PRACTICE ADVANCEMENT RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM (RCORP) UPDATE
As a part of a multi-year partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC), IPA is supporting community and hospital pharmacies in three high-risk Iowa counties, Wayne, Lucas, and Appanoose, to enhance residents’ ability to access opioid and substance use disorder treatment and move towards recovery. This support includes awareness and educational messaging for the community, healthcare provider training on pain management, polysubstance use and medication-assisted treatment, medication disposal resources, overdose prevention training, and increased community access to naloxone.
HIV PROJECT UPDATE
In collaboration with the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Bureau of HIV, STD and Hepatitis, IPA has been managing a multi-year project implementing HIV screenings in community pharmacies. Since January 2019, 11 community pharmacies from across the state have been offering free HIV screenings for their communities. In the Fall of 2020, a pilot site was identified to offer free HCV screenings. CDC estimates that 50% of persons living with HCV are undiagnosed. HIV and HCV cases within the state have been steadily climbing since 2009; HCV diagnoses have tripled since 2009. The Bureau recently worked with the Bureau of Substance Use to conduct a vulnerability study and assess the risk of HIV and HCV outbreaks. The study also assessed the risk of opioid overdoses. The full report is available on IDPH’s website. Based on this vulnerability study, the project will be strategic about identifying locations for HCV testing.
1815 UPDATE
As a part of a multi-year partnership with IDPH and CDC, IPA continues to work with pharmacies across the state to implement innovative MTM services and facilitate support and referrals for enrollment and retention of participants in evidence-based treatment programs such as Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) and Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). In February, IPA hosted a discussion with participating pharmacies to share best practices and challenges brought on by advancing such diabetes initiatives. Despite the pandemic, pharmacists involved have been utilizing COVID-19 vaccinations as an opportunity to discuss treatment regimens and lifestyle management with their patients.
IPA is working to add additional pharmacies to both the HCV and HIV project. With the goal of 40 sites, IPA is looking to gain more interest in offering HIV testing in the following counties: Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Calhoun, Webster, Humboldt, Kossuth, Clarke, Decatur, Wayne, Lucas, Monroe, Appanoose, Lee, Wapello. These are areas of the state the Iowa Department of Public Health considers focus areas based on their epidemiology reporting. To participate in the project or to learn more, please contact Kellie Staiert, IPA’s Lead Project & Partner Manager, at kstaiert@iarx.org.
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