3 minute read
CEO’s Column
are essential associations
Kate Gainer, PharmD | Executive Vice President & CEO
As I write this editorial, the state of Iowa is in its sixth week of a state declared public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 news floods our inboxes and daily video conferences. Nothing is ‘business as usual.’ Community pharmacies remain open, many curbside or delivery only, to provide essential medications and services to their patients. Health-system pharmacies move from the preparatory phase to the planning phase and in some hospitals the surge phase, with policies around drug shortages, personnel, and infection control changing daily. Senior care pharmacists face unique challenges as outbreaks hit nursing homes, and pharmacists are not even allowed inside to perform consulting. Regardless of practice setting, pharmacist roles are different today than they were only a few weeks ago. Just as a rise in COVID-19 cases is inevitable, it is also inevitable that pharmacists will be front and center during this public health emergency and global pandemic. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are essential members of the healthcare team and essential members of the frontline workforce. YOU, IPA members, are among the healthcare heroes that will rise to take care of our state – one community, one facility, one patient at a time. While pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are essential, what about the Association that represents you? Is an association essential? Six weeks ago, I thought the answer was going to be NO, and I felt guilty for not serving with colleagues on the frontlines. But in my fifteen years working at IPA, never have I witnessed more important advocacy, more relevant information sharing, and more timely education. IPA (along with numerous other associations) have opened our member-only benefits to share information with all pharmacy professionals in need. IPA staff members spend our days providing advocacy to state agencies including the Board of Pharmacy, DHS, Iowa Medicaid, the Insurance Division, as well as the Executive Branch and the Governor’s staff. IPA has been in close communication with all six members of Iowa’s congressional delegation and their staff, and in daily communication with national pharmacy organizations to relay pressing concerns to federal agencies. Our highest priority is to advocate for you, as essential healthcare providers, during this time. We’ve worked with CEImpact to create important education related to COVID-19 clinical implications, case scenarios and treatment, as well as a 30-minute training on point of care testing. We’ve extracted the most relevant updates for Iowa pharmacists and hosted weekly webinars with key pharmacy stakeholders – IPA, the Board of Pharmacy, Wellmark, MCO’s, Colleges, CEImpact, and an IPA member now working for a NYC hospital. We’ve shared press releases to keep the public informed of pharmacists’ important work during the pandemic and raised awareness of impending drug shortages, COVID testing, and expanding pharmacists’ role to provide care during this pandemic. IPA facilitated a joint endorsement with the two Colleges of Pharmacy and the Board of Pharmacy for the CDC’s guidelines on infection control in pharmacies. “YOU, IPA members , are among the healt hcare heroes that will rise to take care of our state .”
In addition to relevant information and important advocacy in real time, we’re doing what associations excel at – strategically planning for the future. Discussing long-term implications of COVID-19 on the pharmacy profession and what the ‘next normal’ looks like for pharmacists in Iowa. Whether or not an association is defined as ‘essential,’ I am convinced that the work of our association is more important now than ever before. We represent members of a profession who are 100% essential, and I have never been more proud to work on behalf of the pharmacy profession. IPA has embraced this additional and important work and the renewed purpose that comes with serving the profession. From the staff team at IPA – thank you – thank you for your dedication to all those you work with and serve. And thank you for the privilege of advocating on your behalf. ■
