Single Source Procurement: Clinical Education Initiative – Pharmacy Training Program

Pursuant to New York State Finance Law § 163.10(b), The New York State Department of Health is presenting the following summary of relevant circumstances, and material and substantial reasons why a competitive procurement was not feasible.

The New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute's (NYSDOH/AI) requests an amendment to the Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) HIV/HCV Center of Excellence at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center. This amendment will cover the additional costs of creating an HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) training program for pharmacies through NYS.

It is imperative that the momentum of the governor's charge to end the HIV epidemic is not slowed due to a lack of training among pharmacists, who are essential members of the clinical team. CEI has proven their ability to deliver statewide training, develop targeted curricula and promote training to the appropriate audience. All of these factors ensure a rapid launch of this vital training initiative.

PrEP is a critical tool in our HIV prevention portfolio and the AIDS Institute is firmly committed to promoting access to PrEP in accordance with our state's plan to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020. Pharmacists play an important role in PrEP access and a person's ability to adhere to the medication. Ongoing meetings between the Office of the Medical Director and various professional pharmacist organizations have identified educational needs among pharmacists that need to be addressed to accomplish this. Access to learning resources for pharmacy professionals was requested to fill those needs.

This contract will result in online and in-person pharmacy activities/trainings and programs. Clinical education videos and in-person presentations will offer access to pharmacy continuing education credits (CPE). Pharmacy tools and educational materials directed at pharmacists will be developed and distributed. Education about PrEP and PEP will benefit pharmacists and help establish a working partnership between NY affiliated pharmacy associations and the AIDS Institute.

St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital was selected as the HIV/HCV Center of Excellence through a recent competitive procurement DOH-0000422-3450000 code: GL01. They are uniquely qualified to produce the educational products that can engage pharmacists across the state in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic. CEI as an initiative has met the educational needs of community providers caring for patients with HIV and AIDS for more than 20 years and has become a vital part of the educational landscape for clinicians in New York State and beyond. CEI has a well-deserved reputation among providers and an established history of keeping providers informed about the latest clinical guidelines and public health initiatives.

SLRHC serves as the NYSDOH AIDS Institute Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) and is designed to enhance the capacity of New York's diverse health care workforce to deliver clinical services to improve health outcomes related to HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HCV. The aims of the CEI are fourfold:

• Provide progressive HIV, HCV and STD education to clinicians
• Disseminate AIDS Institute clinical practice guidelines
• Expand the base of providers able to diagnose and care for HIV, HCV and STD patients
• Foster partnerships between community-based providers and HIV, HCV and STD specialists

CEI also serves as the HIV/HCV Center providing free education and training for medical providers in NYS. Clinicians are updated on the latest NYS guidelines to enhance the capacity to deliver clinical services to improve health outcomes related to HIV/HCV. SLRHC's existing relationship and current competitively-procured role make them the most logical and efficient recipient for this funding.

Procurement / Program Name	Clinical Education Initiative – Pharmacy Training Program
Contractor Name(s)	St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital
Contract Period	7/1/2015 - 6/30/2016
Contract Number(s)	C029597