The Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) created a taskforce of sixteen pharmacists representing six various institutions including both acute care and community settings. The group focused on ensuring current Maryland State Board of Pharmacy (MDBOP) regulation allows for flexibility and support in monitoring and implementing new technology in pharmacy practice settings. Prior to assessing gaps and/or changes needed to the regulation, the taskforce reviewed several states’ regulations relating to pharmacy automation and technology. This information helped to generate ideas as well as understand opportunities to improve Maryland’s current regulation.
Once the taskforce collected ideas and opportunities from various states, stakeholders thoroughly reviewed the document in order to better support current and future automation and technology within the practice of pharmacy. Due to the diversity of the taskforce, the group kept in mind practices in both acute care as well as community settings. The main proposed changes from the taskforce included:
- Expansion of pharmacy personnel able to restock automated dispensing cabinets, which included pharmacy learners and tech-check-tech. As Maryland is moving towards implementing tech-check-tech, it was important to highlight an opportunity to utilize technicians in order to assist in function such as restocking cabinets.
- Suggested wording for health systems to have more ownership of security practice measures for technology and automation (e.g. removal of inactive passwords from systems in conjunction with institution policy instead of “daily” removal of passwords). Although the taskforce recognized best practices of certain standards, the group wanted to take into account all smaller health systems or hospitals who may not have the informatics resources to maintain certain operations currently in the regulation.
- Proposed updates and additions to the definitions section as this is important to provide background on terms discussed throughout the regulation
Upon completion of the regulation review and approval from MSHP Leadership, members of the taskforce were able to meet with MDBOP members to discuss proposed updates to the current regulation. From this meeting, the board members appreciated our proposed suggestions and wanted the taskforce to collaborate with other state pharmacy organizations such as Maryland Pharmacists Association (MPhA). The board members wanted all state organizations unified in order meet the needs of pharmacy practice in the state. This resulted in MSHP collaborating with MPhA to receive a consensus regarding proposed updates to the regulation.
Through this MSHP taskforce, there were several lessons learned. When proposing updates to board of pharmacy regulation, it is important to complete a thorough review of other states’ regulation to understand best practices across the country. There is value in working with other state-affiliates in order to influence pharmacy practice within your state and collaborating with other in-state pharmacy organizations to build consensus around a goal. It is also important to keep the momentum going to stay focused on goals as well to maintain engagement of all stakeholders.
Overall, ASHP state-affiliates are strong avenues in order to influence our profession locally as well as build a foundation for other states to be engaged in an idea or goal. ASHP has provided several resources including ASHP Connect to serve as platforms for resources, idea sharing, and to ask questions on ways to change practice on a local level.