Operationalizing Pandemic Vaccinations at a Regional Supermarket Chain Pharmacy.

Community pharmacies were underutilized as vaccination locations during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Since that time, community pharmacies are a common location for seasonal influenza vaccinations with approximately one-third of adults now getting vaccinated at a pharmacy. Leveraging community pharmacies to vaccinate during a pandemic such as pandemic influenza or the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will result in a more timely and comprehensive public health response. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results of a strategic planning meeting held in 2017 that focused on operationalizing pandemic influenza vaccinations at a regional supermarket chain pharmacy. Participating in the planning session from the supermarket chain were organizational experts in pharmacy clinical programs, managed care, operations leadership, supply chain, information technology, loss prevention, marketing, and compliance. Additionally, experts from the county and state departments of health and university faculty collaborated in the planning session. Topics addressed included (1) establishing a memorandum of understanding with the state, (2) developing an internal emergency response plan, (3) scaling the pandemic response, (4) considerations for pharmacy locations, (5) staffing for pandemic response, (6) pandemic vaccine-specific training, (7) pharmacy workflow, (8) billing considerations, (9) documentation, (10) supplies and equipment, (11) vaccine supply chain, (12) communications, and (13) security and crowd control. Information from this planning session may be valuable to community pharmacies across the nation that seek to participate in COVID-19 pandemic vaccinations.

Informing the development of a transitions of care program between an emergency department and regional supermarket chain pharmacies.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacist collaboration in transitions of care (TOC) programs is integral to increase patient education and adherence after discharge. This study aimed to conduct a qualitative evaluation of stakeholder perspectives to inform the design and implementation of a TOC program between an emergency department (ED) and regional supermarket chain pharmacies. METHODS: Pharmacies from a regional supermarket chain were identified for inclusion on the basis of geographic proximity to a local community hospital ED. Semistructured, one-on-one interviews with the primary investigator were conducted. Interview questions were based on the Consolidation Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The following 5 CFIR domains were used: (1) intervention characteristics, (2) outer setting, (3) inner setting, (4) characteristics of individuals, and (5) process. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Two investigators coded each transcript independently. A thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 19 interviews were conducted, and the following 7 major themes emerged on analysis: (1) enhance real-time interprofessional communication, (2) establish data sharing between the ED and the community pharmacy, (3) provide timely resolution of prescription insurance issues for new therapies post-ED discharge, (4) use off-site pharmacy resources to support community pharmacy workflow, (5) increase patient education to prevent primary medication nonadherence, (6) reinforce discharge care plans, and (7) focus on community-dwelling older adult patients in an ED care transition program. CONCLUSION: Health care providers including pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and care managers, view an ED-to-community pharmacy TOC program as a valuable service to increase patient education on new medications and discharge planning. Establishment of data sharing and reimbursement is integral to the development, implementation, and sustainability of such programs. There is an untapped opportunity for community pharmacists to bridge the gap in care after ED discharge.

Mobile application features sought after by patients of a regional grocery store chain pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mobile application features for pharmacy services sought after by patients of a grocery store chain pharmacy. METHODS: Key informant interviews were conducted at 5 Giant Eagle Pharmacy locations in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Patients older than 35 years who receive 1 prescription monthly from Giant Eagle and use a smartphone daily were eligible to participate. Interviews were audio recorded, and transcripts underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-four interviews were conducted from February to March 2014. The average age of participants was 51 years. About one-half of the participants (46%) were currently using mobile applications to manage their health. Three themes emerged regarding patients' desires for a mobile application: design that fosters an improved, convenient pharmacy experience; features that support the self-management of health; and design that increases personalized, timely access to pharmacists. CONCLUSION: This qualitative analysis revealed that pharmacy patients desire a mobile application that improves the convenience of their pharmacy experience, enables them to self-manage their health, and increases their access to their pharmacist.