Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative Seeks Healthcare Providers

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 08 May 2008 - 5:00 PST

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ASHP recently participated in a conference convened by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to encourage healthcare providers to serve on teams in a patient safety initiative.

The formation of teams is currently under way for participation in HRSA's Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative. Team members will learn and adopt best practices in patient safety, clinical pharmacy services and health outcomes.

Dozens of frontline healthcare providers and healthcare organization representatives from across the U.S. attended the "Leadership and Partnering Event," to learn how they can lead and take part in the collaborative teams.

HRSA officials told attendees that the interdisciplinary teams will work to improve the quality of patient care by integrating clinical pharmacy services into their practices and reducing drug interactions.

Kasey Thompson, director of ASHP's patient safety and quality efforts participated on a panel and shared the Society's commitment to the goals of the collaborative.

The Society has pledged its support to the effort and will supply the collaborative with access to AHFS drug information and other best practices resources.

ASHP will also host a networking session to highlight the collaborative during the Society's upcoming Summer Meeting in Seattle. During the session, pharmacists who have significantly improved outcomes for patients will share their strategies.

Check for updates on the Society's involvement in the collaborative in the Advocacy area of ASHP's Web site, ashp.org.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists