NCPA 2015 promises practical, profitable solutions for independents

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) holds its annual convention at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Md., this Saturday, Oct. 10 through Wednesday, Oct. 14, with opportunities to network/socialize, share great ideas, and learn.

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NCPA is offering 18.25 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit during the convention, and promises attendees the ability to gain insights into some new areas, including specialty pharmacy, long-term care, and transitions of care.

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New CE courses

Monday, Oct. 12, the presentation “How to create a specialty pharmacy presence for your community pharmacy,” will explore how independent pharmacy fits into the marketplace and what is required to participate. Discover what options are available for independents to obtain capabilities of a specialty pharmacy. The CE session is scheduled at 8-9:30 am in National Harbor 3.

Monday afternoon, independents interested in long-term care (LTC) pharmacy should consider the “LTC legislative/regulatory update: State of the industry,” with presentations from four experts, including Clif Porter, of the American Health Care Association; Barbara Gay, JD, of Leading Edge; and Cynthia Morton and Donna Doneski, of the National Association for the Support of Long-Term Care. The 1.5-hour workshop takes place from 4-5:30 pm in National Harbor 11.

Tuesday, Oct. 13, another workshop, “LTC niches: New and creative residential settings,” covers opportunities to market your patient care services and LTC services to non-traditional residential settings for seniors and other patients. Reed Richardson of Simple Meds; Dixie Leikach, RPh, MBA, FACA, of Finksburg Pharmacy; and Doug Russell, RPh, of Pharmacy Alternatives will share their expertise at 8-9:30 am in National Harbor 11.

If you are interested in promoting health within your community, consider attending the presentation, “Exploring the expanding opportunities in transitions of care,” sponsored by Merck, also held on Tuesday morning. Doug Josephson, RPh, FASCP, Hometown Pharmacy-Rockford LTC; Jennifer Shannon, PharmD, BCPS, Lily’s Pharmacy of Johns Creek; and Richard Logan, Jr., PharmD, L&S Discount Pharmacy, will cover changes in hospital, LTC, and physician payment structure that make transitions of care programs attractive to health systems as well as the business model for an existing transitions in care program and how to adapt it to your pharmacy setting. The session is scheduled from 9:45-11-45 am in National Harbor 3.

Exhibit hall

This year’s exhibits will be held in the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Halls 2-5, Level 1. Check the exhibitor listing in NCPA’s program guide and locate the floor plan on page 60. Don’t worry if you can’t get to every booth the opening day. The exhibit hall will be open Saturday, Oct. 10, 7-9:30 pm; Sunday, Oct. 11, 1:30-6 pm; and Monday, Oct. 12, 12-4 pm.

NCPA app

Be sure to download the NCPA Mobile app from Apple App Store (iPhone/iPad users) or Google Play Store (Android users). For Blackbery, Windows Phone, laptap users, go to www.ncpanet.org/app.

Also, share your photos during NCPA 2015 using the hashtag #NCPA2015. Follow Drug Topics on Twitter (twitter.com/Drug_Topics) for live coverage during the meeting.

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