Pharmacists enhance national security through medical countermeasure program leadership.

Abstract

Background: Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats and emerging infectious diseases are significant threats to public health and national security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection plays a vital role in safeguarding the nation's borders and protecting against all threats. Pharmacists, with their expertise in medication and public health, can play a crucial role in medical countermeasure (MCM) programs.

Objectives: The study aims to identify pharmacist-led quality improvements and explain expanded pharmacist roles through advancing a federal MCM program.

Practice description: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the nation's largest law enforcement agency charged with protecting the American people and safeguarding the nation's borders.

Practice innovation: Program management for MCM transitioned to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer under pharmacist leadership, better aligning the program with the agency's health security mission.

Evaluation methods: Pharmacists conducted a baseline program analysis then spearheaded 5 improvements over 1 year to fill identified gaps. Pharmacist-led improvements include development of a Standard Operating Procedure for accountability, SharePoint site development for inventory tracking/reporting, inventory analysis through SharePoint utilization, creation of a MCM channel in Microsoft Teams for information sharing, and establishment of a Point of Dispensing exercise schedule for readiness.

Results: Pharmacist-led improvements resulted in Standard Operating Procedure recognition as best practice guidance by the Department of Homeland Security, improved inventory completion rates from 0% to 99%, initiation of 29 new MCM sites protecting 3,000 additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection workforce and persons in custody, inventory distribution to 55 sites protecting 35,000 additional personnel and persons in custody, enrollment of 247 members to the MCM channel in Microsoft Teams, improved Point of Dispensing exercise completion from 5% to 66%, and scheduled 90 Point of Dispensing exercises.

Conclusion: Pharmacists play a vital role in MCM program advancement and contribute to national security efforts against chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats and emerging infectious diseases.