NCPA and AADE offer new diabetes education program

Pharmacists now have another way to obtain continuing education (CE) credits for diabetes management.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) have partnered on a new diabetes self-management training program for community pharmacies.

The online and live training course, available through AADE at http://www.diabeteseducator.org/daspa, provides 25 continuing pharmacy education contact hours, towards pharmacists' diabetes management accreditation.

Pharmacists can also increase their revenue stream after obtaining diabetes management accreditation. "You don't have to be a certified diabetes educator to be paid for diabetes services. You can be a pharmacist now, and provide this education," Popomaronis said. Diabetes services for patients could include medication therapy management programs, cost-containment programs, and providing products such as therapeutic shoes, he added.

The NCPA and AADE education program includes some live training contact hours. The first live training was held during the Missouri Pharmacy Association's Annual Convention and Tradeshow in Branson, Mo., June 9 through June 10. The second live training will take place as pre-convention programming at NCPA’s 112th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition in Philadelphia, Oct 21-22, 2010.

The diabetes education program includes "intensive, comprehensive educational classes targeted to diabetes patients to ensure every measure is being incorporated to improve their health outcomes and ultimately lower costs," according to a statement from NCPA.