Advocacy Initiative In Full Swing During ASHP Summer Meeting

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 22 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Ever wish that you could influence the decisions made in Congress? You can take the first step by participating in ASHP's "Make a Date with Congress" campaign, which will kick off during ASHP's Summer Meeting in Seattle.

ASHP will provide a special link for you to send an e-mail to your congressional representatives inviting them to get the pharmacist's view on important health care issues during the upcoming August recess. Your outreach will be the first step in building an ongoing relationship with legislators and their staff and will go a long way towards boosting ASHP's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. You can participate even if you won't be in Seattle. Look for the link in the June 5 edition of the Advocacy NewsLink.

Other advocacy-related happenings at the meeting include:

- ASHP House of Delegates Open Forum & Session
Saturday, June 7, 2:30 -4:30 p.m. (Open Forum)
Sunday, June 8, 2:00-4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, June 10, 4:30-6:00 p.m. (House of Delegates)
Watch ASHP's policy process in action! Delegates will debate and vote on additions to the Society's professional policies, which serve as the foundation for the Society's advocacy efforts and are used by our frontline advocates to articulate our positions on important issues.

- PAC Breakfast-Countdown to November
Sunday, June 8, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Come for breakfast and get an analysis of the 2008 presidential contest and congressional races, a review of the recent health care issues in Congress, all while making an important contribution that will help support pharmacy friendly candidates for Congress. Click here to make a contribution.

- The Joint Commission Hospital Pharmacy Update for 2008
Sunday, June 8, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Our ongoing relationship with the Joint Commission affords you with a preview of the new National Patient Safety Goals plus an insider perspective on the new Anticoagulation Management requirements.

- Patient Safety Collaborative Networking Session
Tuesday, June 10, 12:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Find out how you can participate in the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative, a new patient safety initiative sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The networking session will feature presentations by pharmacists who have significantly improved outcomes for patients.

- Current Legislative and Regulatory Issues in Pharmacy 2008
Tuesday, June 8, 2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
ASHP's Government Affairs staff will discuss the public policy implications of the pharmacy and health care issues being considered by the Congress, federal agencies, and state boards of pharmacy.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists