Custom Data, Inc. Receives USDA SBIR Grant to Research Medication Therapy Management via Telpharmacy

Dickinson, N.D. – Custom Data, Inc. has been awarded $80,000 in a phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The grant focuses on researching the delivery of medication therapy management (MTM) services through the use of telepharmacy. The research will be led by Principal Investigator Ryan Jilek, president of Custom Data, Inc.

“Custom Data, Inc. began creating and implementing telepharmacy technology for the North Dakota Telepharmacy Project in 2002,” said Jilek.  Meanwhile, access to medication therapy management services has been a growing concern for many Americans.  According to Jilek, “support from the grant will provide an important step to build on our proven telepharmacy technology to provide an essential service to areas currently struggling in offering MTM services.”

Medication Therapy Management services are professional services provided by a pharmacist to help maximize their patients’ therapeutic results.  These services often include patient health assessments, creating a medication treatment plan, patient health monitoring and medication reviews.  Evidence shows MTM reduces the use of unnecessary physician and hospital services by reducing adverse health events and in the end total health costs.

Research under this grant will be conducted with pharmacies across North Dakota to determine a model for the delivery of MTM services to remote pharmacies. Providing consulting services to Custom Data, Inc. will be Dr. Daniel Friesner from the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Sciences at North Dakota State University, Dr. Mark Schroeder from the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at North Dakota State University and Howard Anderson, executive director of the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy.

For more information, contact Ryan Jilek with Custom Data, Inc. at 701.483.3036 or at jilek@customdata.com.

Roughrider Days Fair & Expo Begins Soon

Dickinson, North Dakota’s summer celebration called Roughrider Days Fair & Expo is starting June 26th and will continue thru July 5th. Roughrider Days Fair & Expo is an annual event assisted in part by the Stark County Fair Association. The events are organized by: Roughrider Commission, 4-H Clubs, Arts Roundup, Family Fun Day, and Southwest Speedway.

There will be a PRCA Rodeo each evening from June 26-28 at 6:15 pm, sponsored by Larry Heiser Motors. June 29-July 2 there will be a variety of 4-H events, including static exhibits and livestock exhibits.

Musical sensation, Sawyer Brown, will be playing Friday, July 3. The opening band for Sawyer Brown will be Chris LeDoux’s Western Underground Band. Tickets for this concert are $35 per person, general admission, and non-refundable.

July 4th brings a wide array of events. There will be a parade at 10 am, a family fun day from 12 to 4 pm, and fireworks at 10 pm. Arts Roundup will be held the same day from 11 am to 7 pm.

On the final day of Roughrider Days Fair & Expo (July 5th) a demolition derby sponsored by Sax Motor Company will be held. It will start at 1 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids age 6-12, and kids 5 & under are free.

For more information on any of these events or for a full list of events please call (701) 483-7721 or visit the Roughrider Days Fair and Expo website.

Kim Hayes
Talent Initiative Assistant
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Bijou Show House Hosts Live Music

Merrill Piepkorn and The Radio Stars will be playing live on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Bijou Show House in Beach, North Dakota. There will be a variety of music played including country, western, blues, & gospel.

Tickets for this event are $7.50 in advance or $10.00 on the day of the concert. Checks are accepted by mail and tickets at will call by 6:30 pm on July 1st.

To find out more information about this event or to get a full listing of events taking place at the Bijou Show House, please call Emanuel Culman at (701) 872-2444.

Kim Hayes
Talent Initiative Assistant
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Business Challenge 2009 Begins Sunday

Business Challenge 2009 begins this Sunday, June 21, and continues on thru Friday, June 26. This year, Business Challenge is featuring guest speakers Bob Upgren, John Beede, Sara Laske, Mylo Hatzenbuhler, and many more. It is free and open to the public, so feel free to stop by and watch when you can!

For a complete schedule of events or for more information, please cal the Business Challenge office at (701) 483-2515 or email katherine.mehrer@dickinsonstate.edu.

Kim Hayes
Talent Initiative Assistant
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Free Bandshell Concert Series

Arts on the Prairie proudly presents free summer bandshell concerts, held at 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday at the Phil Patterson Memorial Bandshell (alternate site in case of inclement weather is the Dickinson Recreation Center) in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Bandshell Summer Concert Series 2009 Schedule:

June 16       Cottonwood — bluegrass group from Washburn, ND

June 23       The Prairie Rose Choir — local a cappella women’s choir

June 30       Aka’Fella — local a cappella men’s group

July  7          New Horizon — bluegrass group from Regent, ND

July 14         Dickinson’s Got Talent Top 10 — singing, dancing, and musical performances by local talent

July 21         A Tibor Four — classic folk, country, and gospel family band from Dickinson

July 28         Quintana — 17-year-old country western singer from Halliday, ND

August 4      The Chuck Kadrmas Band — local accordion and saxophone band playing the classics

August 11     Dacota Breeze Band — country and classic rock band from Richardton, ND

Bandshell events are free and open to the public. Bring your children and your lawn chairs to settle in for great community fun!

For more information please contact Arts on the Prairie at (701) 483-4542.

Kim Hayes
Talent Initiative Assistant
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

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