|
|
NCPA Announces Long Term Community Care Initiative
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - February 16, 2005 Community pharmacists providing long term care pharmacy services or those interested in establishing long term care services in their pharmacy practices can benefit from a new initiative from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).
Plans for development and launch of the initiative were announced at NCPA’s Multiple Locations Pharmacy Conference underway in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The NCPA program will target healthy and home bound seniors, as well as community-based seniors in assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement centers, and skilled nursing facilities. NCPA’s National Institute for Pharmacist Care Outcomes (NIPCO) will develop a comprehensive education program consisting of both clinical and business components -- the critical knowledge community pharmacists need to provide pharmacy services to the continuum of senior populations within their individual communities.
The goal of the initiative is to create a nationwide network of community pharmacies to provide America’s aging population with greater access to expanded pharmacist services.
A special feature of this program will be a collaboration with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), the nation's premier organization of pharmacists specializing in geriatric care. ASCP will work with NCPA to develop the program to best meet the special clinical needs of older persons. In addition, NCPA will promote a number of ASCP offerings such as its Certified Geriatric Credential, patient education resources, and pharmacy tools.
Key elements of the initiative include: providing web-based educational resources for consumers and caregivers, as well as business tools for network pharmacists; developing drug/disease community outreach programs; and educating Medicare beneficiaries about the Medicare Part D drug benefit as it is implemented in 2006.
“Long term care pharmacy offers an area of great opportunity for community pharmacists,” said Bruce Roberts, R.Ph., NCPA executive vice president and CEO. “As we move forward with the development of this initiative, it is with the goal of assisting community pharmacists in entering this sector and in helping them achieve success, while at the same time equipping them to provide the highest level of care to patients. We look forward to working with ASCP to develop a program that addresses the clinical and business aspects of operating a long term care pharmacy practice.”
"We applaud NCPA’s commitment to strengthening the care of the aging through enhanced community pharmacy services," said John Feather, Ph.D., executive director and CEO of ASCP. "Most older persons both live and receive their medications in the community, and so community pharmacies are a vital part of serving the needs of seniors wherever they reside."
NCPA is working with a number of partners in developing the Long Term Community Care Network. They are: GeriMed, a group service organization, which provides unique contracts and services to “closed door” pharmacies, and Long Term Care Solutions, a long term care consulting firm.
Financial support for the initiative has been provided by RxSystems, Inc., a full-service provider of pharmacy packaging and supplies, and RNA Health Information Systems, a developer of software solutions for pharmacies and the health care industry.
The official launch of the program is planned for October in conjunction with NCPA’s Annual Convention and Trade Exposition, which will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
For more information, contact Kathryn Kuhn, R.Ph., NIPCO executive director, or Bill Popomaronis, R.Ph., NCPA vice president of long term/home health care pharmacy services, at 800-544-7447.
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) represents the nation’s community pharmacists, including the owners of 24,000 pharmacies. The nation’s independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains represent a $78 billion marketplace, dispensing nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.
Founded in 1995 by NCPA, the National Institute for Pharmacist Care Outcomes is dedicated to optimal patient health through pharmacist-directed disease management and wellness programs. The Institute, through its research, educational programs, and leadership helps the nation’s community pharmacists provide cutting edge patient care. |
