The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) defines clinical pharmacy as an area of pharmacy concerned with the science and practice of rational medication use.
Clinical pharmacy is a health science discipline in which pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes medication therapy and promotes health, and disease prevention. The practice of clinical pharmacy embraces the philosophy of pharmaceutical care, blending a caring orientation with specialized therapeutic knowledge, experience, and judgment to ensure optimal patient outcomes. As a discipline, clinical pharmacy also has an obligation to contribute to the generation of new knowledge that advances health and quality of life.
To see the complete, unabridged version of clinical pharmacy defined, please visit https://www.accp.com/docs/positions/commentaries/Clinpharmdefnfinal.pdf.
Clinical pharmacy is a key area of the pharmacy profession. Future pharmacists should be concerned with advancing the profession as a whole. The Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) is a forum for leaders within pharmacy organizations. In 2004, officers of 15 professional pharmacy organizations met to share their visions for the future of pharmacy practice. Later that year, JCPP drafted a vision statement that, in 2005, was endorsed by every major pharmacy practitioner organization.
JCPP has now evolved into an action-oriented, policy-making organization. In April 2007, an implementation planning group was formed to focus on the practice model, payment policy, and communications – the key elements of the JCPP vision. The JCPP Vision Statement (below) depicts a model of what pharmacy practice should be in 2015. The vision outlines the foundation of pharmacy practice, the ways in which pharmacists will practice, and the ways in which pharmacy practice will benefit society.
Converting this vision into practice will take commitment and resources. However, if pharmacy practice is going to continue as the exemplar of drug expertise, helping to lead health care, we must now begin to unite the voices of pharmacists to address the unmet needs of our patients and society.
To read JCPP’s Vision Statement, please visit http://www.accp.com/docs/positions/misc/JCPPVisionStatement.pdf.