APhA Foundation announces incentive grant winners

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation recently announced the 2015 recipients of its Incentive Grants for Practitioner Innovation in Pharmaceutical Care.

The grants help to implement or support innovative patient care services within pharmacy practice. They are credited with the development of more than 500 pharmacy-based projects.

This year’s grants gave special consideration to projects involving diabetes care, pharmacogenomics, medication adherence, collaborative practice agreements, and non-traditional point-of-care testing. The grants are supported with a donation from Amgen.

This year’s Student Innovation in Immunization Practices ($1,000) winner is:

·  Eduardo Fricovsky. UCSD Student Run Free Clinic, La Jolla, CA. Pneumococcal Immunization Community Access Program: Bridging the Disparity Gap among the Underserved Population

The Practitioner Innovation in Immunization Practices ($1000) winners are:

· Macon Carroll. Duren’s Pharmacy, Waynesboro, TN. Evaluating the Implementation of CDC Pneumococcal Recommendations in the Community Pharmacy Setting

·  Cortney Mospan. ETSU Charitable Pharmacy, Johnson City, TN. Improving Pneumococcal (PPSV23) Vaccine Knowledge, Attitudes, and Access for Indigent Adult Smokers

Residents and their Preceptors ($1000) also honored:

· Mary Abdelmalak. Uptown Pharmacy, Westerville, OH.
Patient and Physician Perceptions on Pharmacogenomics Testing and the Role of Community Pharmacists

· Gregory Blette. Kroger Central Division, Indianapolis, IN.
Evaluation of Pharmacy Technician Education in Relation to Community Pharmacy Vaccination Rates

· Jacqueline Deiley. Duren Pharmacy, Waynesboro, TN.  (Daniel A. Herbert Incentive Grant)
Evaluating Hospital Readmissions After Initiating Community Pharmacist-Directed Transitions of Care Program

· Aarthi Francis. Kroger Pharmacy, Cincinnati, OH.
Community Pharmacists and Chronic Pain: Developing and Implementing a Pain Medication Management Program

· Jessica Hinson. Waterfront Family Pharmacy, Morgantown, WV. Comprehensive Medication Synchronization Program

· Ashley Kempfert. Dr. Aziz Pharmacy, Indianapolis, IN.
Effect of a Pilot Care Coordination Program on Compliance with Naltrexone Extended Release Suspension for Injection

· Jonathan Lam. St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy, Cincinnati, OH. The iHEART Study: Impact of Hypertension Education and RPh-led Therapy Management for the Underserved

· Matthew Lengel. Kroger Pharmacy, Columbus, OH.
A Pharmacist-Led Fitness, Nutrition, and Weight Management Coaching Program: Patient Utilization and Expectations

· Jacqueline L’Heureux. Jewel Osco Pharmacy #3111, Franklin Park, IL. 
Impact of Pharmacist-Provided Patient Education on Primary Medication Non-Adherence Rates for Chronic Disease State Prescriptions in a Community Pharmacy Setting

· Leandro Llambi. Kroger Pharmacy, Cincinnati, OH.
Effect of a Pharmacist-Led Sleep Hygiene Coaching Program on Medication Possession Ratio of Sedative Used for Insomnia

· Andrew Morris. Kroger Patient Care Center, Lewis Center, OH.
Evaluation of Collecting Patient Medical History Using a Standardized Intake Form and the Impact on Identification of Drug Related Problems in a Community Pharmacy Setting

· Haley Palmer. Hen House Pharmacy, Olathe, KS. 
Evaluation of Pharmacy-Initiated Interventions on Vaccination Rates in Patients with Asthma or COPD

· Payal Patel. Jewel-Osco Pharmacy, Chicago, IL. Impact of a Community Pharmacist-Provided Medication Adherence Counseling Service on Patient Follow-up with Physician and Subsequent Medication Refills

· Erin Pauling, TigeRx Pharmacy, Honaker, VA. 
Evaluation of a Medication Synchronization Program and Associated Health Outcomes in Patients of TigeRx Pharmacy

· Kevin Popa. Jewel-Osco Pharmacy, Lombard, IL.
Change in Patient Clinical Outcomes After Completing a Community Pharmacist-Led Diabetes Education Program

· Katelyn Steele. Price Chopper Pharmacy, Overland Park, KS.
The Effect of Home-based Comprehensive Medication Reviews on Triple-Weighted CMS Star Rating Measurements

· Samantha Strong, Centro de Salud Familiar la Fe, Inc., El Paso, TX. Community-Based Pharmacy Team Collaboration to Increase Access to Diabetes Education in a Community Health Center on the U.S./Mexico Border

· Steven Swank. Fiver Rivers Health Center, Dayton, OH.
Impact of a Pharmacist in a Transitional Care Clinic on Readmission Rates and Adherence

· Whitney Tooley. Fagen Pharmacy, Valparaiso, IN.
The Feasibility of Genotype-Driven Medication Therapy Management within a Community Pharmacy