CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–August 14, 2015. Pharmacists from throughout the Midwest gathered at Roosevelt University’s College of Pharmacy in Schaumburg on Aug. 13 and 14 for training in how to administer point-of-care healthcare tests and screenings in community pharmacy settings.
“We are proud to have our college be a part of the roll out of a new model of care that will make it more convenient and accessible for patients to be treated for routine conditions by pharmacists,” said George MacKinnon, dean of Roosevelt’s College of Pharmacy.
Providing certification for pharmacists to give what is known as “point-of-care testing,” the 20-hour NACDS certificate training program is part of a national tour that began in March.
“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,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson.
It is estimated that as many as 450 pharmacists nationwide could be certified through the ongoing NACDS workshop program that is training participants to do point-of-care testing. It also gives participants the tools they need to train others how to administer the tests.
“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,” Anderson said.
As part of the certification, pharmacists, after conducting a basic clinical assessment and rapid diagnostic test, can prescribe antibiotics for strep throat and anti-viral medication for flu for those patients who have tested positive – without the patient having to see the doctor.
Roosevelt College of Pharmacy Dean MacKinnon, who is also a pharmacist, anticipates that point-of-care testing could become an even more popular option for patients than getting immunizations at their community pharmacies. Currently, approximately 8 million immunizations are given annually to patients at Walgreens alone, and more than 150,000 pharmacists across the nation already have been certified to immunize.
“I expect point-of-care testing to become an even bigger phenomenon than all of the immunizing that is being done by pharmacists at community pharmacies all across the nation,” said MacKinnon.
In addition to ongoing immunization training, MacKinnon expects to introduce point-of-care testing certification into the College of Pharmacy curriculum beginning in 2016.
Source: www.roosevelt.edu
