PRESS RELEASE

PQA Offers New Continuing Education Course on Measuring Quality to Improve HIV Medication Use 

3-Hour Course is Accredited for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Nurses and Physicians 

Alexandria, Va. (September 8, 2021) – Safe, appropriate use of medication is an essential part of high-quality care that improves patient outcomes and healthcare affordability. To help healthcare professionals implement effective quality improvement programs for HIV medication use, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has developed a new, 3-hour continuing education (CE) course, “Measuring Quality to Improve HIV Medication Use.” The course can be taken independently or as part of PQA’s 15-hour Medication Use Quality online CE and certificate program. 

This CE course provides advanced training on HIV-related measurement and strategies to improve medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. It was specially designed to provide participants with practical tools and experiences to begin improving the quality of HIV care upon completion of the program. 

“Early, comprehensive treatment and optimized medication management significantly improve health outcomes for people living with HIV and reduce their overall cost of care,” said PQA Chief Executive Officer Micah Cost, PharmD, MS. “PQA developed this continuing education course to help pharmacists and other health care providers improve the quality of medication-related care. We support national goals to end the HIV epidemic, and this course is part of PQA’s contribution to that effort.”  

This HIV course is designed and nationally accredited for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses and physicians and is applicable for all levels of health care professions no matter their experience level working with persons living with HIV.  

“We designed this HIV continuing education course to be accessible and practical,” said PQA Education Director Amanda Ryan, PharmD, CPHQ. “It offers participants a high-level look at HIV from a population health perspective and successful HIV therapies before it covers current quality measures related to HIV and future opportunities for medication use measurement in HIV prevention and treatment.” 

This course is available online through PQA's Education Center (pqa.ceimpact.com). It can be taken as an independent course for $60 for members, $90 for non-members, and $40 for those who have completed the certificate program. Visit PQA’s website for details and instructions on how to access the program. Information on member pricing, discounts and group purchasing opportunities is available by contact PQA's education team at [email protected]. 

This activity was supported by an independent medical education grant from Merck & Co.

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