Dear Colleagues:
The featured article in this issue of ACCP International Clinical Pharmacist, “First-Time Offerings for the Critical Care and Pediatric Pharmacy Specialties,” highlights the beginning of the certification examination for clinical pharmacists who, for some time now, have provided specialized services in these areas. Starting in 2015, qualified clinical pharmacists will be recognized in eight distinct specialties.
Included also in this issue is the article titled “A Global Resource on Quality Assurance of Pharmacy Education.” This article highlights the release of the new edition of Quality Assurance of Pharmacy Education: The FIP Global Framework, a key document for all individuals, institutions, and national organizations involved in, or overseeing, pharmacy education.
Other articles bring attention to pharmacotherapy programs available to the practicing pharmacist and the forthcoming release of the third edition of Pharmacogenomics: Applications to Patient Care.
Finally, in view of the featured articles in the past two issues of ACCP International Clinical Pharmacist, I would be remiss if I did not note the current efforts by the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) to determine the existing perceptions of what clinical pharmacy is among its members and to develop a harmonized definition of clinical pharmacy within Europe. I recently attended the ESCP Symposium on Clinical Pharmacy held October 22−24 in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I learned more about the ongoing debate on the definition and role of the clinical pharmacist versus that of the clinical pharmacologist or the physician—a debate that, I am sure, is and will be taking place quite often around the world as the clinical pharmacist’s role in the provision of direct patient care evolves. Although the discussions are unique to the individual country and scenario, I highly urge all of those involved in such debates, including individual pharmacists, health care administrators, policy-makers, and professional executives, to refer to ACCP’s definition of clinical pharmacy (Pharmacotherapy 2008;28:816-7) and the Standards of Practice for Clinical Pharmacists (Pharmacotherapy 2014;34:794-7).
Sincerely,
Wafa Y. Dahdal, Pharm.D., BCPS