- Email: [email protected]
1990: APhA's Year in Review
Dear Colleagues: y any standards, 1990 has been a very good year for the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) . Looking back on the year - my first full year in office - I am proud, exhilarated by our growth , and excited about the future. During 1990, we made significant changes in our vision for the Association and improvements In how the Association operates . First and foremost, the APhA Board of Trustees has proposed new missions for the Association and for the pharmacy profession (see p. 37). The statements, which were published in Pharmacy Today and American Pharmacy, have received strong support from members. The Board plans to finalize the statements in 1991 to coincide with the release of the Association's "White Paper on the Pharmacist's Role in Comprehensive Drug Therapy Management," which will help define pharmacy's responsibilities in the nation's health care system and put the mission statements into practice. Of equal importance in 1990 were our efforts to restructure the Association's day-to-day operations. During the past year, APhA focused on balancing the budget and ending the past pattern of spending from reserves. We balanced the budget by cutting expenses, including a 100/0 staff reduction and significant cuts jn travel and meeUng expenses . In addition, we worked toward increasing revenues jn several areas: • Launching Q-A, Inc., a national drug utilization revieW program. • Expanding marketing opportunities with state pharmaceutical assQciations. • Increasing advertising in American Pharmacy. • Introducing Pharmacy Update, a weekly newsmagazine featurimg employmenr~oppor~ tunities. .fli 1t1?'" • Publishing the Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, Ninth ':EdifiOn, the oniy resource of its kind in the profession. To complement the Association's new rqjssion and ~oals a~d to mpre efficiently manage the Association's resources, we also reorganized our starr. APhA's staff is now dfvided into four major divisidns, 1'createcttcy 1getter meet%~he ,~mafl~ ing needs of pharmacists and the pharmacy professio~. The fO.klr . is' ns are Ph ~cy Affairs, which oversees the needs of APhA:s three academies and'
B
>@!
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'ir
,
an
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John A.,. Gans ru APhA Executive '2ce:resid~nt , @",
32
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991/32
Fighting for Phannacists' Rights Opposing Restrictions That Hinder Pharmacist Dispensing
N
othing threatened the core of pharmacists' rights in 1990 more than the controversy over Clozaril (clozapine), Sandoz Pharmaceuticals' new antipsychotic drug. APbA played the leading role in organizing opposition to the Clozaril Patient Management System (CPMS), the exclusive drug distribution plan that prohibits the majority of pharmacists ft~m dispensing or monitoring ClO,zaril tberal1Y'0 Under CPMS, only Caremark ,liif. aealth c encies may distribute the drug' after white blood cell counts are !!l performed. San !Z says this restrictive distribution plan is necessary because Clozaril has been associated with a 1%-2% incidenceofagranulofatal blood disorder. cytosis, a
studies on the cost-effectiveness of reimbursing pharmacists for the cognitive services they provide; and a drug use review program that recognizes pharmacists' skills in drug therapy screening and patient counseling.
Reestablishing Trust in Generic Drug Products With last year's revelations of fraud and corruption in the generic drug approval process, some pharmacists and patients lost confidence in generiC drug products. Recognizing the need to help rebuild that confidence, APhA President Philip P Gerbino testified to a House subcommittee that the Association is willing to help Congress in any of its efforts to reassure the public of the qrutlity of approved generic drug products. GerbinQ also vOiecp. MbA's support for t1!e ~rge;Q.CY fuod at;td D.,g El;l{orcetnent Act 990, which setspel1alties for those invotved in generic drug, fraud and gives additionalinvestigational authQrity to FDA and Congfe~ to help them uncovel' future instances of corruption.
~
Seeking ,Reimbursement for Pharmacists 1990 w,as th'e,:year Congress succeeded in
fQrcillgpharm~ceutical manufacturers to reduce druglRri~eS'
?iff
also addressed.mQl.'especialized cOll~ems of phannacists by,:! .: Sponsoring the Pharmaeist$ section program att~ b Annual Session he University of tJt i on Alcoholism d Other Drug Dependencies. The program"helps train those who are involved, or wish to become involved, in state-level programs to assist pharmacists and pharmacy students whose competence has been compromised due to chemical dependency or other causes. The 1990 program attracted a record 95 pharmacists. • Advocating pharmacists' rights to perform cholesterol, glucose, and drug-level screenings by speaking out against a proposed Health Care Financing Administration rule that could prevent cholesterol screenings in pharmacies. • Helping to convince the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to rewrite a rule that would have hindered nuclear pharmacists' ability to prepare radiopharmaceuticals and had the potential to compromise patient safety. • Attaining a fair policy for returning pharmaceuticals u~der the Prescription Drug MarketingAct.
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991/33
33
Helping Phannacists in Ptactice Providing Tools for Monitoring Patient Care To enhance and promote cost-effective pharmacy care and elevate the public's awareness of pharmacists' knowledge, APhA bas fonned a subsidiary corporation, Q-A, Inc., to provide drug utilization review (DUR) nationwide. APhA has joined the Iowa PharmaciSts Association and the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care in the business venture, targeted to state Medicaid programs and various corporations. Q-A, Inc.'s unique software system identifies those patients who are most likely to have drug therapy problems. Although most DUR programs only measure frequency and patterns of drug use, Q-A's software system screens individual patient profiles for contraindications and potential adverse drug reactions} allowing for therapeutic intervention. These mt~tfVentions 4t'e handled by state association-pr6vided teams of physicians and pharmacists who, using guidelines established by Q-A, work with providers to optimize therapy.
•
Performing Product Selection. The guidelines provide sound advice on making dispensing and purchasing decisions that result in the best patient care. To help pharmacists compare and select the best products for their patients, APhA also voiced its concerns to Congtess and FDA about the lack of adequate lpformation on generic drug labels. At a Marcn1990 congressional bearing, APhA Past President R. David Cobb testified that the federal government could help pharmacists by matldat~g more complete labeling for generis; . rOOucts. "Without b t . ('the Pharmaci§tt~ 1t infQ(mation.,'t~ l\e{iponsibllity of sele< ality geneljc equiv~k lents is more difficult it needs to be." APbA has also called for reviSion of FDA's Approved Drug;P roducts withTlJerapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, also knoWllas the '~Orange Book," tQ '~ake it a more Us
t?J
APItA's Publica Practical Infor on Pha[macists CahUse
Providing Information Pharmacists Need To help pharmacists determine which generic products to trust after the generic drug scan~ dais, APbA's Bioequivalency W>rking Group released the Guidelines for Phar'ffl4cist's
d>. segments -llandbook Edition, the completelJ; and updated version of the classiC reference on nonprescription products. • Tableting Speci/icatio'(J Manua4 Third Edition, the most compre!Wpsive source of informa~ tion available on the ~ds and quality control programs for ,ting tools. • National Pharmacists.. CompensationSurve~ which lists essential salary information for anyone in the profession who. is looking for a job or recnliting phannacists,
34
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991134
Expanding Career Opportunities Recognizing Pharmacists' Expertise The Board of Phannaceutical Specialties (BPS) continued to expand its work in credentialing phannacists within specialized areas of pmctice. BPS was created by APhA in 1976 to recognize specialties in pharmacy. To date, BPS has recognized three - nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support pharma<..-y practice, and pharmacotherapy: The work of BPS also involves: • Establishing standards for certification and recertification of pharmacists. ,II Certifying and recertifying qualified pharmacistS. • Acting as a clearinghouse of information on specialization in pharmacy. BPS is currently undertaking a self-study process. As part ofttbis process, presentations hav~ been ·made pharmacy associations and received from pharmacy associationS, pharmacists, and other i).ealth care Profcss,t<]Qals. An interim report on this self-assessm<;:~'t 'fill be given on March 10, 1991, at the APhAAmlual Meeting. A final report is scheduled fur~ch 1992. J3I>S received a ,t,l:etjtion for the recogrtition of ps pha,rJlla ecialty .practice area in r 19,0. tltion is currently under veloping certification "examinations in tUt; areas of nutrition support andpharmacotherapy. Also during 199Q~ :recertification procedures for board·certjf~ed&,&uclear. pharmacists were implemented.
pharmacist'i face, such as lack of autonomy, insufficient room for advancement, and long hours. Following up on the session, the 1991 APhA Annual Meeting and Exhibit will feature the first-ever Career Expo, a ~'Pecial exhibit where employees can meet and talk to prospective employers. The meeting will also offer several educational sessions tailored for employee pharmacists.
•
Teaching Business to Pharmacists Now in its seventh year, the APhA William
s. Apple Memorial Program in Community Pharmacy Management has taught management skills to more than 100 pharmacists. Supported by a grant from SmithKIine Beecham, the six-day symposium is jointly developed by business and pharmacy schQols to give pharmacists expertise in management strategies, interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities. The 1990 program, held June 2-8 at the University of California, San Francisco, featured topics such a$ defining a community pharmacy's market sc19Dents, conducting a cQmput<;:rized financial analysis of pharmacy .lationS, and 0~ learning to deal with co~ l ' arjse with patients. The 1991 Apple Pharmacy Management, Program will be held at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy; Jury !2~27. •
f
~
w
'11>:"
Targeting Young Ph Working for Employee Pharmacists .!if
Focusing on.4~s of concern. to employed phartnac.iSts continues to be one of APhA's top priorities. Finding ways to deal with employees' concerns was the focus of a day-long forum held during the Annual Meeting. Pharmacists who attended the session recommended ways APhA and others couId help employee pharmacists by providing workshops that teach employt:;es how to communicate and negotiate with their managers; creating a network system tbatenables employed pharmacists to exchange ideas and information with peers and colleagues; and providing more information about the problems that employed
RecogniZing the special .needs of young phannacist8, the APhA Board ofTrustees formed a )bung Pharmacists Committee. The committee is charged With recommending and helping to plan programs for pharmacists just entering the profession. APhNs advancement opportunities for young pharmacists also include the Community Pharmacy Residency Prog:ram, a one-yeir postgraduate training program in community ambulatory practice, and the Executive Residency, a one-year program offering nine months of association manag~ment experience at APhA and three months at a selected state pharmaceutical association.
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991/35
•
35
~""J.JLJIL
.......---g Education:
......... .. .
mail ord 'r pharmacy, the generic drug crisis, the PhannI) issuc, and the repeal of the Mediar . Catm;trophic ,overage Act. '1he PhA l!xhibit Hall was the largest in APhA history with more than 280 booths. The 1991 Annual Meeting, March 9-13,1991, in 'ew Orle.ms, ""'ill once again feature more [han 75 quality education programs with specia.l programs on achieving optimum therapeutic outcomes, enhancing career development, and the value-added services pharmacistc.; can offer. S'
•
with drug or
APhA Annual Meeting and Exhibit
o
•
A Global Perspective For pharmaccutical scientists, APhA held its third End-of-Sumtller Science Symposium, "The Globalization of Pharmaceuticals," September 13-14. The symposium brought together international leaders from industry; acadeinia, and government to discuss the social, economic, technological, and therapeutic aspects ofpharmaceutical globalization. The keynote speaker was Uwe Reinhardt, the James Madison Professor of Political Economy at Princeton University and a renownedscholat on health economics, Reinhardt said that despite today's economic trend toward gl~ga1iza tion, it's unlikely that one universal standard o( health care will emerge throughout the world.
• Phannacy'S Crudallssoes In 1990, the APhA House of Delegates - the largest and most representative den10cratic body in American pharmacy - acted on a broad range of issues to protect and enhance public health. The House, made up of APhA rndnbers froln all segrnents of pharmacy, deliberated at the Annual Meeting, March 10-14, in \X'a.lihington, D.C. Policies adopted by the HOllse support: • Coyerage of FDA-approved drugs and pharn1aceutical services connected with the delivery of such drugs by govet:nment and other third party payers when used rationally for indications other than those specified in product labeling. • A patient's freedom to choose a provider of health care services and a provider's
36
• merican Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991136
CnIcial Issues (continued) right to be offered participation in governmental or other third party programs under equal terms and conditions. • Distribution of educational materials on the risks of sharing neeples Of syringes with respect to the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases. APhA also supports a study of the effectiveness of pilot needle or syringe exchange programs in preventing the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases and supports such exchange programs when they are part of a comprehensive approach in the preven-
tion of such diseases.
• Proper handling and disposal of hazardous pharmaceutical products and associated supplies and materials. • Working with schools and colleges of pharmacy and pharmacy organizations to address differences between contemporary practice and curriculum offerings. • The concept of the "drug free workplace." The House recommends that where drug testing is performed in the workplace, it be conducted as part of an employee assistance program.
••
A Vision for the Future >
To help all pharmacists reach a common understanding of their role in health care, the APhA Board of 11ustees proposed two new mission statements - one for the pharmacj profession and one for the Association. APh& proposed mission for phannacy is "to serve society as the profession responsible
":i\. for the appropriate use of medication, devices, and services to achieve optimal therapeutic out-
comes." The proposed mission for APhA is "to serve its members, enabling them to advance the profession of pharmacy in fulfilling its mission in health care." To fulfill the profession's mission, APhA will: • Enhance and support the profession of pharmacy • Provide vision and leadership in developing the continually evolving mission of pharmacy • Ensure the integrity of pharmacy through the establishment and enforcement of professional standards and ethics. • Provide a national democratic forum for the development of policy to guide and advance the profession. • Provide activities and services to assist members in achieving professional excellence and growth. • Represent the profession in the public, governmental, and interprofessional sectors. • Efficiently and effectively manage the Association's assets and resources. To accomplish the mission of the Association, APhA will: • Promote, evaluate, and expand the practice of the individual pharmaciSt. • Provide leadership for the profession in the areas of specialization and credentialing in pharmacy • Provide leadership for the profession in legislative and regulatory matters and health policy issues. • Promote the effective application of science and scientific information and principles in pharmacy • Develop progressive payment methods for the full range of pharmacy services.
• Provide information, programs, and support systems to assist pharmacists in their ongoing career development, leadership development, and professional growth. During 1990, APhA solicited members' reactions to the proposed mission statements, which were unveiled by APhA President Philip P. Gerbino during the 1990 Annual Meeting. The mission statements received overwhelming approval from the membership and will be finalized in 1991. APhA is also developing a "White Paper on the Pharmacist's Role in Comprehensive Drug Therapy Management" to help define pharmacy's responsibillties in the nation's health care system and put its mission statements into practice. The paper will be released in 1991.
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991137
37
•
•
B
>@!
".
'ir
,
an
i;l .
Illt
John A.,. Gans ru APhA Executive '2ce:resid~nt , @",
32
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991/32
Fighting for Phannacists' Rights Opposing Restrictions That Hinder Pharmacist Dispensing
N
othing threatened the core of pharmacists' rights in 1990 more than the controversy over Clozaril (clozapine), Sandoz Pharmaceuticals' new antipsychotic drug. APbA played the leading role in organizing opposition to the Clozaril Patient Management System (CPMS), the exclusive drug distribution plan that prohibits the majority of pharmacists ft~m dispensing or monitoring ClO,zaril tberal1Y'0 Under CPMS, only Caremark ,liif. aealth c encies may distribute the drug' after white blood cell counts are !!l performed. San !Z says this restrictive distribution plan is necessary because Clozaril has been associated with a 1%-2% incidenceofagranulofatal blood disorder. cytosis, a
studies on the cost-effectiveness of reimbursing pharmacists for the cognitive services they provide; and a drug use review program that recognizes pharmacists' skills in drug therapy screening and patient counseling.
Reestablishing Trust in Generic Drug Products With last year's revelations of fraud and corruption in the generic drug approval process, some pharmacists and patients lost confidence in generiC drug products. Recognizing the need to help rebuild that confidence, APhA President Philip P Gerbino testified to a House subcommittee that the Association is willing to help Congress in any of its efforts to reassure the public of the qrutlity of approved generic drug products. GerbinQ also vOiecp. MbA's support for t1!e ~rge;Q.CY fuod at;td D.,g El;l{orcetnent Act 990, which setspel1alties for those invotved in generic drug, fraud and gives additionalinvestigational authQrity to FDA and Congfe~ to help them uncovel' future instances of corruption.
~
Seeking ,Reimbursement for Pharmacists 1990 w,as th'e,:year Congress succeeded in
fQrcillgpharm~ceutical manufacturers to reduce druglRri~eS'
?iff
also addressed.mQl.'especialized cOll~ems of phannacists by,:! .: Sponsoring the Pharmaeist$ section program att~ b Annual Session he University of tJt i on Alcoholism d Other Drug Dependencies. The program"helps train those who are involved, or wish to become involved, in state-level programs to assist pharmacists and pharmacy students whose competence has been compromised due to chemical dependency or other causes. The 1990 program attracted a record 95 pharmacists. • Advocating pharmacists' rights to perform cholesterol, glucose, and drug-level screenings by speaking out against a proposed Health Care Financing Administration rule that could prevent cholesterol screenings in pharmacies. • Helping to convince the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to rewrite a rule that would have hindered nuclear pharmacists' ability to prepare radiopharmaceuticals and had the potential to compromise patient safety. • Attaining a fair policy for returning pharmaceuticals u~der the Prescription Drug MarketingAct.
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991/33
33
Helping Phannacists in Ptactice Providing Tools for Monitoring Patient Care To enhance and promote cost-effective pharmacy care and elevate the public's awareness of pharmacists' knowledge, APhA bas fonned a subsidiary corporation, Q-A, Inc., to provide drug utilization review (DUR) nationwide. APhA has joined the Iowa PharmaciSts Association and the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care in the business venture, targeted to state Medicaid programs and various corporations. Q-A, Inc.'s unique software system identifies those patients who are most likely to have drug therapy problems. Although most DUR programs only measure frequency and patterns of drug use, Q-A's software system screens individual patient profiles for contraindications and potential adverse drug reactions} allowing for therapeutic intervention. These mt~tfVentions 4t'e handled by state association-pr6vided teams of physicians and pharmacists who, using guidelines established by Q-A, work with providers to optimize therapy.
•
Performing Product Selection. The guidelines provide sound advice on making dispensing and purchasing decisions that result in the best patient care. To help pharmacists compare and select the best products for their patients, APhA also voiced its concerns to Congtess and FDA about the lack of adequate lpformation on generic drug labels. At a Marcn1990 congressional bearing, APhA Past President R. David Cobb testified that the federal government could help pharmacists by matldat~g more complete labeling for generis; . rOOucts. "Without b t . ('the Pharmaci§tt~ 1t infQ(mation.,'t~ l\e{iponsibllity of sele< ality geneljc equiv~k lents is more difficult it needs to be." APbA has also called for reviSion of FDA's Approved Drug;P roducts withTlJerapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, also knoWllas the '~Orange Book," tQ '~ake it a more Us
t?J
APItA's Publica Practical Infor on Pha[macists CahUse
Providing Information Pharmacists Need To help pharmacists determine which generic products to trust after the generic drug scan~ dais, APbA's Bioequivalency W>rking Group released the Guidelines for Phar'ffl4cist's
d>. segments -llandbook Edition, the completelJ; and updated version of the classiC reference on nonprescription products. • Tableting Speci/icatio'(J Manua4 Third Edition, the most compre!Wpsive source of informa~ tion available on the ~ds and quality control programs for ,ting tools. • National Pharmacists.. CompensationSurve~ which lists essential salary information for anyone in the profession who. is looking for a job or recnliting phannacists,
34
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991134
Expanding Career Opportunities Recognizing Pharmacists' Expertise The Board of Phannaceutical Specialties (BPS) continued to expand its work in credentialing phannacists within specialized areas of pmctice. BPS was created by APhA in 1976 to recognize specialties in pharmacy. To date, BPS has recognized three - nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support pharma<..-y practice, and pharmacotherapy: The work of BPS also involves: • Establishing standards for certification and recertification of pharmacists. ,II Certifying and recertifying qualified pharmacistS. • Acting as a clearinghouse of information on specialization in pharmacy. BPS is currently undertaking a self-study process. As part ofttbis process, presentations hav~ been ·made pharmacy associations and received from pharmacy associationS, pharmacists, and other i).ealth care Profcss,t<]Qals. An interim report on this self-assessm<;:~'t 'fill be given on March 10, 1991, at the APhAAmlual Meeting. A final report is scheduled fur~ch 1992. J3I>S received a ,t,l:etjtion for the recogrtition of ps pha,rJlla ecialty .practice area in r 19,0. tltion is currently under veloping certification "examinations in tUt; areas of nutrition support andpharmacotherapy. Also during 199Q~ :recertification procedures for board·certjf~ed&,&uclear. pharmacists were implemented.
pharmacist'i face, such as lack of autonomy, insufficient room for advancement, and long hours. Following up on the session, the 1991 APhA Annual Meeting and Exhibit will feature the first-ever Career Expo, a ~'Pecial exhibit where employees can meet and talk to prospective employers. The meeting will also offer several educational sessions tailored for employee pharmacists.
•
Teaching Business to Pharmacists Now in its seventh year, the APhA William
s. Apple Memorial Program in Community Pharmacy Management has taught management skills to more than 100 pharmacists. Supported by a grant from SmithKIine Beecham, the six-day symposium is jointly developed by business and pharmacy schQols to give pharmacists expertise in management strategies, interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities. The 1990 program, held June 2-8 at the University of California, San Francisco, featured topics such a$ defining a community pharmacy's market sc19Dents, conducting a cQmput<;:rized financial analysis of pharmacy .lationS, and 0~ learning to deal with co~ l ' arjse with patients. The 1991 Apple Pharmacy Management, Program will be held at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy; Jury !2~27. •
f
~
w
'11>:"
Targeting Young Ph Working for Employee Pharmacists .!if
Focusing on.4~s of concern. to employed phartnac.iSts continues to be one of APhA's top priorities. Finding ways to deal with employees' concerns was the focus of a day-long forum held during the Annual Meeting. Pharmacists who attended the session recommended ways APhA and others couId help employee pharmacists by providing workshops that teach employt:;es how to communicate and negotiate with their managers; creating a network system tbatenables employed pharmacists to exchange ideas and information with peers and colleagues; and providing more information about the problems that employed
RecogniZing the special .needs of young phannacist8, the APhA Board ofTrustees formed a )bung Pharmacists Committee. The committee is charged With recommending and helping to plan programs for pharmacists just entering the profession. APhNs advancement opportunities for young pharmacists also include the Community Pharmacy Residency Prog:ram, a one-yeir postgraduate training program in community ambulatory practice, and the Executive Residency, a one-year program offering nine months of association manag~ment experience at APhA and three months at a selected state pharmaceutical association.
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991/35
•
35
~""J.JLJIL
.......---g Education:
......... .. .
mail ord 'r pharmacy, the generic drug crisis, the PhannI) issuc, and the repeal of the Mediar . Catm;trophic ,overage Act. '1he PhA l!xhibit Hall was the largest in APhA history with more than 280 booths. The 1991 Annual Meeting, March 9-13,1991, in 'ew Orle.ms, ""'ill once again feature more [han 75 quality education programs with specia.l programs on achieving optimum therapeutic outcomes, enhancing career development, and the value-added services pharmacistc.; can offer. S'
•
with drug or
APhA Annual Meeting and Exhibit
o
•
A Global Perspective For pharmaccutical scientists, APhA held its third End-of-Sumtller Science Symposium, "The Globalization of Pharmaceuticals," September 13-14. The symposium brought together international leaders from industry; acadeinia, and government to discuss the social, economic, technological, and therapeutic aspects ofpharmaceutical globalization. The keynote speaker was Uwe Reinhardt, the James Madison Professor of Political Economy at Princeton University and a renownedscholat on health economics, Reinhardt said that despite today's economic trend toward gl~ga1iza tion, it's unlikely that one universal standard o( health care will emerge throughout the world.
• Phannacy'S Crudallssoes In 1990, the APhA House of Delegates - the largest and most representative den10cratic body in American pharmacy - acted on a broad range of issues to protect and enhance public health. The House, made up of APhA rndnbers froln all segrnents of pharmacy, deliberated at the Annual Meeting, March 10-14, in \X'a.lihington, D.C. Policies adopted by the HOllse support: • Coyerage of FDA-approved drugs and pharn1aceutical services connected with the delivery of such drugs by govet:nment and other third party payers when used rationally for indications other than those specified in product labeling. • A patient's freedom to choose a provider of health care services and a provider's
36
• merican Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991136
CnIcial Issues (continued) right to be offered participation in governmental or other third party programs under equal terms and conditions. • Distribution of educational materials on the risks of sharing neeples Of syringes with respect to the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases. APhA also supports a study of the effectiveness of pilot needle or syringe exchange programs in preventing the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases and supports such exchange programs when they are part of a comprehensive approach in the preven-
tion of such diseases.
• Proper handling and disposal of hazardous pharmaceutical products and associated supplies and materials. • Working with schools and colleges of pharmacy and pharmacy organizations to address differences between contemporary practice and curriculum offerings. • The concept of the "drug free workplace." The House recommends that where drug testing is performed in the workplace, it be conducted as part of an employee assistance program.
••
A Vision for the Future >
To help all pharmacists reach a common understanding of their role in health care, the APhA Board of 11ustees proposed two new mission statements - one for the pharmacj profession and one for the Association. APh& proposed mission for phannacy is "to serve society as the profession responsible
":i\. for the appropriate use of medication, devices, and services to achieve optimal therapeutic out-
comes." The proposed mission for APhA is "to serve its members, enabling them to advance the profession of pharmacy in fulfilling its mission in health care." To fulfill the profession's mission, APhA will: • Enhance and support the profession of pharmacy • Provide vision and leadership in developing the continually evolving mission of pharmacy • Ensure the integrity of pharmacy through the establishment and enforcement of professional standards and ethics. • Provide a national democratic forum for the development of policy to guide and advance the profession. • Provide activities and services to assist members in achieving professional excellence and growth. • Represent the profession in the public, governmental, and interprofessional sectors. • Efficiently and effectively manage the Association's assets and resources. To accomplish the mission of the Association, APhA will: • Promote, evaluate, and expand the practice of the individual pharmaciSt. • Provide leadership for the profession in the areas of specialization and credentialing in pharmacy • Provide leadership for the profession in legislative and regulatory matters and health policy issues. • Promote the effective application of science and scientific information and principles in pharmacy • Develop progressive payment methods for the full range of pharmacy services.
• Provide information, programs, and support systems to assist pharmacists in their ongoing career development, leadership development, and professional growth. During 1990, APhA solicited members' reactions to the proposed mission statements, which were unveiled by APhA President Philip P. Gerbino during the 1990 Annual Meeting. The mission statements received overwhelming approval from the membership and will be finalized in 1991. APhA is also developing a "White Paper on the Pharmacist's Role in Comprehensive Drug Therapy Management" to help define pharmacy's responsibillties in the nation's health care system and put its mission statements into practice. The paper will be released in 1991.
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS31, No.1 January 1991137
37
•
•