From the Executive Director

Operation COVID-19

Until late February, I would bet that most of us had never heard the word “coronavirus” before. I dare say, I had not. I mean I knew about SARS and MERS, but until COVID-19, coronavirus was just not a term for which I was familiar. It makes it even harder to reconcile that, according to the CDC, coronaviruses date back to the 1960’s. Fast forward sixty years and “coronavirus” is most likely a strong contender for Oxford Languages 2020 “Word of the Year.”

I hope that all of you and your families are staying safe during this time. Here at NCAP, we have moved to a remote work policy, with assigned days for individual employees to work or retrieve work in the office. Although this creates some unique challenges for the staff, we are working hard to make sure that our member services are provided as seamlessly as possible. Our new President, David Phillips, took the reins in January, and he makes mention in his column of our 2019 Annual Report. I had hoped that my column for this first issue of 2020 would be filled with celebratory notes, first reflecting on 2019 as a record year for NCAP, and second sharing historical moments as 2020 represents our 20 th Anniversary Year. But, these sentiments will rightfully have to wait, as our nation turns attention to stemming the morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19.

NCAP has shifted a considerable portion of my role to focus on COVID-19 and needs for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians during this crisis. Our operation status is seemingly all things COVID-19. I see NCAP’s role during this pandemic three-fold and essential. First, everyone has been and is continuing to experience COVID-19 information overload. One role the Association serves for our members is separating the wheat from the chaff, and feeding you important, as well as relevant information. We are trying to build a repository of such important information, and have created a NCAP COVID-19 Resources page on our website. We have divided the resources into three domains: North Carolina Information, Federal Information, and General Practice Information. As we receive information we place the content under the appropriate domain and often send a message out to either all members or to a specific group of members, based on the subject matter. The second role that the Association provides for our members during this time, is representation. There are a number of stakeholder meetings taking place weekly and pharmacy’s voice needs to be heard. While you are on the frontlines providing much needed care for patients, the Association is speaking up for you to make sure you have what you need and that pharmacists are not an afterthought when serious discussions are taking place about essential health care workers. If you run into barriers or have specific needs in your day-to-day operations, while trying to care for patients, please do not hesitate to email me at penny@ncpharmacists.org. In addition, the Association plays a role in sharing pharmacy’s perspective with the media. The phone rings, regularly, with reporters wanting to gather information about how COVID-19 is impacting pharmacy operations and patient care.

A third role that see the Association fulfilling during this pandemic, is the gathering of and coordination of staffing needs. We have many pharmacists and pharmacy technicians willing to volunteer to help out pharmacies in need. Although we have not yet had a call from a pharmacy in need of help due to either increased volume, or because a staff member has fallen ill to COVID-19, we know from other

state’s experience, this is not an if, but a when. The latest projection for the peak in our state is the end of April, which means we are looking at a minimum of another two months of uncertainty, regarding what this virus may do to staffing needs. The Association will be helping to coordinate and match-up volunteers with pharmacies who need pharmacists, technicians, even delivery drivers. Please contact NCAP if your pharmacy is in need of staffing support, and we will do our best to assist you.

NCAP has representation on the NC COVID-19 Health Care Coalition. I have tried to use the coalition to help gather information, and it has led to some specific connections, within NC DHHS, allowing me to share pharmacist-provided solutions for gaps in care, during this time when primary care providers, and our health-systems may be overly stretched thin. I have also provided regular communications to legislators, Secretary Cohen and Governor Cooper during this time, in an attempt to keep pharmacists and pharmacies, in the forefront, as health care providers and community health care resources. Part of the messaging is that we should use this pandemic to illuminate gaps that can be plugged by advancing the role of pharmacists. North Carolina citizens deserve every health care advantage they can get and should have better access to clinical services provided by pharmacists. Our message is that pharmacists have the skill set and are strategically positioned, as well as poised to make a difference. We just need policymakers to remove the policy and regulatory barriers. NCAP has also been calling for mandates which would suspend all forms of audits until we get through this emergency. In addition, we have been working with our national pharmacy association partners to make sure that CDC, CMS and other agencies recognize pharmacists as essential healthcare providers, and on the state side that pharmacists will have access to personal protective equipment as well as opportunities for testing and immunization once these are better realized.

In closing, I will simply say, thank you for the care you are providing, how hard you are working during this time, and please, stay safe and healthy!

Pharmacy Proud,

Penny

Regarding NCAP events, COVID-19 will impact many decisions we may need to make. With your health and well-being in mind, we want to do everything we can to follow the guidelines and mandates that our government has put in place to help slow and eventually end the spread of this virus. Therefore, it is expected that we will face the need to cancel some of our events, but we will be looking for opportunities to reschedule or offer programming virtually, whenever possible. Please visit ncpharmacists.org to stay up to date with changes that may be made for future events.

Upcoming Events

May 7th & 8th NC MPJE Class - Chapel Hill May 13th & 14th NC MPJE Class - Buies Creek June 9th Pharmacy Legislative Day - Raleigh July 17th Residency Conference - Winston-Salem October 29th and 30th Annual Convention - Winston-Salem