![\"kerry_laplante_web\"](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1223\/kerry_laplante_web.jpg\")
KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 March 25, 2013 — The Pfizer Medical Education Group has awarded a University of Rhode Island pharmacy professor a $703,000, 2.5-year grant to boost the pneumonia vaccination rate among Rhode Islanders older than 65 and those with compromised immune systems.\nAssociate Professor of Pharmacy Kerry L. LaPlante<\/a> was one of only two applicants out of 70 nationwide to receive such a grant from the Pfizer group.
\n\u201cPfizer Medical Education Group liked the idea that we will be able to have an impact on the entire state,\u201d said LaPlante, whose specialties are infectious disease and drug resistant bacteria.
\nThe East Greenwich resident, who also holds a research appointment at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Providence, said the project\u2019s goal is to increase the vaccination rate from the current 71.7 percent to 90 percent. The initiative is especially important for Rhode Island, according to LaPlante, because the state has seen the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (pneumonia) increase from 9.1 per 100,000 individuals in 2007 to 11.9 in 2010. The 2010 incidence of invasive pneumonia was also markedly higher in the state compared to the national rate, 11.9 versus 8.8 per 100,000 individuals.
\nAs part of the application process, LaPlante received letters of support from Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee, Daniel Lefkowtiz, president of the Rhode Island Pharmacists Association, Patricia Raymond, chief of the Office of Immunization at the Rhode Island Department of Health, Mary Falvey, executive director of the Ocean State Immunization Coalition, CVS Care Caremark, Rite Aid and Target pharmacies, as well as other groups.
\n\u201cThis was a highly competitive grant process and I congratulate Professor LaPlante and the URI College of Pharmacy on its success,\u201d Chafee said. \u201cI was proud to support Professor LaPlante\u2019s application because this valuable funding will ultimately help us achieve a healthier state \u2013 and that is a goal we all share.\u201d
\n\u201cWith such great support and involvement from so many agencies and companies, we can achieve the goals of this project,\u201d LaPlante said. \u201cWe are going to help make it as easy as possible for health care professionals to vaccinate their patients, including help with billing. This vaccine saves lives.\u201d
\nThe Rhode Island Department of Health and eight other URI pharmacy professors are working with LaPlante on the grant titled, \u201cAddressing Educational and Coordination Barriers for Adult Pneumococcal Disease Prevention in Rhode Island.\u201d
\nThere are four key components to the project: education, coordination, communication and outcomes.
\n\u201cOur education outreach will include one-on-one meetings with community pharmacists, primary care physicians and other providers, including free clinics, clinics that serve diverse populations and ambulatory settings,\u201d LaPlante said. \u201cWe will accomplish this by involving faculty and our college partners, including 20 students.\u201d
\nThe team will focus on the elderly, smokers and underserved racially, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to improve coordination of care between health care practitioners as it relates to the vaccine,\u201d LaPlante said.
\nTo accomplish that, the team will distribute wallet cards, template letters and vaccination reminder postcards to pharmacies for their patients to coordinate care and foster communication with the patients\u2019 primary care providers. The project also calls for 30-second public service radio announcements that will convey the importance of vaccination among adults older than 65 and smokers.
\n\u201cWe will coordinate this effort with the Department of Health\u2019s Ocean State Adult Immunization Coalition, which has developed similar ads for statewide vaccination,\u201d LaPlante said.
\nFinally, the team will measure the effectiveness of the project by assessing the change in the incidence of pneumonia between the beginning and the end of the project. It will also evaluate the impact of the project on hospital admissions for pneumonia throughout the state.
\nThe assessment also includes changes in pneumonia vaccinations rates, the impact of education and coordination efforts among patients and health care professionals. LaPlante said results will be published and will include a step-by-step guide detailing each phase of the project, as well as the lessons learned.
\nThe following URI pharmacy professors are also on the project team: Jeffrey Bratberg, Aisling Caffrey, Brett Feret, Stephen Kogut, Virginia Lemay, K. Kelly Orr, Michelle Thomas, and Kristina Ward.
\nMedia Contact:\u00a0Dave Lavallee<\/a>, 401-874-5862<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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