ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association, in collaboration with the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists and OmniSYS, has launched a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded initiative to help small business independent pharmacies offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program to people with prediabetes. While neighborhood pharmacies are in an ideal position to deliver and expand the National DPP, they may be deterred from doing so due to costs associated with participation, which include lifestyle coach training, data collection, and participant recruitment and retention. This new joint initiative will address those financial burdens. NCPA has recruited an initial group of 18 pharmacies to participate in this project, with an additional 30 pharmacies to be recruited at a later date.

“Diabetes can cause great damage and comes with many risks, which we’re seeing in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as it appears to be increasing severity among those contracting the virus,” said NCPA president Brian Caswell, owner of Wolkar Drug in Baxter Springs, Kan. “The National DPP will enable neighborhood pharmacies – the most accessible health care providers – to better identify those at risk of developing diabetes, engage them in a lifestyle change program, and improve health outcomes. NCPA is excited to be participating in this collaboration with our partners and helping patients lead healthier lives.”

The goal of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists is to connect people with diabetes, prediabetes, or other chronic conditions to proven, person-centered, and team-based care,” said Leslie Kolb, RN, BSN, MBA, ADCES Chief Science and Practice Officer. “ADCES is proud to partner with NCPA to train pharmacy-based care teams, activate successful prevention programs, and give people with prediabetes the support they need to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.”

“OmniSYS is thrilled to work alongside NCPA, ADCES, and community pharmacies across the country in the fight against diabetes. Community pharmacists are the most easily accessible health care provider, and we have always been passionate about enabling pharmacists to be providers of care in their local communities,” said David Pope, PharmD, CDE, OmniSYS Chief Innovation Officer. “OmniSYS is here to help pharmacies operationalize this diabetes prevention-funded initiative with solutions for pharmacists to educate, document, bill and share clinical information for the Diabetes Prevention Program.”

Program support for the pharmacies will feature CDC-approved lifestyle coach training provided by ADCES to select pharmacy staff who will deliver the National DPP lifestyle change program, as well as access to an OmniSYS platform that will facilitate intervention, documentation, and education. Additionally, it is anticipated that this support along with a financial incentive will enhance the pharmacies’ opportunity to become CDC-recognized programs under the CDC Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program.

The first cohort of participating community pharmacies includes: Alps Pharmacy in Springfield, Mo.; Apple Discount Drugs in Salisbury, Md.; Asbury Pharmacy in Oklahoma City; Asti’s South Hills Pharmacy in Pittsburgh; Eden Drug HealthMart in Eden, N.C.; Hale Center Clinical Pharmacy in Hale Center, Texas; Jones Drug Store in Jackson, Miss.; Love Oak Pharmacy in Eastland, Texas; Luke’s Family Pharmacy in Hailey, Idaho; Mark’s Pharmacy in Cambridge, Neb.; Mathes Pharmacy in New Albany, Ind.; Moose Pharmacy of Concord in Concord, N.C.; Mustang Drug in Mustang, Okla.; R&M Family Pharmacy in Livingston, Tenn.; Remington Drug Co. in Remington, Va.; Surgoinsville Pharmacy in Surgoinsville, Tenn.; Woodstock Pharmacy in Woodstock, Ga.; and Yorkville Pharmacy in York, S.C.