American Pharmacists Association Members Receive Guidance From President On Achieving Success In Practice

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 22 Mar 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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American Pharmacists Association (APhA) President Timothy L. Tucker of Huntingdon, Tenn., encouraged APhA 2008 Annual Meeting attendees to use their expertise to advance the profession of pharmacy and be recognized as the health professionals responsible for providing patient care that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes.

"Today, the Association is leading our profession to new opportunities," said Dr. Tucker. "With the work of all of you, pharmacists are developing a greater presence, achieving remarkable progress towards greater responsibility and recognition, and feeling more pride than at any time in my memory."

Tucker encouraged members to proudly display their pride in being a pharmacist and make their individual contribution towards achieving the profession's vision of pharmacy practice - whether that be making sure patients know your name, promoting the profession through good business practice or helping a patient resolve a medication use issue.

"The Association is providing a beacon of hope, speaking with a louder voice and better serving the membership and our patients," he told attendees. "But we need to be "professionals with a purpose." We should be inspired by the challenge of improving patient care in a difficult health care climate, by the opportunity to develop new business models, - such as medication therapy management (MTM) - and by the pride of working to improve a profession that has served us all well. Having this focus will lead to recognition and compensation for our services.

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Pharmacists Association drew nearly 6,900 attendees to San Diego, Calif., March 14 - 17, 2008.

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA), founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 63,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States.

Full text of President Tucker's speech can be found at http://www.aphanet.org.