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Practice Advancement
1815 UPDATE
IPA continues to work closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) in partnering with Iowa pharmacies to advance education and services that improve outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. The 1815 project largely focuses on diabetes but also looks at expanding care and addressing the needs of patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia.
IPA has been working with two pharmacies, Pharmacy on 8th, LLC in Wellman, IA and Main Street Drug in Charles City, IA to establish Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs. IPA has been working with other community pharmacies to increase referrals into surrounding DSMES and Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPP). IPA is working with IDPH to establish priorities for the 20222023 grant cycle. If your pharmacy is interested in expanding services for patients with diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, please contact Emmeline Paintsil at epaintsil@iarx.org.
TEST & TREAT TOOLKIT: VERSION 2.0 AVAILABLE NOW
As more pharmacies begin providing test and treat services for influenza, strep and COVID-19, IPA supports the expansion and advancement of practice with the aid of our Test & Treat Toolkit. The toolkit includes information on CLIA certification, education and training requirements, and frequently asked questions on topics such as billing and payment. Additionally, the toolkit includes sample documentation for provider communication, screening tools and patient evaluations.
Version 2.0 includes new Informational Letters from IME and updates to the COVID-19 section with the expiration of Iowa’s Public Health Disaster Emergency Proclamation. The updated toolkit was released in early May. As a reminder, the toolkit is free for ENGAGED Pharmacist, Associate, Platinum Business Partner and Technician members. INFORMED, CONNECTED and non-members can purchase the toolkit for a fee. Visit www.iarx.org/store_home.asp.
VACCINE EQUITY GRANT UPDATE
IPA continues to partner with IDPH in working to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence, engaging trusted messengers, and addressing vaccine hesitancy for populations that have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The IPA team has been exploring new and innovative ways to engage the membership and deliver timely information. To revamp the association’s Connecting Over COVID-19 webinars, IPA will be shifting this content to a podcast format to provide members a new way to engage and listen at their leisure.
In addition, IPA is looking forward to getting back on the road and into communities for IPA Goes Local events. We look forward to engaging with trusted messengers across the state and providing education on how to address hesitancy, navigate misinformation and promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. A full listing of upcoming IPA Goes Local events is available on Page 38.
For more information on this project and how to collaborate with IPA, please contact Emmeline Paintsil at epaintsil@iarx.org.
HEALTH DISPARITIES GRANT UPDATE
In February, IPA was awarded a grant from IDPH to address social determinants of health needs to reduce COVID-19-related health disparities. IPA is working to advance health equity for vulnerable populations, most notably in Iowa’s rural communities. Pharmacists can help address the needs of rural patients who have foregone health visits and delayed care by providing education and increasing access to disease state management services.
The association seeks to promote education on chronic disease management (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, etc.) and expand access to screening and testing services (STDs, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.) for patients. Additionally, IPA seeks to promote educational resources for pharmacy professionals on the socio-economic and long-lasting health impacts of COVID-19 for underserved and disproportionately affected communities. To learn more about this project or to collaborate with IPA, contact Emmeline Paintsil at epaintsil@iarx.org.
IPA AWARDED PTCB PARTNERSHIP FUND
IPA was awarded funds from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) to promote medication safety and help advance the role of pharmacy technicians. Through 2023, IPA will be providing funds through a scholarship program to pharmacy technicians looking to obtain advanced certifications in point-of-care testing from PTCB or CEimpact. IPA is currently formalizing the scholarship and award process. To learn more about this program, contact Emmeline Paintsil at epaintsil@iarx.org.
In March, IPA and the Iowa Medical Society submitted a joint-grant proposal aimed to educate providers and patients on the new ACIP pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. The project has three goals to increase pneumococcal immunization rates among eligible Iowans:
1. Develop and provide tailored education opportunities to vaccine providers, providing the latest clinical guidance and recommendations to enable identification of all appropriate patients and safely administer appropriate vaccine product for each patient. 2. Empower providers with evidence-based patient engagement and communication skills to optimize vaccine counseling techniques to positively aid in patient shared decision-making, address vaccine confidence concerns, and promote vaccine acceptance. 3. Create support tools and resources for providers that offer quick, convenient, in-time access to updated information and patient support materials to reinforce provider communications and aid in patient care.
To learn more, contact Emmeline Paintsil at epaintsil@iarx.org.
