North Carolina Association of Pharmacists 2021, Issue 6 of 12 ncpharmacists.org
E-News ENews
Advancing Pharmacy. Improving Health.
General News NC COMMUNITY PHARMACY WORKPLACE SURVEY
compare monthly trends on inpatient hospital stays for COVID-19 and other conditions. The data is drawn from AHRQ’s Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project with information from 46 states and the District of Columbia. ASHP COVID-19 VACCINE CONFIDENCE TOOLKIT
NCAP is surveying the opinions of community pharmacists across North Carolina regarding their workforce and workplace environment in the context of patient safety and advanced roles for pharmacists and technicians. If you have not had the opportunity to complete the survey, you can do so by clicking here. We plan to incorporate this feedback into our future initiatives and programming to better serve pharmacists and to enhance pharmacy practice in our state.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has created a new resource to help pharmacists address vaccine hesitancy and promote vaccine confidence in their communities. The ASHP COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Toolkit utilizes a four-pillar framework to help improve COVID-19 immunization efforts.
On July 16th, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced the availability of $103 million, as part of the American Rescue Plan funding, to reduce burnout and promote mental health wellbeing among healthcare workers. The funds will be administered through HRSA, and will support the implementation of strategies to help with provider resiliency, avoid burnout, and foster healthy workplace environments, particularly for organizations serving rural communities or underserved populations. HRSA is accepting applications, by August 30, 2021, for three different funding opportunities.
NICE BLOG SUMMARY ON DIR FEES— EVERY PHARMACIST SHOULD READ
US DHHS ANNOUNCES $103 MILLION TO ADDRESS BURNOUT
INTERACTIVE TOOL COMPARES HOSPITAL TRENDS Explore the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality’s new interactive data visualization tool, which can be used to
AMAZON WEB SERVICES FOR HEALTH
Earlier this month, Amazon launched AWS for Health to help organizations increase innovation and boost personalized care. AWS for Health will offer cloud-based solutions for 16 different healthcare areas, including genomics and precision medicine, as well as data-driven care planning, and reduced cost and time to market for biopharmaceuticals.
For those in our profession not directly impacted by PBMs and DIR fees, it’s important for you to know that you are indirectly impacted. Remember, when one sector of our profession is threatened, it’s a threat to the entire profession. Often in conversations, I get asked about PBM and CMS Part D DIR reform. It’s a complex issue, but it is an issue that is crushing community pharmacies. Just this month, I have learned of six different NC pharmacies that have been forced to sell or close their doors. Our commu-
nities are losing their local pharmacists. Health Affairs recently published a blog on the need for Part D DIR reform. If this is not a topic you understand, we encourage you to take just few minutes to read this blog; and in the future, when we ask all our members to take action on PBM or DIR reform legislation, we hope you will feel more comfortable helping us take on the issue. EXECUTIVE ORDER ON PROMOTING COMPETITION
On July 9th, President Biden issued an executive order (EO) for promoting competition in the American Economy. A Fact Sheet provides background information and targeted areas of concern such as the impact of mergers and acquisitions impact on healthcare cost. The EO calls for a whole-of-government effort to promote competition in our economy, and includes 72 initiatives by multiple federal agencies. As with many multi-pronged initiatives, some of the information in this EO is not ideal for pharmacy, while others are great for our profession. Related to the focus of this EO, we thought you might be interested in a paper written by Stacey Mitchell, with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, entitled, Monopoly Power and the Decline of Small Business: The Case of Restoring America’s Once Robust Antitrust Policies.
Practice Advancement News DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE Join us for our last 2 programs “First Do No Harm: Diminishing the Negative Effects of Substance Misuse” coming up August 12th & August 19th Overdose
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deaths soared to a record 93,000 in 2020 during the COVID -19 pandemic, making it the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in 12 months. Contamination of Fentanyl into the illicit narcotics supply coupled with lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions making access to care harder to get has primarily contributed to this rise in overdose deaths. While public health tools have fallen short of keeping pace with the urgency of this crisis, we know that pharmacists are in a unique position to be part of the solution. Don’t miss your chance to learn how you can support Harm Reduction in your community and join us in August for our Free CE entitled “First Do No Harm: Diminishing the Negative Effects of Substance Misuse.” Click here to register! We only have two programs left! NEW DIABETES PREVENTION TOOLKIT
NCAP’s new diabetes prevention toolkit is live now! Thanks to the hard work of Campbell University pharmacy students in partnership with NCAP, the new toolkit is available to help pharmacists “Join the Charge” on the prevention of type 2 diabetes in North Carolina. This toolkit not only offers consolidated diabetes prevention resources from both the national and state level, it also features NCAP’s own unique program, titled “A Healthier You”, to specifically assist pharmacists in our state in guiding their patients toward healthier lifestyles and preventing diabetes. To access the toolkit, click here.
Academy Forum & Committee News ATTENTION ALL ACADEMIES: ELECTIONS ARE COMING!
I hope everyone is having a great summer. This year is flying by! It’s hard to believe, but it is time for academy and Board of Director elections. Every year we have vacancies become available on each of our practice academy leadership teams. Serving on one of the practice academy leadership teams or the Board of Directors is an excellent way
to become more involved in important decisions being made for your academy and our association (NCAP). This is your chance to serve and have your voice heard. The commitment to serve on the leadership teams is three years. If you are elected to serve, your term will begin January 2022. If you are interested, please email Angie Broughton, angie@ ncpharmacists.org. Please include your name, a headshot and your cv by September 10th, 2021. The following positions are going to be available in the following practice academies.
NCAP Board of Directors: Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 1 At-large position will need to be filled. Ambulatory Care: Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 1 At-large position will need to be filled.
Chronic Care: Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 3 At-large positions will need to be filled. Community Care: Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 2 At-large positions will need to be filled.
Health-Systems: Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 1 At-large position will need to be filled. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)Delegates: There will be 2 ASHP positions available.
Event News August Our State Pharmacy Summit Wednesday, August 11th High Point University A summit designed to discuss work force and work environment issues for
pharmacists and technicians.
Getting to Know the New JAKS on the Block: Pharmacy-Focused Insights for Atopic Dermatitis and Alopecia Areata Thursday, August 12th (12 – 1 pm) Live webinar Presented in Partnership with Boston University School of Medicine and The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Updates to Federal Regulation of Pharmacy Practice – 2021 Sunday, August 15th (6 – 7 pm)
Live webinar teaching updates to federal laws affecting the practice of pharmacy.
September
New Drug Updates Part 1 Sunday, September 19th (6 – 7 pm) First of a two-part live webinar that will bring pharmacists and technicians the most up-to-date information on new drugs.
October
NCAP Student Pharmacist Conference and Residency Showcase Saturday, October 9th This conference will be a full day of student specific programming including Residency Showcase at High Point University. NC Anti-Infective Workshop Friday, October 15th Forest Oaks Country Club
This annual meeting brings together infectious disease pharmacists from across the state for a day of continuing education and networking. New Drug Updates Part 2 Sunday, October 17th (6 – 7 pm)
Second of a two-part live webinar that will bring pharmacists and technicians the most up-to-date information on new drugs.
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November Technician Conference Friday, November 12th Live webinar to bring together pharmacy technicians from across the state for a day of technician specific programming. Go to ncpharmacists.org for more information and to register for our events!
Announcements EXECUTIVE FELLOW INTRODUCTION
We would like to give a warm welcome to Megan Yelenic Witkowski, our new Executive Fellow. Megan started her work with NCAP this month and we are thrilled to have her on board as part of our team! She is eagerly looking forward to being involved with legislative work, leadership development, and networking with pharmacists from across the state. You can learn more about Megan in our recent journal publication and you can reach her at fellow@ncpharmacists. org.
Publication Corrections Contact Rhonda at rhonda@ncpharmacists.org
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