping to improve better coordination between public health departments and pharmacies to improve pandemic preparedness—and ensure vaccinating pharmacists are fully utilized during a pandemic. NACDS collaborated with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on preparing pandemic response resources: a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) template and an Instructional Letter to State Pharmacy Associations, State and Territorial Health Officials, and Pharmacy Providers.

The ongoing effectiveness of vaccination in combatting diseases illustrates [ READ MORE ]

October is American Pharmacists Month

admin2016-10-04T12:23:29-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Pharmacy_Value|

October is American Pharmacists Month (APhM), which is a great time to recognize the vital contributions made by pharmacists in healthcare delivery.

It is essential to educate the public, policy makers, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals about the key role played by pharmacists…

It is essential to educate the public, policy makers, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals about the key role played by pharmacists in reducing overall healthcare costs by improved medication use and advanced patient care. It is also a time to promote the pharmacy profession and get the word out on pharmacists’ contributions toward improving medication use and adeherence and advancing patient care in all practice settings.

Visit the American Pharmacist Association’s website for comprehensive resources on community outreach, attracting media coverage, getting official recognition for APhM, and maximizing social media to raise awareness and celebrate the pharmacy profession in October—and every other month of the year.

NACDS, Stakeholders Release Pandemic Response Resources

admin2016-09-29T12:19:07-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Community, Preparedness, Vaccinations|

A recent study in the journal Vaccine noted that achieving early and rapid vaccination coverage during an influenza pandemic would require better coordinated partnerships between public health agencies and vaccine providers, especially given the vital role pharmacists play in expanding access to pandemic vaccination.

However, little is known about nationwide coordination between public health programs and pharmacies for pandemic vaccine response planning.

In response to this need for better coordination between public health departments and pharmacies to improve pandemic preparedness—and ensure vaccinating pharmacists are fully utilized during a pandemic—NACDS collaborated with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create pandemic response resources.

To encourage early and ongoing participation of pharmacies in pandemic influenza plans, and increase public access to immunization services, the groups prepared aMemorandum of Understanding (MOU) template and an Instructional Letter to State Pharmacy Associations, State and Territorial Health Officials, and Pharmacy Providers.

2016 Debates: Next Up, the Running Mates

admin2016-09-29T12:16:03-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: RxIMPACT|

The controversial presidential election has garnered lots of attention and Google searches, revealing an engaged electorate that is still actively seeking information leading up to Election Day on November 8. During the presidential debate on Monday alone, Google reported that there was a surge of 100,000 searches for the phrase “register to vote” in Spanish.

NACDS is urging the pharmacy community to get involved by learning more about the candidates at all levels of government, browse races and find out how to register to vote and volunteer for the candidates of their choice.

This is where NACDS RxIMPACT Votes comes in. Through the #PharmacyVoter get-out-the-vote campaign, NACDS is urging the pharmacy community to get involved by learning more about the candidates at all levels of government, browse races and find out how to register to vote and volunteer for the candidates of their choice. An informed voter is an effective voter, so take this opportunity to use all the resources NACDS RxIMPACT has to offer and be an engaged #PharmacyVoter.

The next three remaining debates will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, as well as all cable news channels including CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, among others. The debates will air from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET (8 p.m.–9:30 p.m. CT, 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. MT, 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m. PT).

Vice presidential debate: Tuesday, Longwood University in Farmville, Va.
Moderator: Elaine Quijano, anchor, CBSN, and CBS News correspondent

Second presidential debate: Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, at Washington University in St. Louis, Ill.
Moderator: Martha Raddatz, chief global affairs correspondent and co-anchor of “This Week,” ABC
Moderator: Anderson Cooper, Anchor, CNN

Third presidential debate: Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nev.
Moderator: Chris Wallace, anchor, Fox News Sunday

NACDS also continues to educate advocates through the NACDS RxIMPACT Grassroots Training Program, which hosted two trainings for students at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy in Tennessee and Duquesne University School of Pharmacy in Pennsylvania about the power of pharmacy voters in the 2016 elections. This brings the 2016 trainings total to 21.

National Association of Chain Drug StoresPharmacies. The face of neighborhood healthcare.

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