Conference Recap: McKesson ideaShare

The Role of Community Health Workers in Improving Patient Outcomes

In a panel session at the 2024 McKesson ideaShare conference, Katherine Bass, PharmD, owner of San Joaquin Drug Inc, and Sindhuja Merugu, CPhT, pharmacy technician at a Health Mart Pharmacy—Family Pharmacy, joined Suzanne Feeney, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy retail operations at McKesson, Health Mart, to discuss how certified pharmacy technicians trained as community health workers (CHWs) have the capacity to serve as public health advocates, improving patient care.

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Bass noted that using CHWs in pharmacies can lower health care costs for the state. CHWs can counsel patients on proper medication usage, ensuring the efficiency of the medication, which could lower the number of emergency department visits, reducing overcrowding in hospitals. Bass said this is a huge advantage for both patients and pharmacies.

To that end, McKesson supported 120 scholarships for certified pharmacy technicians to participate in a 16-week CHW training program offered through CEimpact, an accredited provider of continuing pharmacy education. Pharmacy technicians are well positioned to take on the role of a CHW as an existing, trusted resource in the pharmacy and community. With CHW training, technicians can expand their role in patient care and add additional value to the pharmacy and the patients it serves. Bass noted several of her pharmacy technicians completed the course, which then allowed her to jumpstart the program in her pharmacy. Merugu also offered advice to pharmacy owners and teams interested in implementing the program.

“The pharmacy technician that you offer this opportunity to needs to be a technician who has the empowerment within them to really fill in the gaps with cultural competence and health literacy, being that trusted source for all your patients,” Merugu said.

Reference

Feeney S, Bass K, Merugu S. Community health workers: impacting your community. Presented at: McKesson ideaShare; June 23-26, 2024; New Orleans, LA.

Women in Pharmacy Can Be Empowered as Leaders and Owners

Shahida Choudhry, PharmD, owner of Palms Pharmacy in Tampa, Florida, shared her journey in pharmacy ownership and navigating a rewarding career in pharmacy at the 2024 McKesson ideaShare conference.

Choudhry sat down with Kacey Glinka, vice president of the Northeast region, RxOwnership at McKesson, as part of the Women in Rx program—a community of women who aim to help other women grow and exceed expectations in pharmacy.

Throughout her career in pharmacy, Choudhry noted that there have been many mentors and sponsors who have become influential leaders in her life. Partnering and working with other women in the field can help address imposter syndrome, Choudhry said.

“Especially as women, we have this imposter syndrome where we feel like we don’t have that seat at the table, or we don’t belong there yet, or there are more boxes that we need to check, when in reality I think that just speaks to how far you have already come and being able to have that belief in yourself, too,” Glinka said.

A piece of advice Choudhry shared for women in pharmacy who are seeking their own business is to do research in the market and in financial assistance, which includes understanding your investment numbers, which can be beneficial in the future.

“I wish someone gave me advice when I opened. Because when I opened, I just thought everybody’s going to walk through the door—and no one did. We played Uno for 6 months because no one really walks through that door,” Choudhry said.

Reference

Choudhry S, Glinka K. Women in Rx: empowering conversations with a health mart pharmacy owner. Presented at: McKesson ideaShare; June 23-26, 2024; New Orleans, LA.

Community Health Workers Can Reduce Health Inequities, Addresses SDOH

In a presentation at the 2024 McKesson ideaShare conference, Katherine Bass, PharmD, pharmacy owner of San Joaquin Drug Inc, shared that community health workers (CHWs) play a pivotal role in fostering health equity and addressing disparities within their communities.

The role of a CHW is intertwined with health equity and social determinants of health (SDOH), both as a focus on historical and contemporary injustices and to eliminate preventable health disparities and inequities.

Bass noted that the CDC’s Healthy People 2030 sets data-driven national objectives in 5 areas of SDOH, which are health care access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment. She emphasized that pharmacy and CHWs can appropriately aid the first key area—health care access and quality.

When choosing a CHW to include in the pharmacy staff, it is essential that the individual aligns with the community in which the pharmacy is serving to better assist patients. Once a CHW is hired, it’s the pharmacist’s role to empower their work. This can be done by listening, involving them in important decisions, and leading by example.

Reference

Bass K. Bridging gaps and cultivating health equity: the role of community pharmacy. Presented at: McKesson ideaShare; June 23-26, 2024; New Orleans, LA.