ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is commemorating its forty-fifth anniversary this year. Founded in 1969, ASCP is a non-profit membership organization that empowers pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to enhance quality of care for all older persons through the appropriate use of medication and the promotion of healthy aging.
ASCP's members are primarily "consultant" or "senior care" pharmacists—medication therapy management experts who provide advice on the use of medications by older adults, whether they live in the community or in long-term care facilities. They manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and home and community-based care.
The Society offers online continuing pharmacy education courses in geriatrics through their in-house learning site, the Professional Development CEnter (CEnter). The CEnter offers more than 75 online courses in a variety of topics, including how to provide comprehensive medication review, pain management, geriatric disease-specific modules, and new courses for those seeking certification or recertification as certified geriatric pharmacists.
ASCP also advocates diligently on behalf of their members on issues important to consultant pharmacists, including the expansion of medication therapy management services, rescheduling of hydrocodone combination products, recognizing agency relationships and chart orders, and provider status—a move that would allow legal recognition of pharmacists as health care providers. In 2014, the Society will continue to advocate for a tangible legislative proposal, which they hope will establish the much-deserved recognition of pharmacists.
This year ASCP will host National Consultant Pharmacist Week from October 14-17, 2014, and the ASCP Annual Meeting & Exhibition will take place from November 5-7, 2014 in Orlando, Florida. More information can be found at www.ascp.com.