Published On: October 5, 2017416 words2.4 min readCategories: Press ReleaseTags: , ,

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Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is joining with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the American Public Health Association (APHA) to host a pre-conference workshop for stakeholders to discuss strategies on building partnerships across public health agencies and pharmacies to improve patient health outcomes. The forum will take place in advance of the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting on November 4, 2017.

The workshop, “Building Health Department and Pharmacy Partnerships to Improve Community Health,” provides an excellent, limited-space opportunity for pharmacy stakeholders to hear from health department, pharmacy and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leading panelists on timely, highly-relevant topics, including preventive health, chronic disease, hypertension and public health preparedness.

“NACDS is extremely pleased to be able to collaborate on this workshop. As the face of neighborhood healthcare, pharmacies and pharmacists offer convenient and accessible patient-centered services every day. This workshop encourages the important coordination between pharmacies and public health partners to significantly improve patient health outcomes, access to care and preparedness efforts,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.

“Pharmacy’s long-time commitment to improving the public’s health lead to the development of the Pharmacy Special Primary Interest Group (SPIG) within the 25,000-member American Public Health Association. Currently, our 250 members give pharmacy a seat at the public health association table and the opportunity to advance pharmacy-public health partnerships throughout the diverse public health community. The workshop provides an opportunity for participants to learn about how these collaborations can demonstrate the value pharmacy brings to public health and in turn to the public’s health,” said Stuart Feldman, Ph.D., founding chair of APHA’S Pharmacy SPIG, interim head of Health Policy and Management, and professor emeritus of Pharmacy and Public Health at the University of Georgia College of Public Health.

“Pharmacies across our country, both big and small, play a vital role in supporting the public health mission of promoting health and wellness and preventing disease. This workshop is just one way to highlight this and stimulate strategies and practices to realize the full potential of this public-private partnership for the greater good of all communities,” said Michael Fraser, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

The workshop is free of charge and will be held on Saturday, November 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. There is limited space available. Registration is currently open online.