Each year, NACCHO conducts the Preparedness Profile Survey to gain a better understanding of types of activities that health department preparedness coordinators are doing and the needs that they have to advance their work. During the 2015 Preparedness Profile Survey, when asked about which types of local health department partnerships were the strongest, it was found that very few had robust partnerships with pharmacies, if at all. Given the previous NACCHO activities on expanding partnerships between local health departments and pharmacies and this finding, NACCHO is taking steps to re-engage local health departments on this topic.
During the 2017 Preparedness Summit, NACCHO is tentatively planning a workshop focused on generating practical steps to help local health departments move preparedness planning forward by partnering with pharmacies in their communities. In an effort to locate appropriate speakers and/or key informants for this session, NACCHO is offering scholarships to local health department staff who have done previous planning work with either chain or independent pharmacies in their communities. Individuals who are willing to discuss how to begin partnerships with pharmacies, common challenges and pit falls, successful strategies for overcoming barriers, and examples of engaging pharmacies in exercises or during real-world responses are especially encouraged to apply as a potential presenter or key informant by December 23, 2016.
Focus areas of workshop discussion may also include how to ensure the public maintains access to life-saving prescriptions (e.g. insulin) during public health emergencies; information sharing practices between the health department and pharmacies; and how pharmacy networks can be utilized for pre-event and response purposes.
Application Details
Scholarships will be awarded on a limited basis to local health department staff selected as presenters and key informants. Applications for speakers/key informants are now open and the deadline to submit an application is December 23, 2016. Selected scholarship recipients will be notified in early January.
View additional details on scholarship responsibilities, scholarship limitations, eligibility information, and how to access the electronic application.
The PDF version of the application is available here. However, an application must be submitted electronically in order to be considered. Applications received through other means will not be reviewed. For any questions about the application process, please contact Raymond Puerini, NACCHO Senior Program Analyst, at [email protected] or at 202-507-4257.
Please note, for those interested in attending this workshop as a regular participant, this workshop will be available as a part of registration for the 2017 Preparedness Summit.