Nashville - The Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation (TPREF), a subsidiary of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA), the only professional association representing pharmacists in all practice areas across the state, today announced an initiative to educate and encourage immunizations for Tennesseans who are unvaccinated, or under-vaccinated, for COVID-19.
The primary goal is for community pharmacists to hold regular, focused conversations around gaps and doubts in vaccinations with the ultimate objective of addressing health needs for preventable diseases, reducing the cost of care over time, and addressing vaccine hesitancy.
TPREF is partnering with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation, Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network of Tennessee (CPESN TN) and Pierce Public Relations (PPR) along with about 75 pharmacies in the most at-risk counties to engage patients who have not received the full COVID-19 vaccination series or who may have gaps in their vaccination history.
“Our team is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the state of Tennessee and several highly regarded organizations to help citizens lead healthier lives,” said Anthony Pudlo, Executive Director of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. “Now more than ever, it’s extremely important to ensure people have accurate and accessible educational information to make the best possible decisions about vaccinations. We’re glad to help achieve that through this initiative.”
The APhA Foundation will work with partnered pharmacies to integrate workflows and documentation of processes throughout the duration of this project. CPESN TN will conduct onsite visits with TPREF and provide technical expertise on the integration of immunizations into clinical workflows. Pierce Public Relations, a leading Nashville PR and marketing agency, will conduct media outreach and provide social media toolkits to partnered pharmacies across the state to promote upcoming vaccination series. This initiative will follow the APhA Foundation's Project IMPACT Immunizations "vaccine seasons," which underscores the optimal times during the year to close gaps for specific vaccines.
“The APhA Foundation has seen significant success with its Project IMPACT Immunizations initiative in other communities, and we’re excited to scale the program and reach more patients across Tennessee,” said Benjamin Bluml, Executive Director and SVP, Research & Innovation for the APhA Foundation. “We look forward to demonstrating how innovative patient-centered, team-based care models implemented in community pharmacy practice settings can address unmet adult vaccination needs and create population health improvements.”
TPREF will use a federal grant, received from the Tennessee Department of Health, to fully-fund the initiative.
Founded in 1990, the Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation (TPREF) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt educational organization and a direct subsidiary of TPA. The TPREF exists to advance the practice of pharmacy through research and education. For more information, contact the TPREF office at 615-256-3023 or visit https://www.tnpharm.org.
The APhA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., works to design solutions to medication use problems in America. The APhA Foundation’s mission is to improve health by inspiring philanthropy, research, and innovation that advances pharmacists’ patient care services. The APhA Foundation is affiliated with the American Pharmacists Association, the national professional society of pharmacists in the U.S. founded in 1852. For more information, please visit the APhA Foundation website www.aphafoundation.org.
About CPESN® USA
CPESN® USA is a clinically integrated, nationwide organization of pharmacy networks structured to advance community-based pharmacy practice. They empower community-based pharmacies that are deeply rooted within their community by fostering their ability to provide high quality, patient-centered enhanced services. CPESN® pharmacies integrate with other healthcare providers on the patient’s care team to coordinate medical treatment. The results are better medication adherence, higher patient satisfaction, and lower healthcare costs. You can find CPESN® Networks of pharmacy providers in 42 states across America. To learn more, please visit www.CPESN.com.