FDS to train pharmacists in COVID-19 testing

Pharmacy software company FDS is offering a training program to help pharmacists to administer COVID-19 tests.

"For many people, pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare provider," said Jason Ausili, chief clinical officer for FDS. "We think pharmacists can — and should — play a key role in COVID-19 point-of-care testing."

A recent FDS poll of community pharmacists showed that 82% of pharmacies would like to offer COVID-19 testing. However, 53% of those pharmacies do not feel prepared to do so.

"We saw a need in the pharmacy community, and that became our priority," said Ausili.

FDS partnered with leading experts to create an efficient and targeted COVID-19-focused point-of-care training program. The program is designed to mobilize pharmacists as testers, both during this crisis and beyond. Short, efficient video modules will help refine skills in areas such as:

• How to perform safe specimen collection;
• Best practices for using PPE;
• Creating a workflow for COVID-19 testing;
• Ensuring regulatory compliance for testing; and
• How to handle public health reporting.

"We're excited to offer this important resource during what has undoubtedly been one of the most difficult times many pharmacies have ever faced," said FDS CEO Adam McMullin. "But it is also an opportunity to accelerate the role of the pharmacy in community care. This training program combined with our support services and COVID-19-specific enhancements to our FDS Engage med sync and patient-centric workflow platform and FDS MedBill medical billing solution, truly demonstrate FDS's commitment to empowering pharmacies as essential community healthcare providers with a comprehensive solution."

The training program will be available to all FDS MedBill Plus subscribers starting in mid-June. Pharmacists who enroll in FDS MedBill Plus before June 12 will receive the training program at no additional charge.