WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) announced that it has joined forces with NOVA ScriptsCentral to launch the Community Pharmacist Ambassadors program.
“We are excited at the opportunity to collaborate on this very important initiative that allows us to address the issue of health literacy and help promote culturally competent community engagement around immunizations,” said Donney John, PharmD, Executive Director at NOVA ScriptsCentral.
This new partnership will begin with a flu initiative mission called “Mission:Flu” since flu vaccination promises to be challenging during the 2021-22 influenza season. Given continued flu vaccine inequities, more severe illness and hospitalization is likely to place patients and health systems — especially those in vulnerable communities — at risk as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Pharmacists can play a critical role in promoting health in underserved and diverse communities of color by virtue of professional training and their availability in nearly every community. In fact, many pharmacies now provide health screenings, vaccinations, prescription management and chronic health condition maintenance.
“While pharmacists are highly trained professionals who can provide information and health services, they are underrecognized as a trusted and dedicated resource in communities of color,” said Dr. Hall, President of SHC. “We are extremely excited to partner with NOVA ScriptsCentral to train and promote pharmacists as health educators and advocates, which will contribute to health equity.”
The Pharmacist Community Ambassadors’ online training program will consist of self-paced and high-quality online modules that provide up-to-date information on the flu and vaccines this year, as well as information about communicating effectively in public settings and speaking with people of color. After completing this training, pharmacists will gain access to communication tools to educate their communities.
On Friday, Oct. 29, Dr. John will kick off the program as he talks with experts, including Charley John, PharmD, Director of Public Policy and Healthcare Strategy Walgreen Co., about the role that pharmacists play in their communities at the “Pharmacists as a Trusted Voice: Transforming Community Engagement in Vaccination and Beyond” webinar. Register here for the webinar.
###About National Minority Quality Forum
The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. The mission of NMQF is to reduce patient risk by assuring optimal care for all. NMQF’s vision is an American health services research, delivery and financing system whose operating principle is to reduce patient risk for amenable morbidity and mortality while improving quality of life. NMQF’s capabilities include federal and state policy analysis and advocacy; issue-specific alliance development; community-based provider quality improvement initiatives and data analytics. www.nmqf.org
About Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity
The Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity promotes sustainable healthy communities, especially those with diverse and underserved populations, through the provision of actionable data, research, and engagement of clinicians and community leaders. For more information, please visit www.nmqf-shc.org.
About NOVA ScriptsCentral
NOVA ScriptsCentral provides quality, integrated pharmaceutical care and medication access for low-income, uninsured patients in Northern Virginia. Founded on the principle that everyone should be able to access quality, affordable health care regardless of their socio-economic background, the NSC model is based on best practices research and focuses on economies of scale, with all partner clinics using one pharmacy for the benefit of all. Since 2006, it has dispensed more than 320,000 prescriptions valued at more than $82 million. For more information, visit www.novascriptscentral.org.
For media inquiries, please contact Kelly Ann Collins via kcollins@nmqf.org or (202) 413-1187.