NACDS' point-of-care testing program to kick off with national tour

ARLINGTON, Va. — Illustrating its commitment to expanding access to patient services, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced the expansion and acquisition of a certificate program designed to provide training for pharmacists to administer point-of-care testing and other health assessments in pharmacies.



The official kickoff of the Community Pharmacy-Based Point-of-Care Testing certificate program will begin in April with a multicity tour at colleges and universities of pharmacies nationwide. At each stop of the tour, participants will complete the certificate program on the first day and a “train-the-trainer” program on the second day so that they can learn how to teach the program to other pharmacists.

 

Designed for community pharmacy, academia and pharmacy association staff, the Community Pharmacy-Based Point-of-Care Testing certificate program will train participants to administer a variety of point-of-care tests, as well as health and physical assessments. Specifically, the accredited certificate program includes 20 hours of Continuing Pharmacy Education credit for those who successfully complete course requirements and assessments, including 12 hours of home study and eight hours of live training about disease states, physical assessments, point-of-care tests, collaborative practice models and business models.

 

The education and training of pharmacists qualifies them to provide a host of services, including point-of-care testing. Faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Ferris State University developed the NACDS point-of-care testing certificate program.

 

“While patients continue to look to their pharmacist as a steward of medication safety and effectiveness, more and more patients are looking to their pharmacists to provide innovative services that further help maintain their health and wellness, including point-of-care testing,” stated NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson. “In light of the evolution of convenient and accessible healthcare care services, this NACDS certificate program demonstrates the education and training of pharmacists, and empowers greater access to services that can help improve patient health.”  

 

With support from Quidel, a manufacturer of diagnostic healthcare solutions, the registration fee for participants of the two-day training programs during the national tour will be waived.