In order to brand its name and mission with targeted potential support groups and individuals, the PDMP Foundation went on the road to market itself at various conventions and trade shows in Florida.
Foundation executive director Bob Macdonald and E-FORCSE Program Manager Becki Poston and Outreach Program Director Erika Marshall were exhibitors at major state healthcare association and law enforcement conferences promoting the state’s PDMP database, and broad support for PDMP.
The PDMP “road show” got on its way in January 2014 with the Florida Podiatric Medical Association convention followed by the Florida Police Chiefs Association conventions in Orlando. In February, PDMP was an exhibiter at the Florida Sherriff’s Association conference in Sandestin. Later that month the trail led to Weston for the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association conference. This was followed in May by the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians in Orlando.
Support for PDMP was Strong Throughout the Year!
As summer rolled in, the PDMP and E-FORCSE staff were busy attending the Florida National Dental Convention in Kissimmee, the summer meeting of the FPMA in Naples, the Florida Association of Counties convention in Orlando, the Florida Academy of Pain Management conference in Orlando and the Florida Police Chiefs Association in Boca Raton.
As the foundation’s new fiscal year began on July 1, so came some of the bigger conferences. The PDMP exhibit was at the Florida Pharmacy Association convention in Ft. Lauderdale, the Florida Medical Association convention in Orlando, the Florida Sheriff’s Association summer conference in Ponte Vedra and the Florida Public Health Association meeting in Orlando.
August saw the foundation present at the Florida Chapter of Emergency Physicians meeting in Boca Raton and the Florida League of Cities convention in Hollywood Beach. In September, the PDMP will be at the FOMA Seminar in Tampa.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s $1.973M contribution to the PDMP Foundation to help fund the E-FORCSE database through 2018 is going to be the catalyst to seed what the board of directors hopes will be a strong endowment fund. With major corporation support, it is hoped that the foundation can increase the nearly $2M contribution to $5M over the next two years.
Foundation executive director Bob Macdonald said that the Attorney General’s generous gift can be used to seek challenge donations from target corporations that have an interest in seeing the E-FORCSE database be successful.
“The PDMP Board has been promoting that the attorney general’s contribution to fund the database will only ensure the program’s basic operations. Additional funds are needed for technological upgrades and to educate the over 140,000 licensed healthcare practitioners who can register to participate in the database about the system.” Macdonald said.
One drawback to seeking corporate support is that under the law forming the foundation the legislature restricted it from seeking contributions from the pharmaceutical industry.
PDMP Foundation Executive Director Bob Macdonald provided updates on the program to several regulatory boards. He has presented to the Florida boards of Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medicine and Podiatric Medicine.
All the boards were very appreciative of the role of the foundation to seek funds for the support of the E-FORCSE database and to help curb abuse and diversion of controlled substances.
Mr. Macdonald plans to visit all the professional boards of all the health care organizations whose licensees may participate in the E-FORCSE database.
The Overtaken Documentary – Jodi Barber and Christine Brant have teamed up with Ashley Media to produce a documentary about the ongoing prescription pill epidemic. This is the newest edition of the film, with slight modifications by the production company Modern Voyage, and was screened recently at the Newport Beach Film Festival.