IRVING, Texas — While the pandemic exposed many health equity and public health needs in local communities, it also emphasized pharmacies as the most accessible and trusted health care destinations. To help address those needs and elevate the role of pharmacies in people’s lives, McKesson and Health Mart are offering certified pharmacy technicians an opportunity to grow their career and provide even more value to their communities as Community Health Workers (CHW).

McKesson will fund 60 scholarships for certified pharmacy technicians to participate in CEimpact’s 16-week CHW certification course. Certified pharmacy technicians who are cross trained as a CHW can:

• Act as a peer-to-peer liaison to help individuals navigate the healthcare system and access points locally beyond the services offered at pharmacies
• Refer and connect patients to address social determinants and whole-person needs
• Take an active role in the care process as an extension of their pharmacy’s services through baseline patient education, documenting patient encounters documentation, overseeing referral processes, and performing basic follow-up and monitoring to close care loopsCHWs are an integral part of the care team, and their utilization continues to expand across the healthcare field.

  CEimpact is now accepting applications through Jan. 31, 2023, for participation in the interactive 16-week cohort learning program. February Cohort begins Feb. 21, 2023

  Any certified pharmacy technician who works in an independent community pharmacy can apply at ceimpact.com/CHWtraining.