Kroger, APhA Foundation to help CDC scale National Diabetes Prevention Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be working with the American Pharmacists Association to build infrastructure to expand a program from the National Diabetes Prevention Program within community pharmacies.
Over the next five years, APhA, in partnership with Kroger and Solera Health, will implement Project IMPACT: Diabetes Prevention, which is aimed at bringing curriculum for the National DPP’s lifestyle changes program to roughly 7,5000 at-risk patients in underserved communities. Pharmacists, dietitians and technicians in Kroger pharmacy locations will be trained to deliver the curriculum to at-risk patients, while Solera Health will support community outreach efforts and furnish digital technology solutions to help facilitate delivery of the information. The APhA Foundation said the program’s hybrid model will allow it to be tailored to patient needs through delivery in-person, as well as through telehealth and digital technology solutions.
“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,” APhA Foundation senior vice president of research and innovation Benjamin Bluml said. “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.”
Currently, one-in-three American adults has prediabetes, and many are largely unaware of their risk. Kroger pharmacy and the Little Clinic president Colleen Lindholz said.
“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,” she said. “Through the support of our partners, we will use a novel approach to reach more people, create better engagement, and improve outcomes.”
Solera Health CEO Brenda Schmidt said, “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, multi-modal delivery of the program will increase access which should have a substantial and positive impact on patient engagement and outcomes.”