Meet Parkview Health Services, a sponsor and community partner of Aspire of WNY. Parkview has helped to support the access and adherence of behavioral health medications across WNY for over 35 years and has worked alongside Aspire of WNY for over 20, describing themselves as advocates for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as well as their caregivers.
The relationship between Parkview Health Services and Aspire of WNY dates all the way back to 1995, when Aspire of WNY was formerly known as the United Cerebral Palsy Association (UCPA.) UCPA was making great strides toward the development of what is now our Residential Services department. By the mid 1990s, the movement of residential care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities started to gain more traction, creating a greater need for simplifying the process of administering mediations in UPCA group homes, so the UCPA and Parkview Health Services banded together to find an easier solution.
Before Parkview Health Services and the UCPA collaborated, administering medications in group homes was a time-intensive task. Group home staff typically had to go pick up medications for each resident of the group home themselves, as well as track the inventory of each medication vial during every medication pass.
Parkview Health Services offered simplified solutions to the UPCA, which are still being used during the medication pass process throughout Aspire of WNY group homes today. Parkview Health Services introduced Aspire of WNY residential homes to the option of medications packaged in blister cards, which allow the direct support staff to easily track inventory of every medication vial rather than emptying out each vial and counting tablets by hand at every med pass. The packaging upgrade along with preprinted Medication Administration Records (MARs), free delivery, and 24-hour emergency on call brought new efficiencies to the residential homes.
Parkview has a strong belief that all patients should be treated with kindness and respect, receiving the same level of utmost care, describing themselves as patient centered. “The IDD space is one of the most vulnerable patient populations, and we are here to ensure that this population receives an equal level of care,” explains Jamie Veirs, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Parkview Health. “We believe that everyone deserves kindness, dignity and respect.”
Today, Parkview is proud to provide medications and medication solutions for over 350 individuals who are supported by Aspire of WNY. Parkview is an extension of an individual’s care team, working closely alongside the primary channels of support throughout WNY, providing the highest level of pharmacy services possible.
Parkview has participated in or sponsored multiple community-based events planned by Aspire of WNY throughout the years. Parkview Health Services is proud to support and work alongside Aspire of WNY and other Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) agencies in WNY, including The Arc Erie County, People Inc., Community Services For Every 1 and Empower.
“Aspire of WNY is honored to be a partner of Parkview for over 20 years. They consistently exhibit the highest-level of professionalism, quality and customer service. Of most important is Parkview’s commitment to the individuals we support,” explains Renee Filip, President and CEO at Aspire of WNY.