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NCPA Introduces NIPCO Affiliate Program
Alexandria, Virginia - October 16, 2002 The National Institute for Pharmacist Care Outcomes (NIPCO), the disease management arm of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), has created a new Affiliate Program. The program offers specialized networking opportunities and practical workplace services. Benefits of the Affiliate Program include Internet-based services that can be accessed at www.nipco.org.
Community pharmacists will be able to join the Affiliate Program during NCPA's Annual Convention & Trade Exposition, October 18-23, 2002, in Nashville, Tennessee by signing up at the NCPA booth.
"From the inception of the NIPCO Affiliate Program, our goal has been to create an easily accessible system allowing community pharmacists to consult with and learn from colleagues who have developed thriving disease management and wellness services in their pharmacies," said Kathryn Kuhn, NIPCO's executive director. "The NIPCO Affiliate Program offers community pharmacists valuable services unavailable through any other pharmacy association."
"Community pharmacists who are just beginning to develop disease management and wellness services, as well as those who have a thriving practice, should certainly take advantage of what this new program has to offer," said NIPCO Chairman Holly Whitcomb-Henry. "The give and take of helpful and practical workplace knowledge that this service makes possible is sure to benefit all NIPCO Affiliates."
The NIPCO Affiliate Benefits are:
1. Ask a Virtual Mentor. Affiliates will be able to submit requests for assistance in implementing and delivering disease state management and wellness services in their pharmacy. An expert consultant will respond to requests within five business days. NIPCO Affiliates will receive a single, professional consultation of up to 30 minutes. Additional consultation time is available for a fee.
2. NIPCO Online Peer-to-Peer Discussion Community. This service provides an open forum for Affiliates to discuss their successes and difficulties in developing and implementing disease management and wellness programs.
3. NIPCO Affiliate Showcase/Locator Service. This feature will be housed on the NCPA website. NIPCO Affiliates will be profiled with a description of their practice and the services provided. Patients and other health care professionals will find this feature useful when looking
for a pharmacist with special expertise.
4. Pharmacist Care Pricing Model. The pricing model is available on the NIPCO website. It helps pharmacists devise a pricing strategy for their professional services.
5. Inside Pharmacist Care. This is an online version of the popular column in America's Pharmacist. The online format will not only feature the most up-to-date columns on professional billing issues and important disease management marketplace news, but it will also include an archive of highlights from past issues, a valuable resource for providing pharmacist care.
6. NIPCO Affiliate of the Month. All NIPCO Affiliates will be eligible for the "Affiliate of the Month" honor. Every month an Affiliate's innovative practice and activities will be in the spotlight. Monthly honorees will be recognized with an "Affiliate of the Month Certificate."
7. NIPCO Affiliate Charter. The NIPCO Affiliate Charter contains the mission and objectives of NIPCO. It will be on display at the NCPA Member Services booth in Nashville. All Charter Affiliates of NIPCO are encouraged to sign their name to the Charter, which will be on permanent display at NCPA Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
8. Discounts on NIPCO Products. NIPCO Affiliates are entitled to a 20 percent discount on the entire line of NIPCO products.
The cost to become a Charter NIPCO Affiliate is $100 for the first year.
The National Institute for Pharmacist Care Outcomes, launched by NCPA in 1995, is the national accrediting organization for pharmacist care education and training programs leading to the Pharmacist Care Diplomate credential and a leading authority in helping community pharmacists develop new market niches in disease management.
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) represents the pharmacist owners, managers, and employees of nearly 25,000 independent community pharmacies across the country. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's three billion retail prescription medicines and account for more than $50 billion in prescription drug sales each year.
CONTACT:
Deleisa Johnson
Vice President, Communications
National Community Pharmacists Association
205 Daingerfield Rd
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-8200
Deleisa.Johnson@ncpanet.org |
