The Center for Medication Optimization through Practice and Policy at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is now the Center for Medication Optimization.
“This sharper name better reflects our focus on collaborative research that both informs systems change and prepares our students to be leaders in pharmacy practice,” said Jon Easter, director of the center.
The Center for Medication Optimization’s mission is to bring together health care stakeholders to create impactful real-world research, generate evidence, disseminate best practices and advance education that integrates medication optimization into value-based care delivery and payment models. We do this by serving as a neutral, respected third-party collaborator among academia, the private sector and the government to facilitate collaborative research that informs health policy and systems change.
The CMO is part of the School’s Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education. Its work is centered on four critical areas and priorities:
- Conducting real world research to advance pharmacy practice
- Creating strategic collaborations to inform patient-centered care
- Enhancing education to prepare future health care leaders
- Providing actionable evidence and thought leadership to shape health policy
These priorities are well reflected in our research collaborations and partnerships. For example:
- American College of Clinical Pharmacy
A grant focused on implementing and measuring impact of comprehensive medication management in 45 primary-care practices across the U.S. to improve patient care and accelerate the advancement of medication optimization as a critical component of value-based care delivery models. - Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Grant to Community Care of NC
The CMO is testing new reimbursement models for community pharmacies serving Medicaid, Medicare, dually eligible and NC Health Choice beneficiaries. - National Association of Chain Drug Stores
The CMO is developing a series of papers to capture the evolution and growth of clinical services in the community pharmacy setting.
For more information about the Center for Medication Optimization, visit pharmacy.unc.edu/research/centers/cmo/.