Community-based pharmacy practice is evolving from a focus on product preparation and dispensing to becoming a health care destination within the four walls of the traditional community-based pharmacy. Furthermore, community-based pharmacy practice is expanding beyond the four walls of the traditional community-based pharmacy to provide care to patients where they need it. Pharmacists involved in this transition are community-based pharmacist practitioners who are primarily involved in leading and advancing team-based patient care services in communities to improve the patient health. This paper will review community-based pharmacy practice innovations and the role of the community-based pharmacist practitioner in the United States.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the strain of coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is spread through human-to-human contact. 1 The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and as of August 1, 2020, there were almost 5 million cases, with more than 52 million people who have been tested for SARS-CoV-2 (positivity rate of 10%) in the United States. 2-5 On February 4, 2020, the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary determined that COVID-19 posed significant public health threats, and multiple Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) were subsequently issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 6 An EUA allows FDA to facilitate the availability of countermeasures more rapidly during a public health emergency, including for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Each in vitro diagnostic test requires an EUA for distribution unless developed by state laboratories. 7 Testing is 1 of the cornerstones of controlling the spread of infection. 8 There are currently 3 types of in vitro tests available for the detection of current or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection: (1) molecular-based (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction), (2) antigen, and (3) serologic (antibody) tests. 9,10 Molecular-based tests identify the presence of viral RNA, and antigen tests detect the presence of the nucleocapsid protein antigen and are used to determine active infection. Serologic tests have been developed to identify the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 through the identification of antibodies. 9 Although the tests are detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the tests are commonly called COVID-19 tests. The inadequate response of the United States to develop and distribute such tests left states initially with few options except for expedited vaccine and drug development and physical distancing. 11 With increasing demands to reopen the country and noncompliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to prevent infection, such as washing your hands, avoiding close contact, and covering your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, there is an even greater need now for expanded testing. 12 In addition, employees may be required to have a least 1 or even 2 negative tests for SARS-CoV-2 before returning to work, increasing testing demand. Evidence exists for the quality, safety, and effectiveness of pharmacist-administered Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)ewaived point-of-care (POC) tests for infectious diseases, including Streptococcal pharyngitis, influenza, Helibactor pylori, HIV, and hepatitis C. 13-16 In addition, pharmacists are already using POC devices to test for Streptococcal pharyngitis and influenza that are similar to the devices in use for SARS-CoV-2 testing. 14 In an analysis, Gubbins et al. 17 determined that POC testing in community-based pharmacies could benefit patients. Pharmacists are fundamental in the solution to expand SARS-CoV-2 testing in the United States because of their accessibility to patients...

No abstract

BackgroundInformation and communication technologies (ICT) offer the potential for delivering health care interventions to low socioeconomic populations who often face barriers in accessing health care. However, most studies on ICT for health education and interventions have been conducted in clinical settings.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine access to and use of mobile phones and computers, as well as interest in, using ICT for receipt of behavioral health information among a community sample of urban, predominately black, women with low socioeconomic status.MethodsParticipants (N=220) were recruited from hair salons and social service centers and completed audio-computer assisted self-interviews.ResultsThe majority of the participants (212/220, 96.3%) reported use of a cell phone at least weekly, of which 89.1% (189/212) used smartphones and 62.3% (137/220) reported computer use at least weekly. Of the women included in the study, 51.9% (107/206) reported using a cell phone and 39.4% (74/188) reported using a computer to access health and/or safety information at least weekly. Approximately half of the women expressed an interest in receiving information about stress management (51%-56%) or alcohol and health (45%-46%) via ICT. Smartphone ownership was associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.97) and employment (OR 5.12, 95% CI 1.05-24.95). Accessing health and safety information weekly by phone was associated with younger age (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99) and inversely associated with higher income (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.20-0.92).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that ICT use, particularly smartphone use, is pervasive among predominantly black women with low socioeconomic status in urban, nonclinical settings. These results show that ICT is a promising modality for delivering health information to this population. Further exploration of the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of using ICT to disseminate behavioral health education and intervention is warranted.

No abstract

No abstract

BACKGROUND Information and communication technologies (ICT) offer potential for delivering health care interventions to low socioeconomic populations who often face barriers in accessing health care. However, most studies on ICT for health education and interventions have been conducted in clinical settings. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine access to and use of mobile phones and computers, as well as interest in, using ICT for receipt of behavioral health information among a community sample of urban, predominately black, women with low socioeconomic status. METHODS Participants (N=220) were recruited from hair salons and social service centers and completed audio-computer assisted self-interviews. RESULTS The majority of the participants (96%, 212/220) reported use of a mobile phone at least weekly, of which 89% (189/212) used smartphones and 62% (98/220) reported computer use at least weekly. Of the women included in the study, 52% (107/206) reported using a mobile phone and 39% (74/188) reported using a computer to access health and/or safety information at least weekly. Approximately half of the women expressed an interest in receiving information about stress management (51%-56%) or alcohol and health (45%-46%) via ICT. Smartphone ownership was associated with younger age (odds ratio, OR, 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.97) and employment (OR 5.12, 95% CI 1.05-24.95). Accessing health and safety information weekly by phone was associated with younger age (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99) and inversely associated with higher income (OR: 0.42, CI: 0.20-0.92). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that ICT use, particularly smartphone use, is pervasive among predominantly black women with low socioeconomic status in urban, nonclinical settings. These results show that ICT is a promising modality for delivering health information to this population. Further exploration of the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of using ICT to disseminate behavioral health education and intervention is warranted. CLINICALTRIAL NA