ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Community Pharmacy-Based Point-of-Care Testing certificate program launched this weekend at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy in Omaha, Neb.

NACDS said Monday that the UNMC College of Pharmacy marks the first stop on a national, multicity tour of colleges and schools of pharmacy this year.

The association announced the initiative in mid-March. The program aims to provide training for pharmacists to administer point-of-care testing and other health assessments in pharmacies. Such testing enables 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.

NACDS noted that the two-day program at UNMC filled the training facility to capacity. Day one focused on completion of the certificate program, and on day two participants completed a “train the trainer” program to learn how to teach the certificate program to other pharmacists.

“The UNMC College of Pharmacy is a great launching point for this exciting program,” NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson said in a statement.  “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.”

The Community Pharmacy-Based Point-of-Care Testing certificate program trains participants to administer a range of point-of-care tests, as well as health and physical assessments. Developed by faculty at UNMC and Ferris State University, the accredited program includes 20 hours of Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) credit, 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.

“We’re honored to have the tour start at UNMC in Omaha,” stated Don Klepser, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the UNMC College of Pharmacy. “It’s hard to believe how far this training has come from its inception to a national-level certificate program driven by NACDS’ leadership. This is a very exciting time for the pharmacy profession.”