Project Grant G2047064

SMALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT - THE SERVICE AREA FOR THE PROJECT IS POINTE COUPEE PARISH IN LOUISIANA WHICH FACE ISSUES RELATED TO POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, LACK OF INSURANCE, RURAL ISOLATION, HEALTHCARE PROVIDER SHORTAGE, AND POOR HEALTH STATUS. THE SERVICE AREA RATES UNFAVORABLY IN PREVALENCE IN AND MORTALITY FROM DIABETES, MORTALITY FROM CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (CHF) AND PREVALENCE OF CARDIO-PULMONARY OBSTRUCTION DISEASE (COPD). INNIS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER DBA ARBOR FAMILY HEALTH (AFH) CONTINUES TO ATTEMPT TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL, ACCESSIBLE, QUALITY COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO ITS COMMUNITY. AFH WILL COLLABORATE WITH XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA, AMERICA'S ONLY HISTORICALLY BLACK AND CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY; ITS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY IS AMONG THE TOP PRODUCERS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PHARMACISTS. ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION O MARCH 5, 2021, THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED IN PRIMARY CARE TO PROACTIVELY PREVENT, IDENTIFY, AND RESOLVE POOR MEDICATION-RELATED OUTCOMES. HOWEVER, MORE THAN 80% OF PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES DO NOT HAVE CLINICAL PHARMACISTS AS MEMBERS OF EXPANDED CARE TEAMS. THE EMERGENCE OF ECONSULT SERVICES IN PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS (PCPS) TO CONSULT WITH CLINICAL PHARMACISTS AS "ON-DEMAND" PHARMACOTHERAPY SPECIALISTS. AFH WILL ADDRESS THE GROWING BURDEN OF DIABETES AND PRE-DIABETES IN THE RURAL PARISH OF POINTE COUPEE, LOUISIANA THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF AN ECLINICAL PHARMACIST CONSULT INTO ITS CHRONIC CARE MODEL PROGRAM WHILE LEVERAGING AN EMERGING HEALTH COACH MODEL OF CARE. THE PROJECT, INTERSECT: INDIVIDUALIZED COLLABORATIVE DRUG THERAPY PROGRAM, WILL UTILIZE A NEW ECONSULT PLATFORM ON EXISTING TELEHEALTH EQUIPMENT. AFH WILL CONTRACT WITH XAVIER UNIVERSITY TELEHEALTH CENTER (XUTC) FOR A CLINICAL PHARMACIST WHO WILL BE EXPECTED TO RESPOND WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE ECLINICAL PHARMACIST CONSULT S ERVICE THROUGH PRESENTATIONS THAT REVIEW THE CLINICAL PHARMACIST'S EDUCATION/TRAINING, SUITABLE ECLINICAL PHARMACIST CONSULT TOPICS, AND WORKFLOW FOR SENDING AN ECLINICAL PHARMACIST CONSULT. INNIS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER DBA ARBOR FAMILY HEALTH (AFH) IS REQUESTING FUNDING PREFERENCE FOR QUALIFICATION 1, HPSA, GIVEN THAT THE ENTIRE PROPOSED SERVICE AREA OF POINTE COUPEE PARISH IS A DESIGNATED HEALTH PROVIDER SHORTAGE AREAS FOR PRIMARY, DENTAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE (HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, 2022).