ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores community pharmacy-based point-of-care testing certificate program kicked off last month at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy in Omaha. The multi-city tour will continue at colleges and schools of pharmacy during 2015.

In March, NACDS announced the acquisition and expansion of a certificate program designed to provide training for pharmacists to administer point-of-care testing and other health assessments in ­pharmacies.

The two-day training program at UNMC filled the training facility. The first day focused on completion of the certificate program; on the second day participants completed a “train the trainer” program to learn how to teach the certificate program to other pharmacists.

“The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy is a great launching point for this exciting program,” remarked NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson. “More and more patients are looking to their pharmacists for new services that help maintain their health and wellness. One of the great things about this NACDS certificate program is that it demonstrates the extensive education and training of pharmacists, and that it will create even greater access to services that can help improve patient health.”

Point-of-care testing empowers clinicians to use effective, fast technology to aid their decision making at the point of care to improve patient health. Pharmacy-based point-of-care testing is done as part of care coordination.

Designed for community pharmacy, academia and pharmacy association staff, the certificate program will train participants to administer a variety of point-of-care tests, as well as health and physical assessments. Specifically, the accredited certificate program includes 20 hours of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit for those who successfully complete course requirements and assessments, including 12 hours of home study and eight hours of live training about disease states, physical assessments, point-of-care tests, collaborative practice models and business models.

The education and training of pharmacists qualifies them to provide a host of services, including point-of-care testing. The NACDS point-of-care testing certificate program, developed by faculty at UNMC and Ferris State University will further complement their robust pharmacy education.

Registration for the national multi-city tour certificate programs remains open, but space is limited.