The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), in an effort to ensure an appropriately educated and skilled clinical pharmacy workforce, published a definition of clinical pharmacy and established competencies against which the performance of clinical pharmacists could be measured. This article highlights ACCP’s definition of clinical pharmacy, important qualities that define clinical pharmacists, and major competency areas required for clinical practice.

The abridged definition of clinical pharmacy is “that area of pharmacy concerned with the science and practice of rational medication use.”¹ The unabridged definition of clinical pharmacy states that it is “the health science discipline in which pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes medication therapy and promotes health, wellness, and disease prevention” and further delineates three parts to the definition: the discipline of clinical pharmacy, the clinical pharmacist, and the roles of the clinical pharmacist within the health care system.

The definition unequivocally states that the clinical pharmacist

• cares for patients in all health care settings;
• applies evidence-based guidelines, evolving sciences, and emerging technologies;
• applies legal, ethical, social, cultural, economic, and professional principles;
• assumes responsibility and accountability for managing therapy in direct patient care settings;
• practices independently and in consultation/collaboration with other health care professionals; and
• generates, disseminates, and applies new knowledge that contributes to improved health and quality of life.

To distinguish clinical pharmacists from other pharmacists who perform some clinical functions as part of their practice, important qualities that define the clinical pharmacist have been identified by ACCP. ACCP states that clinical pharmacists²:

• have a broad scope and depth of pharmacotherapy knowledge and clinical skills;
• spend most of their time providing pharmacotherapy independently or in collaboration with other health care providers;
• have completed postgraduate residency training; and
• maintain and further develop competence through practice and continued professional development.

Five major competency areas have been identified by ACCP: (1) clinical problem solving, judgment, and decision-making; (2) communication and education; (3) medical information evaluation and management; (4) management of patient populations; and (5) therapeutic knowledge. For each area, specific competency statements that further describe the abilities necessary to practice as a clinical pharmacist are defined.

ACCP’s definition of clinical pharmacy and the competencies established for the clinical pharmacist are composed of statements that encompass each of the core competencies identified by the Institute of Medicine: (1) provide patient-centered care to diverse populations, (2) work effectively as members of interprofessional teams, (3) employ evidence-based practice to optimize care, (4) apply quality improvement techniques, and (5) use informatics in practice.³ These five competencies represent the overarching core competencies for members of all health professions. ACCP’s definition and competency statements further delineate these to the practicing clinical pharmacist.

1. American College of Clinical Pharmacy. The definition of clinical pharmacy. Pharmacotherapy 2008;28:816–7.
2. Burke JM, Miller WA, Spencer AP, et al. Clinical pharmacist competencies. Pharmacotherapy 2008;28:806–15.
3. Institute of Medicine. Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2003.