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WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation has partnered with The Kroger Co. and Solera Health for a program to help reduce the incidence of diabetes through community pharmacies.
Under the project, called “Project IMPACT: Diabetes Prevention,” the APhA Foundation was selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to build infrastructure in pharmacies to expand access to the CDC-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) evidence-based lifestyle change program, designed to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among adults with prediabetes.
In tandem with Kroger and Solera, the foundation aims to deliver the National DPP curriculum to at least 7,500 at-risk adults in underserved U.S. communities.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create infrastructure within highly accessible community pharmacies to deliver evidence-based diabetes prevention lifestyle change programs to the people who need it the most,” Benjamin Bluml, senior vice president of research and innovation at the APhA Foundation, said in a statement. “Working with our partners, The Kroger Co. and Solera Health, we will deliver an innovative model of diabetes prevention care, tailored to meet the needs of the participants, that we believe will help people lead healthier lives.”
Through Project IMPACT: Diabetes Prevention, pharmacists, dietitians and technicians at Kroger Co. pharmacies will be trained to deliver the National DPP lifestyle change curriculum to at-risk adults. Solera Health, a preventive care benefits manager, will support community outreach efforts and provide digital technology to facilitate delivery of the program.
“More than one out of every three American adults has prediabetes, and most are largely unaware. We believe that Kroger is uniquely positioned to connect with people in our communities and offer a personalized solution proven to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes,” stated Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Pharmacy and The Little Clinic, a Kroger Co. subsidiary. “Through the support of our partners, we will use a novel approach to reach more people, create better engagement, and improve outcomes.”
APhA noted that the hybrid model of care used in the program will include a combination of face-to-face, telehealth and digital technology solutions, enabling providers to cater to the needs of individual participants and help them successfully complete the diabetes prevention program.
“Solera Health is thrilled to join forces with the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, the CDC and Kroger as we work collectively to expand access to the National DPP,” commented Solera Health chief executive officer Brenda Schmidt. “Our technology platform was purposefully built to connect people with diverse backgrounds and resources, including underserved populations with the National DPP’s lifestyle change program that best meets their unique needs and preferences to prevent type 2 diabetes. With Project IMPACT: Diabetes Prevention, multimodal delivery of the program will increase access which should have a substantial and positive impact on patient engagement and outcomes.”
