NASPA's Point-of-Care Test and Treat National Certificate Training (POCT&T) Program

NASPA's Point-of-Care Test and Treat National Certificate Training (POCT&T) Program is organized by Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA).

2024 Dates and Locations:

• May 9 | 1-4:30 p.m. | Registration closes Apr. 25
• Aug. 21 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Registration closes Aug. 15
• Nov 14 | 1-4:30 p.m. | Registration closes Nov. 7

Description:
The NASPA Pharmacy-based Point-of-Care Test & Treat National Certificate Program provides an opportunity to gain the skills and information necessary to develop a testing program such as influenza, Group A Streptococcus, HIV, Hepatitis C, coronaviruses and chronic diseases. The target audience for the certificate program is pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists, academia and pharmacy association staff. While the program is primarily designed for pharmacists, non-pharmacists interested in point-of-care test and treat are also welcome to complete the program.

Learning objectives
At the completion of this activity, the pharmacist will be able to:

• Identify opportunities for expanding patient-centered services in pharmacy settings, using point-of-care testing and treatment.
• Discuss the value and limitations of patient-reported symptoms, medical history and drug allergies.
• Describe and perform the following physical assessments, when appropriate to patient care: blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygenation and cervical lymph node inspection
• Describe and perform the following specimen collections used in point of care testing: throat swab and nasal swab
• Identify characteristics of exemplar infectious diseases (e.g. influenza, Group A Streptococcus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, coronaviruses) regarding: causative agents, transmission, immunizations, symptoms and presentation, appropriate treatment and point-of-care testing.
• Define and contrast the following terms as they relate to point-of-care testing in pharmacies: CLIA, CLIA-waived, collaborative agreement, protocol, prescribe, diagnose.
• Explain the value and limitations of point-of-care tests, including rapid diagnostic tests, and list the steps a pharmacist can take to improve test performance.
• Apply all information to patient-specific cases based on common pharmacy-based patient interaction.

At the completion of this activity, the pharmacy technician will be able to:

• Identify opportunities for expanding patient-centered services in pharmacy settings, using point-of-care testing and treatment.
• Discuss the value and limitations of patient reported symptoms, medical history and drug allergies.
• Describe and perform under the supervision of a pharmacist the following physical assessments, when appropriate to patient care: blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygenation and cervical lymph node inspection
• Describe and perform the following specimen collections used in point of care testing: throat swab and nasal swab
• Identify characteristics of exemplar infectious diseases (e.g. influenza, Group A Streptococcus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, coronaviruses) regarding: causative agents, transmission, immunizations, symptoms and presentation, and point-of-care testing.
• Define and contrast the following terms as they relate to point-of-care testing in pharmacies: CLIA, CLIA-waived, collaborative agreement, protocol, prescribe, diagnose.
• Explain the value and limitations of point-of-care Tests, including rapid diagnostic tests.