During the recent Summer Meeting in Denver the House of Delegates approved a New Business Item that was submitted by ASHP’s Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists entitled Board Certification for Pharmacists. The final version of approved by the House is as follows:
- To support the principle that pharmacists who practice where a pharmacy specialty has been formally recognized by the profession should become board-certified in the appropriate specialty area; further,
- To recognize the Board of Pharmacy Specialties as an appropriate organization through which specialties are formally recognized and specialty pharmacy certification should occur; further,
- To advocate prioritization for recognition of new specialties in those areas where sufficient numbers of PGY2 residency training programs are established and where adequate numbers of pharmacists are completing accredited training programs to prepare them to practice in the specialty area; further,
- To advocate for standardization of credentialing eligibility and recertification requirements to include consistent requirements for advanced postgraduate residency training; further
- To actively encourage and support the development of effective training and recertification programs that prepare specialists for certification examination and ensure the maintenance of core competencies in their area of specialization.
The original draft of the Section’s recommendation may be found on ASHP Connect at http://connect.ashp.org/ASHP/ASHP/Discussions/Message/Default.aspx?MID=457 along with further information about the background and rationale for the statement.
I would like to congratulate the leadership of the Section first of all for raising this important issue, and second for patiently shepherding the new business through the RDCs, caucuses, and debate on ASHP Connect. This was a great example of how the system can work when delegates engage each other to discuss important issues, educate and inform, and importantly listen and respect the feedback they receive.
This is also an important issue because as the labor market for pharmacists tightens there is a growing interest in obtaining credentials that distinguish potential job seekers. This month’s issue of INTERSections also features a story on credentialing and specialization http://www.ashpintersections.org/2011/06/credentialing-and-specialization/. The number of board-certified specialists has more than doubled in the last five years and now numbers more than 10,000. Interest in credentials is also growing among payers and regulators. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) recently approved Ambulatory Care as a new specialty and is currently conducting task analyses of pediatrics, critical care, and pain and palliative care. Various market forces are leading to an increased focus on competency and accountability in health care and credentials (including but not limited to board certification) will almost certainly play a role. Pharmacists are increasingly being credentialed and privileged within their health systems. While some see credentials as elitist and a barrier to practice I believe that for many pharmacists credentials have enabled pharmacists in many settings to demonstrate competencies and assume expanded roles in health systems.
The Section’s recommendation is important because there remains considerable confusion about the use of credentials and the differences between the various credentials that pharmacists can obtain. I’ll be sharing some further perspectives on that in a future posting, but the Section has initiated an important discussion. Thanks again to the Section’s leaders for starting this important discussion.
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