In 2017, the Board of Pharmaceutical Practice (BPP) of the International Pharmaceutical Federation released “Pharmacy Vision: Board of Pharmaceutical Practice Trends Report.”1
This vision document considers the place of pharmacy in health care systems and focuses on three main pillars for the future of pharmacy practice:
- Pharmacists providing value,
- Interprofessional teams and collaborative practice, and
- New technologies (e-health and m-health).
Statements further defining the vision under each of the pillars are specified (Box).
The Pharmacy Vision report provides a global snapshot of the current situation, trends, and challenges in advancing pharmacist services. Although the advancement of pharmacist services is occurring at various stages, the trends and advances currently observed across the globe include those related to the following areas:
- Expanded scope of practice and range of pharmacist-provided patient care services
- Provision of patient-centered care
- Attainment of authority to prescribe
- Advanced practice and specialization
- Credentialing and privileging
- Remuneration for patient care services
- Documentation of the value of patient care services
Given the current situation and the challenges faced in advancing pharmacist services, the report defines objectives for pharmacists (and BPP) and proposes actions that are critical to successfully achieving the vision and propelling the profession forward. The actions outlined include those needed in practice, education, legislation and regulation, and communication.
Pillar I focuses on patient care services and the advancement of clinical pharmacy education, practice, and research. Central to the vision is that pharmacists expand patient care services to all health care settings and practice models. Emphasis is placed on services that are evidence based, outcomes oriented, and patient centered and that range from health and wellness to prevention and comprehensive medication management. Key to the successful implementation and sustainability of the new services is ensuring the competence of the pharmacists delivering these services and the available remuneration pharmacists receive for them. Evaluating and documenting the outcomes associated with new pharmacist services and the value associated with them will be essential to further promoting and advancing such services.
Pillar II focuses on pharmacist participation in interprofessional teams and collaborative practice, and pillar III focuses on pharmacists’ incorporation of new technologies (e-health and m-health) into the delivery of patient care services. Ethics and ethical principles underpin each pillar.
The report is a timely reference and great resource for all who are involved and have a stake in advancing the profession and pharmacy practice.
Wafa Y. Dahdal, Pharm.D., BCPS, director of international programs at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, served as co-chair of the working group that composed the report and assumed leadership for developing pillar 1: pharmacists providing value.
Box. Pillars and Vision Statement of the Pharmacy Vision1
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Pillar I. Pharmacists providing value
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Vision Statement 1: | Pharmacists will expand patient care services to all health care settings and new practice models. Services should be evidence based, outcomes oriented, and patient centered and range from health and wellness to prevention and comprehensive medication management. |
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Vision Statement 2: | Pharmacists will attain appropriate competencies that correspond to the complexity of the services provided. |
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Vision Statement 3: | Pharmacists will use current or new financing and remuneration models to sustain patient care services. |
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Vision Statement 4: | Pharmacists will evaluate the quality and outcomes of patient care services. |
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Pillar II: Interprofessional teams and collaborative practice |
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Vision Statement 5: | Pharmacists will practice in collaborative interprofessional teams with other health care professionals to enhance access, quality, efficiency, and affordability of, health care. |
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Pillar III: New technologies (e-health and m-health) |
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Vision Statement 6: | Pharmacists will employ technologies to enhance the exchange of health care information, increase access to care, facilitate communication with the patient and other health care professionals, and improve patient care outcomes and validation of tools. |
1. International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Pharmacy Vision: Board of Pharmaceutical Practice Trends Report. The Hague: International Pharmaceutical Federation, 2017. Available at www.fip.org/files/fip/BPP/Pharmacy-Vision-BPP-Trends-Report.pdf. Accessed November 2, 2017.