Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Our collective successes only raise the bar as we strive to continue to support pharmacy’s evolving needs. We will continue to be inventive and transformative, to lead by example, to harness the potential of change, and to spearhead innovation. Editor’s note: The following is adapted from comments delivered during the House of Delegates session of the ASHP Pharmacy Futures 2024 meeting, held in June 2024 in Portland, OR. Each year in June, the CEO and the President of ASHP present joint remarks at the annual gathering of our House of Delegates. These remarks provide an overview of ASHP initiatives, activities, and accomplishments supporting our profession, members, and the patients they serve. For the first time ever, in 2024, the live remarks have been delivered at the House of Delegates via a prerecorded, multimedia presentation1 as a new and exciting way to help bring this in-depth written version to life. A year ago in Baltimore, the theme for the presidential inaugural address was “Be the Change,” asking how we, the pharmacy workforce, can be the change in this digital healthcare revolution. This theme has been exceedingly relevant to ASHP’s work over the last 12 months, culminating in the reimagined Pharmacy Futures 2024 meeting, which featured our first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit and provided exceptional educational programming to help our members harness the power of innovation to improve patient care and transform the practice of pharmacy. It is truly astounding how quickly our profession is evolving and changing, driven by a dramatic influx of new thinking and advanced technologies. The prioritization of digital healthcare is critical to the future of our profession, and ASHP, the largest professional pharmacy organization in the US, will be leading the way. ASHP is committed to supporting our 60,000 members, our profession, and the patients we serve with tools and resources to meet the dynamic demands of pharmacy today and tomorrow. And we are equally committed to addressing today’s challenges head-on. Last month, ASHP embarked on one of the most anticipated initiatives in our storied history—the launch of We’re Your Pharmacist, our national public awareness campaign. The vision for this campaign is simple: The public will be aware of, seek, and value hospital and health-system pharmacists as essential patient care providers. To get there, we are partnering with our members to tell their stories, spotlighting real hospital and health-system pharmacists through their own words and those of their colleagues and patients to demonstrate their value and impact on patient care. We are leveraging the power of multimedia to bring member stories to life and using multiple channels and platforms to reach our target audiences. We are also making the campaign local, with multimedia tool kits to empower partner organizations—hospitals and health systems, colleges of pharmacy, and ASHP state affiliates—to spread campaign messages in communities across the country. The ASHP Board of Directors approved initial funding of $3 million over 3 to 5 years, a testament to our organization-wide commitment to making a real impact with the campaign. Earlier this year, the ASHP Foundation made its own statement of support and approved $1 million in campaign funding over 5 years to bolster sustained campaign success. The campaign is just getting started, and we are beyond excited to see the stories of pharmacists across settings and specialties come to life. ASHP is the leading advocacy voice in the halls of Congress in Washington, DC, and in the states on the issues that matter most to our patients and pharmacy practitioners in hospitals, clinics, and in community practices in health systems. ASHP has engaged in remarkable advocacy efforts in the past year to advance pharmacy practice and protect patient access to affordable medications. On a state level, we have witnessed significant progress in expanding pharmacist payment authority, with Medicaid programs in 47 states now providing payment for various levels of pharmacist care. We continue to advocate for the passage of legislation in Congress to recognize pharmacist provider status on a federal level to ensure patient access to essential pharmacist services for seniors, rural populations, and other underserved populations. One of ASHP’s most influential advocacy tools is providing model legislation to pharmacy professionals. Model legislation is standardized language that can be adopted in statehouses nationwide as legislators develop laws that influence pharmacy practice. ASHP’s model legislation has helped states enact pharmacy-centric laws on white bagging and comprehensive medication management. ASHP developed model legislation prohibiting insurers from discriminating against 340B-covered entities, which has helped us reach 28 states that prohibit this discrimination. Earlier this year ASHP partnered with 340B Health to draft model legislation to protect 340B contract pharmacy relationships. We also published model legislation enabling pharmacists to prescribe medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), with 11 states now allowing this practice. Most recently, we published model legislation for pharmacy technician product verification, part of a larger advocacy initiative to authorize pharmacy technician product verification in all states. On a federal level, key congressional committees are actively considering two pharmacist provider status bills: the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act2 and the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act.3 This is the most concrete sign of congressional interest in provider status, and ASHP continues to lead efforts calling on Congress to pass these bills. In the area of drug shortages, ASHP testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, participated in White House discussions, and released policy solutions to address the drug shortage crisis. The attention garnered on Capitol Hill is a testament to our collective efforts, and we will continue to advocate and provide expertise and recommendations to address this pressing issue. Another area of focus was our opposition to site-neutral payments, which threaten to undermine fair reimbursement practices and the quality of patient care. ASHP collaborated with the American Hospital Association to create and disseminate an infographic advocating against site-neutral payments and explaining how they threaten patient safety. And we actively worked with the White House and other federal entities to address the fallout from the Change Healthcare cyberattack. We participated in a discussion with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, emphasizing the need to ensure that pharmacies will be made whole for medications dispensed, and cost sharing collected, based on good faith efforts to ensure continuity of patient care. ASHP also called on HHS to ensure pharmacists and other providers will be held harmless for data breaches attributable to the cyberattack. We met with the Optum Rx CEO to discuss the need to restore claims and reimbursement quickly and provide financial support and flexibility to patients, hospitals, and pharmacies disrupted by the attack. In addition, we ensured our members had the latest information and resources for recovery efforts. The pharmacy technician workforce is foundational to optimal patient care. In 2023, ASHP took the bold step of creating an independent membership organization for pharmacy technicians, to be led by pharmacy technicians. The Pharmacy Technician Society (TPTS) is a new, national membership organization devoted exclusively to the needs of pharmacy technicians. TPTS supports the career advancement and professionalization of the pharmacy technician workforce through education, networking, policy development, and advocacy. Early response to the new organization has been overwhelmingly positive, with a growing membership of more than 10,500 technicians. The recently appointed inaugural TPTS Board of Directors will have the critical job of developing the TPTS mission, vision, and first strategic plan. ASHP recently concluded an in-depth survey of the quickly growing TPTS membership, which will help inform the organization’s strategic direction and plans for the development of tools and resources. Initial response to the comprehensive TPTS website and the technician-specific job board launched earlier this year has been strong and points to much success ahead. As pharmacy practice evolves, being a leader means an expanded sphere of influence and countless opportunities to influence the future. ASHP is committed to promoting growth at all pharmacy and health-system leadership levels, including clinical and executive leaders. Two years ago, we launched the ASHP Leadership Center, which has been instrumental in providing leadership development for clinical and executive members through professional growth opportunities such as networking, mentorship, and verification of leadership competence and knowledge. Our Certified Pharmacy Executive Leader program, or CPEL, celebrated its first anniversary in late 2023. To date, more than 94 pharmacy clinical and administrative executive leaders have achieved certification. CPELs represent more than 35 US states and 4 countries. It is a thriving community, and we look forward to the program’s continued growth in 2024 and beyond. As part of a 2-year research effort funded by the ASHP Foundation, ASHP recently sent a survey to members to assess various aspects of formal leadership roles for pharmacists, including job satisfaction of existing pharmacists in leadership roles, interest in pursuing leadership roles by students, residents, and junior and mid-level pharmacists, opportunities, and challenges in filling leadership vacancies, and more. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting project. The Pharmacists in C-Suites (PICS) membership home is a hub for pharmacists who have risen to executive roles beyond traditional pharmacy settings, including chief executive officers, chief operating officers, presidents and vice presidents, and other C-suite level positions. The PICS Advisory Panel gathered for the first time in June 2023, and over 50 hospital and health-system executives attended the inaugural PICS virtual event last fall. This event provided a platform for discussions on executive-level topics, including strategic partnering with postacute care providers for improved bed utilization, challenges posed by insurers, optimized patient throughput, and ideas for leading and supporting health systems’ workforces. ASHP’s Pharmacy Executive Leadership Alliance, or PELA, provides opportunities for pharmacy executives and chief pharmacy officers to share insights on critical topics through exclusive events that help advance pharmacy leadership and practice. PELA recently convened a virtual conference focused on drug policy, formulary management, and P&T decisions for our nation’s multihospital systems and large hospitals. The Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residents’ Collaborative (PALRC) is a home within ASHP for unique offerings for the health-system pharmacy administration and leadership (HSPAL) resident community. In the last year, PALRC has organized several events, including an open forum at the ASHP Conference for Pharmacy Leaders, a networking session at the Midyear Clinical Meeting, presentations at pharmacy schools, and the production of leadership-focused podcasts. The ASHP Student Leadership Development Program is available as a resource for use as an elective course by schools and colleges of pharmacy as well as a stand-alone learning experience for students interested in improving their professional and leadership skills. It enables pharmacy students to be better prepared to serve as effective leaders, helping establish a legacy of future leaders to continue advancing pharmacy practice. ASHP continues to take significant steps toward strengthening an inclusive culture for all pharmacy practitioners. ASHP’s Guided Mentorship Program connects seasoned practitioners with aspiring student pharmacists of color. Fostering these connections strengthens the pharmacy workforce by creating a diverse and skilled community of new pharmacy practitioners. The success of our third cohort, with more than half of the students and a significant number of mentors identifying as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), is a testament to the power of mentorship in cultivating a new generation of pharmacy leaders. The ASHP Foundation continues its critical work in supporting DEI initiatives. The Pharmacy Leadership Scholars program, which provides up to $10,000 for research projects examining race and ethnicity’s impact on patient outcomes and pharmacy education, is now in its third cycle. Last year, the program awarded $40,000 in grants. The ASHP Foundation has also taken tangible steps to support students from underrepresented communities. Last year, the Pharmacy Student Scholarship program distributed $25,000 to third- and fourth-year pharmacy students from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The Foundation will offer these scholarships again this year. The Midyear Travel Awards, offered by the ASHP Foundation in partnership with #PharmGradWishlist, provided $500 stipends and registration fees for 50 PharmD candidates who self-identify as racial and ethnic minorities to attend our 2023 Midyear Clinical Meeting. Plans are underway to offer the awards for the 2024 Midyear meeting in New Orleans, LA. We are incredibly proud of the new tools, education, networking, and other resources that ASHP produces to spotlight and enhance the pharmacy community’s diversity. From articles to podcasts and webinars commemorating Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride Month, we shine a light on the vibrant and engaging pharmacists who are not only part of our community but are vital members of our nation’s healthcare leadership. We encourage you to visit ASHP’s Inclusion Center at ashp.org to learn more. ASHP remains at the forefront of pharmacy education and training, creating and delivering valuable resources and content in multiple formats to support professional development and practice advancement. We issued 671,250 statements of continuing education credit across our educational offerings in 2023. We continue to grow and enhance our professional certificates (now with 35 titles), board certification resources (in partnership with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy), competency assessment products, publications, and more. ASHP’s robust offerings of programs, products, and services are too comprehensive to catalog in full, but some notable highlights include: In response to the elimination of the X waiver, ASHP launched the Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Training Program. Created for pharmacists, physicians, and other advanced healthcare professionals, it meets the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration training requirements for the Medication Access and Training Expansion Act of 2023. ASHP’s Practice Advancement Initiative 2030, or PAI 2030, provides pharmacy teams with guidance for advancing healthcare and pharmacy practice through 59 recommendations. Since its launch, more than 650 individuals and organizations have used the PAI 2030 Self-Assessment Tool to identify areas in one’s practice or organization where PAI 2030 recommendations could have the biggest impact. This year, we kicked off a virtual collaborative learning cohort that followed the 9-step implementation process outlined in the ASHP PAI 2030 State Affiliate Toolkit. It involved a series of brief, monthly presentations to help states adopt the recommendations. We also offered programming at the 2023 Midyear Clinical Meeting related to the PAI 2030 focused initiatives and each of the 5 PAI 2030 recommendation domains. ASHP developed the Certified Centers of Excellence (COE) in Medication-Use Safety and Pharmacy Practice program to recognize hospitals and health systems that demonstrate the highest levels of pharmacy practice. This certification signifies operational and practical excellence and bolsters the reputation and impact of pharmacy services within the institution. Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, WA, recently earned this certification and is the first community hospital to obtain this distinction. Several additional organizations are currently in pursuit of this prestigious certification. The 2024 Commission on Goals focused on transforming primary care delivery through the convergence of evolving patient and provider expectations, changing workforce dynamics, technological advancements, and innovative business models. Common themes that spanned these areas included the need to rapidly adopt innovative tools, constrain unnecessary administrative burdens and complexity, forge productive connections among all primary care team members, improve the patient care experience, and retain patients in care. Keep your eye out for an in-depth report about the Commission’s conclusions and recommendations in an upcoming issue of AJHP. Another way ASHP is at the forefront of preparing the pharmacy workforce for the future is right here at Pharmacy Futures 2024. As pharmacy professionals face new opportunities and challenges with rapid advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, personalized medicine, and AI, we transformed our annual Summer Meeting into a new event that will now be known as ASHP Pharmacy Futures. This meeting offers cutting-edge educational sessions and a collaborative environment where pharmacy professionals can come together to share practice insights and influence the future direction of healthcare. Attending Pharmacy Futures 2024 equips the attendees with the forward-looking perspective and innovative tools necessary to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. It prepares participants not just to adapt to the future but to actively participate in creating it, ensuring that pharmacy practice remains at the cutting edge of patient care and technological progress. In addition, we held our first-ever AI Summit. It offered an intensive exploration into AI’s pivotal role in healthcare and showcased the latest AI innovations revolutionizing pharmacy practice. 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DOI: 10.1093/ajhp/zxae222
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4402253429