The American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists (ASHP) and the ASHP Foundation today announced the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI), the next major step in the evolution of pharmacy practice in hospitals and health systems.

The PPMI will build on the landmark work of the Hilton Head conference, held by ASHP in 1985. The Hilton Head conference brought together a group of visionary pharmacists who helped establish the concept that the practice of pharmacy is a clinical profession and that the role of pharmacists in health systems should be focused on direct care of patients as part of multidisciplinary care teams.

“Nearly 25 years after the Hilton Head conference, this vision has yet to be fully achieved,” said ASHP President Kevin J. Colgan, M.A. “Pharmacy practice must continue to grow and evolve to reflect the advances in pharmacists training and direct patient care roles, advances in technology, payer and regulator requirement, and demands for seamless care.”

A joint project of ASHP and the ASHP Foundation, the PPMI will be comprised of three components, including a summit to be held in 2010, a social marketing campaign to promote change, and demonstration projects. ASHP is currently seeking funding for these key activities.

“Todays environment makes this program critical for the future of the profession,” said Colgan. “The pressures of an aging workforce and population, escalating costs, and health care provider shortages mean that healthsystem pharmacists must analyze and prepare for changes in the practice model that guides medication use in hospitals and health systems.”

ASHPs Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative will

1. Create a framework for a pharmacy practice model that ensures provision of safe, effective, efficient, accountable, and evidencebased care for all hospital/health system patients;

2. Determine patient carerelated services that should be consistently provided by departments of pharmacy in hospitals and health systems and increase demand for pharmacy services by patients/caregivers, healthcare professionals, healthcare executives, and payers;

3. Identify the available technologies to support implementation of the practice model, and identify emerging technologies that could impact the practice model;

4. Support the optimal utilization and deployment of hospital and healthsystem pharmacy resources through development of a template for a practice model which is operational, practical, and measurable; and

5. Identify specific actions pharmacy leaders and staff should take to implement practice model change including determination of the necessary staff (pharmacy leaders, pharmacists, and technicians) skills and competencies required to implement this model.)

“This Initiative reflects a powerful movement from within our membership,” notes Colgan. “The need for this Initiative kept surfacing in a variety of member groups within ASHP, including our policymaking Councils and our membership Sections, as well as during strategic planning for ASHPs Leadership Agenda. Members are recognizing the need to take a holistic approach to redefining, reconstructing, and reinventing the practice model in light of technology advancements, the changing landscape of health care, and the growing patient care role of pharmacists.”

To learn more, visit ashp.org/ppmi.

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