Starting in the spring of 2022, Achor Family Pharmacy began working to reemphasize connections between the pharmacy and our local community. Through a partnership with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN), Achor Family Pharmacy was able to obtain a grant that allowed us to hire a Community Health Worker (CHW), Grace Turbyfill. After completing a two-week training process through CPESN Grace began working full-time at Achor Family Pharmacy. Grace’s role is to act as a liaison between our pharmacy and the community and to provide accurate and up-to-date information about vaccines and COVID-19 to our community members. Grace also works to schedule vaccine clinics and educational events at businesses and organizations around the community and attends monthly continuing
education meetings with UAMS and CPESN.
Since starting this program in May of 2022, Grace has organized several events throughout the community. Recently, this program has allowed us to further our pharmacy’s relationship with the Audubon Pointe Apartment Complex, which is a subsidized housing complex for elderly and disabled individuals. So far, our pharmacy has held a COVID-19 vaccine booster clinic at Audubon Pointe, and hosted a booth at the apartment complex's health fair. At the booster clinic, our pharmacy administered over 20 Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 booster shots to individuals living at Audubon Pointe. At the health fair, our pharmacy provided free hypertension screenings and hypertension patient education sheets to residents. Additionally, we provided information about healthcare within our community and information about vaccines offered at our pharmacy.
In the upcoming months, Grace will be putting on an educational event at Maumelle Center on the Lake, a recreational center for adults over age 50. This event will be a Jeopardy-style trivia game designed to educate participants about COVID-19 vaccines, as well as current CDC guidelines, while also being fun and entertaining. Additionally, our pharmacy is hosting a back to school bash, focusing on pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as other childhood vaccines. We plan to partner with local businesses and incorporate games, giveaways, and snacks in order to make the event fun for children while also providing vaccines and education to the community.
In the future, Achor Family Pharmacy plans to continue prioritizing community outreach and education. Grace will work to stay up to date on the current CDC vaccine recommendations and provide relevant information to members of our community. We also plan to continue organizing and hosting outreach events and vaccine clinics within the community.