APhA Pharmacy-Based Test and Treat Certificate

Educate pharmacists about:

• Pharmacists’ ability to effectively provide point-of-care and diagnostic services
• Appropriate POCT for minor, nonchronic health conditions
• Contraindications to treatment, exclusion criteria for testing and treating, and physician referral criteria
• Good Laboratory Practices for preparing the testing site, sample collection, testing, and recording and reporting test results
• Pharmacist-led POCT and diagnostic services
• Best practices related to the pharmacists’ patient care process
• Development and maintenance of a relationship with clinicians

Prepare pharmacists to:

• Advance public health and patient care through improved access to POCT and diagnostic services.
• Select, recommend, and/or prescribe effective treatments.
• Discuss CLIA-waived laboratory requirements.
• Safely administer and perform POCT services.
• Partner with physicians to increase patient-centered care.

Direct pharmacist to resources necessary to:

• Effectively communicate with patients and other stakeholders about health resources.
• Provide POCT and diagnostic services in compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
• Access regularly updated information about CLIA-waived diagnostic tests.

Module 1: Overview of test-and-treat and point-of-care testing

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Describe the role of pharmacists and opportunities for expanded roles for pharmacists in POCT.
• Identify opportunities for pharmacists to use POCT under an established protocol in pharmacy practice.
• Describe research findings regarding pharmacists’ use of POCT to test and treat minor nonchronic conditions such as influenza and Group A streptococcus.
• Describe the steps for developing a pharmacy-based CLIA-waived laboratory.
• Develop processes to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standards.
• Apply criteria to select point-of-care devices.
• Develop policies and procedures for a CLIA-waived laboratory.
• Summarize Good Laboratory Practices for preparing the testing site, sample collection, testing, and recording and reporting test results.
• Describe the basic process of specimen collection for POCT.
• Describe the technique involved for the specimen collection types discussed.

Module 2: Pharmacotherapy for POCT, part 1 - Common viral and bacterial infections (i.e., mild acne, burns, vaginal candidiasis, tinea infections, headlice, and bite prophylaxis)

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Identify patients who should receive treatment for these conditions according to current recommendations.
• Perform patient assessment, including identification of “red flags” indicating more severe illness and appropriate actions.
• Conduct appropriate POCT for these conditions.
• Select safe and effective treatments.
• List contraindications to treatment and exclusion criteria for testing and treating for these conditions in the pharmacy setting.
• Identify when referral to a physician is necessary.

Module 3: Pharmacotherapy for POCT, part 2 - Skin conditions, fungal infections, and uncomplicated viral and bacterial infections (i.e., allergic rhinitis, cough, urinary tract infection, herpes zoster, and cold sores)

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Identify patients who should receive treatment for these conditions according to current recommendations.
• Perform patient assessment, including identification of “red flags” indicating more severe illness and appropriate actions.
• Conduct appropriate POCT for these conditions.
• Select safe and effective treatments.
• List contraindications to treatment and exclusion criteria for testing and treating for these conditions in the pharmacy setting.
• Identify when referral to a physician is necessary.

Module 4: Implementing test-and-treat protocol supervision

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of a business plan.
• List the core components of a typical business plan.
• Describe the elements required for an effective patient-focused POCT and treatment service.
• Discuss considerations and preparations needed prior to performing POCT.
• Identify issues related to billing insurers for POCT in a pharmacy.
• Review successful business models for POCT in the pharmacy, best-practice billing techniques, and patient and provider communication strategies.

For a complete list of learning objectives and for all APhA accreditation information and policies, please visit APhA’s website: APhA Delivering Medication Therapy Management Certificate Training Program

The second component of the Pharmacy-based Test and Treat certificate training program is an active learning seminar focusing on pharmacy practice implementation of POCT and diagnostic services. The live training seminar is based on the experience of practitioners involved in POCT advocacy and administration. The training seminar reinforces and expands on the self-study program and addresses areas such as the pharmacist-physician relationship, writing and entering into a supervised protocol agreement, and developing a business model.

Participants will be expected to perform physical assessments and techniques for the following diagnostic tests:

• Throat swab
• Oral fluid collection
• Nasal swab
• Finger stick testing

At the completion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Review considerations, preparations, and successful business models for performing POCT.
• Identify opportunities for expanding patient-centered services in community pharmacy settings using POCT.
• Discuss the value and limitations of patient-reported symptoms, medical history, and drug allergies.
• Describe and perform physical assessments when appropriate to patient care, which may include but are not limited to:
  • Blood pressure
  • Pulse
  • Respiratory rate
  • Oxygenation
  • Cervical lymph node inspection
  • Body temperature
  • Examination of throat and lungs.
• Perform the following specimen collections used in POCT:
  • Throat swab
  • Oral fluid collection
  • Nasal swab
  • Finger stick
• Apply this information to patient-specific cases.

For a complete list of learning objectives and for all APhA accreditation information and policies, please visit APhA’s website: APhA Delivering Medication Therapy Management Certificate Training Program

9:00 a.m.

• Check-in
• Welcome, introductions, and acknowledgments
• Part 1: Application of knowledge and skills for minor, nonchronic health conditions 

12:00 p.m.

• Lunch
• Part 2: Writing and entering into a supervised protocol agreement
• Part 3: Developing a business model
• Part 4: Selecting POCT devices, developing policies and procedures, and employee training
• Part 5: Review of specimen collection administration and collection technique and skills assessment

Robert Laux, Jr., PharmD
Assistant Professor
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Pittsburgh, PA

Christine O’Neil, PharmD
Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Director of Curriculum Development
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Pittsburgh, PA

Computer and Internet access are required to complete this activity. Please visit our website to view the Technology System Requirements in order to have a positive learning experience.

APhA's Pharmacy-based Test and Treat certificate training program is a joint program between APhA and the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. The program was developed by the University of Florida. Copyright © 2021 by the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

The American Pharmacists Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The Pharmacy-based Test and Treat certificate training program is approved for a total of 20.0 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit (2.0 CEUs). The ACPE Universal Activity Numbers (UAN) for this activity are listed below.

Successful completion of the self-study component involves passing the self-study assessment with a grade of 70% or higher and will result in 12 contact hours of CPE credit (1.2 CEUs). ACPE UAN: 0202-0000-20-179-H06-P / 0202-9999-20-179-H06

Successful completion of the live online seminar component involves attending the full live seminar, performing physical assessments and techniques, and completing the online assessment and evaluation. Successful completion of this component will result in 8 contact hours of CPE credit (0.8 CEU). ACPE UAN: 0202-0000-20-180-L06-P / 0202-9999-20-180-L06-P.

To obtain 20.0 contact hours of CPE credit (2.0 CEUs) for the Pharmacy-based Test and Treat certificate training program, the learner must complete all components listed above and claim credit for each component. Participants will need to have a valid APhA (pharmacist.com) username and password as well as a CPE Monitor account to claim credit. After credit has been claimed, please visit CPE Monitor for your transcript. The Certificate of Achievement will be available online upon successful completion of the necessary activity requirements on the participant’s My Training page.

Release Date: February 15, 2022

Expiration Date: February 15, 2025—Please note: NO Home Study credit granted after this date; Live Credit can only be granted within 60 days from the day of the seminar attended.

Cancellation

Reservations for the program cannot be held until the registration fee is received. Cancellations received in writing (via email) at least 7 days prior to the activity will receive a full refund if the learning material was not accessed. Cancellation requests made after 7 days will receive a refund minus a $25 cancellation fee if the learning material was not accessed. If the learning material was accessed, a refund minus a $150 cancellation fee will be provided. The learner and the registration fee may be transferred to a future offering to complete the program. Duquesne University reserves the right to cancel the program at any point in time. In that event, each participant will be notified via email and a full refund will be made.

Self-Study Material Information

Once payment is received you will receive an email outlining program information, agenda, objectives, requirements, and next steps. Self-study material will be available 14 days prior to the program date and forwarded to the email address provided at registration.

Online Attendance (Zoom, Teams, etc.)

Log-in via computer, tablet, or any mobile device 1 hour before program start to ensure properly functioning internet connection, microphone, and camera. Join the activity 10 minutes prior to start time for check-in and to adhere to activity schedule. Camera video must be functional and enabled for the duration of the program. Learners must be present and engaged for the entirety of the program and not participating in other activities during the program (e.g. - taking the program while simultaneously at work, while running errands, while babysitting, etc.) to be eligible for completion.

Online Etiquette (Zoom, Teams, etc.)

Continuing education office staff and program faculty, at their discretion, reserve the right to remove a learner for distracting or inappropriate behavior. The learner and the registration fee may be transferred to a future offering to complete the program. However, if a future program is not available, or it is deemed the participant is not eligible for a transfer, the participant will be removed and the registration fee will not be refunded.

Communications

All program communications will be sent to the email address submitted at registration. It is the registrant's responsibility to ensure that the email address submitted is current and correct. If you need to communicate with the continuing education office, please communicate with the email address used for registration. Please note that communications may be delayed during observed university holidays.