Time is flying at this ASHP rotation! Even though this was a short week due to Labor Day, the amount of work and meetings still felt like a full week’s worth! Here is a little run down about my week.
This week included the closing of some projects and initiations of some new ones. We were able to submit some comments on the measure revisions regarding the simultaneous prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines being reviewed by the National Quality Forum. This was so rewarding to get to see the final submission of a project that I worked on from the start. My preceptor, Anna Dopp, works closely with organizations like the National Quality Forum (NQF) and Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA), who submitted this measure for reindorsement. As members of NQF and PQA, ASHP has chosen to devote time to informing and shaping quality measures regarding medication. If you are interested in these measures’, feel free to visit the NQF Patient Safety Page.
In addition to this project, I have had the pleasure to meet so many more team members of ASHP. I have gotten to meet with members working with the House of Delegates, international/domestic consulting, educational services, social media, member relations, event planning, and a ton more! It has been so amazing to hear about the different things people do here and how many of them were practicing pharmacists in the past. Soon, I will even be helping one with Policy Week and the Pharmacy Advancement Initiative 2030! It has inspired me to stay involved with ASHP as I move into a patient-centric position as a pharmacist and to consider ASHP for future career opportunities.
Lastly, I was excited to hear about some new opportunities for pharmacists AND technicians/interns. I had the chance to attend the monthly ASHP State Affiliate Leadership meeting. Throughout the day, there had been hints about big news dropping that afternoon. The announcement was updates to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act! These changes allow pharmacist to order preventative or treatment COVID therapeutics in addition to their ability to test and vaccinate for COVID-19. Additionally, these revisions allow for technicians and interns to also administer these therapeutics along with pharmacists. This includes anything that can be administered orally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly, leaving us room, if new therapeutics are released, to provide the best and most up to date care for the sake of public health. ASHP worked with several other professional organizations to write a joint letter to Secretary Becerra recommending for these changes to be allowed in August of this year. To have this amendment come through after so much advocacy and hard work is truly progressive for our profession. For more information about the changes of the PREP act and what that may mean for you, feel free to visit ASHP’s news release on the declaration.
I will check in again next week with more updates and information about the rotation. I look forward to getting to participate in Policy Week planning and its transition to a virtual environment. I am excited to attend this meeting, even if it is remote, and provide you with additional information about my experience! Again, if you have any questions about this experiential, please feel free to reach out to me!
Rachel Crusius, Pharm.D Candidate of 2022
ReCrusius@salud.unm.edu