College of Pharmacy Joins National Effort to Transform Delivery of Medications to Curb Healthcare Spending

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Pharmaceuitcal researcher Martin D'Souza in his lab

Mercer University College of Pharmacy is joining the RAPID Alliance Medications 360 Study to help transform the delivery and use of medications and vaccinations in the United States over the next decade.

The College of Pharmacy will help lead an effort to co-create the RAPID Alliance Medications 360 Framework 2022-2031, a set of strategies and a national research agenda for optimizing the use of medications, vaccinations and emerging therapies in the United States. The RAPID Alliance, founded by the University of Louisville Center for Health Organization Transformation, is a research consortium of national pharmacy organizations, pharmaceutical companies and academic pharmacy researchers.

The framework builds on a 2020 research study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, that identified strategic opportunities to improve health and well-being for millions of people while reducing U.S. spending on hospitalizations, emergency department and doctor visits and other healthcare costs by as much as $528 billion.

The College of Pharmacy will contribute to this effort by supporting research and study sections, including those on vaccine hesitancy, substance abuse, health access and equity, and immigrant health and medication services. More than 30 colleges and universities across the country are participating.

“We are excited to partner on an important national effort to develop and implement novel actionable strategies and research priorities for better medication and vaccine use for the benefit of our nation’s health,” said Nader Moniri, Ph.D., professor and associate dean for research at the College.

RAPID Alliance plans to add up additional universities to the study in the coming months to support research and action in all 50 states. A national summit for all stakeholders is planned for April 2022.

“We believe national and state strategies driven by research by a multi-university research consortium like this is key to optimizing medication use for U.S. populations in the next decade,” said Lucina Maine, chief executive officer of the American Association of College of Pharmacy and a founding member of the RAPID Alliance Practice Council.  

To learn more or to join the study, visit https://meds360.starstudy.link