# Implementation of support tools to promote safety in the prescribing of oral contraceptives

> **NIH NIH R43** · OVARYIT, LLC · 2022 · $214,719

## Abstract

Summary
Nearly half of the pregnancies in the United States are unintended despite the discovery of the first combination
hormonal contraceptive in the 1960s. Hormonal contraceptives are an efficacious and cost-effective strategy to
decrease the rate of unintended pregnancy. Lack of access to contraceptive services, especially for adolescents,
minority women, and women of lower socioeconomic status creates significant health and financial inequities
and leads to significant US government expenditures. Pharmacist-prescribed contraceptive services have the
potential to increase access to care, decreasing the number of unintended pregnancies in the US. Pharmacists
have expressed interest in providing contraceptive services but have cited several barriers that currently serve
to hinder their expansion. For the widespread growth of pharmacist-prescribed contraceptive services, an
implementation package is needed that addresses the barriers that currently exist. A contraceptive-specific
Electronic Health Record system that increases efficiency, incorporates point-of-care tools, and is affordable will
be the foundation of a successful implementation package. OvaryIt, a Florida-based small business, has
developed a proprietary HIPAA-compliant contraceptive-specific platform for the provision of direct-to-consumer
telehealth services. We propose to adapt this platform to serve as the foundation of a comprehensive
implementation package to expand in-person pharmacist-prescribed contraceptive services. Phase I will support
studies to investigate the feasibility and establish a proof-of-concept of such a solution. Aim 1: Conduct a needs
assessment to determine operational requirements. This will result in project documentation and the roadmap
needed to integrate contraceptive functionality within existing Pharmacy Management Systems. Aim 2:
Completion of a study of 20 pharmacist end-users comparing the OvaryIt platform to the current standard paper
charting process. Each pharmacist will complete two standardized contraceptive patient encounters, one utilizing
each process. Outcomes will include time to completion of the encounter, compliance with the USMEC
guidelines, appropriate prescription selection, and quantitative survey data. Aim 3: Conduct a focus group with
pharmacist end-users and administrative stakeholders to discuss the perceived strength and quality of the
proposed project solutions for each of the identified barriers or pain points to implementation success. At the end
of Phase I, OvaryIt, LLC will have a roadmap for a comprehensive implementation package with vetted solutions
for the many barriers that currently prevent the adoption of pharmacist-prescribed contraceptive services. Phase
II efforts will allow for the creation of a comprehensive implementation package ready for widespread
commercialization to independent, large chain, and health system-based pharmacies. A tremendous market
opportunity exists for OvaryIt, LLC and participating p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10547335
- **Project number:** 1R43HD110346-01
- **Recipient organization:** OVARYIT, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Kucek
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $214,719
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-05 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10547335

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10547335, Implementation of support tools to promote safety in the prescribing of oral contraceptives (1R43HD110346-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10547335. Licensed CC0.

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