Good pharmacy practices

Guidelines for Good Pharmacy Practice in Support of Clinical Trials in Hospitals, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1994. 

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and WHO have developed guidelines on good pharmacy practice. Those guidelines state [7] ... 

Good Pharmacy Practice requires that an integral part of the pharmacist s contribution is the promotion of rational and economical prescribing, as well as dispensing. 

It is clear from these guidelines that good pharmacy practices requires the existence of good environmental procedures. This is well aligned with the requirements in many regulations, such as the EU directives described in Sect. 38.2 as well as country-specific environmental management acts. 

Good Compounding Practices Applicable to State-Licensed Pharmacies. 396... 

Documents of special importance in providing guidelines and standards for pharmaceutical compounding include the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy s "Good Compounding Practices Applicable to State Licensed Pharmacies " the USP 27/NF 22 Chapter 795, "Pharmacy Compounding — Nonsterile Preparations " and Chapter 797, "Pharmacy Compounding — Sterile Preparations " as well as numerous other portions of the USP/NF. 

General provisions contain recommendations that are considered the minimum current good compounding practices for the preparation of drug products by state-licensed pharmacies for dispensing or administration to humans or animals. The document contains definitions of compounding and manufacturing. 

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Good compounding practices applicable to state-licensed pharmacies, in Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Park Ridge, IL, Cl, 1993. 

A good reminder is that a reference book in an open-book examination should be used just to support your knowledge and only in rare cases to find unknown data. The availability of books in an examination does not replace the need for studying, particularly basic facts that require instant recall. Lack of this kind of preparation is often one of the reasons why some candidates perform worse in an open-book examination than in a closed-book one. Do not expect to gather all the information during the examination — the questions are designed to ensure that only students who are well versed and properly trained in pharmacy practice will pass. 

These chapters contain specific information about the principles of assays defined in the text and contain what may well be the most comprehensive guide to the science of measurement in the scientific literature. Both the NF and the Nutritional Supplements have their own general chapters. Guidelines to Good Manufacturing practices are supplied, with guidance to small-scale pharmaceutical operations such as those encountered in a typical dispensing pharmacy. 

Community and institutional pharmacy practices generally offer a variety of medication-related goods and services. A representative list can be found in Table 5-1. The list of goods and services given in this table is by no means comprehensive. Some pharmacies have ice cream parlors, some have nail salons, and some sell gifts and collectibles. So how does one choose what goods and services a business should offer ... 

Historically, pharmacy practice quality has been measured by assessing its structure, process, and outcomes (Donabedian, 1969, 1992). Simply put, for a good or service,... 

Recruitment and placement of pharmacy personnel are two of the most important tasks a manager can undertake. If a manager finds and hires competent, self-motivated professionals, issues such as motivation and performance are less of a problem. Good hiring practices also diminish employee dissatisfaction and turnover by matching the right person with the right job. 

Once a marketing plan has been created, the next challenge is to put the plan into action. The goods and services described in the plan must fit into the pharmacy practice, which is an ongoing combination of people, equipment, and information. Putting a new service into practice means that the pharmacy will be disrupted in some way. Ideally, such disruption will be limited in time and done in a manner that minimizes problems for staff and customers. A couple of tools that can support a coordinated practice change are a service blueprint and an action plan. 

Based on the descriptions of independent community pharmacy practice and the characteristics of the individuals who pursue this career path, several points must be made. First, independent pharmacists are placed in a difficult situation because of their need to possess expertise in pharmacy practice and business. All pharmacy organizations must stay in business so that they may provide goods, services, and care to patients. Second, independent community pharmacy practice represents one of the most accessible health care venues for patients. Because of this, there exist numerous clinical opportunities for pharmacists in the provision of quality patient care and positive patient outcomes. Third, independent community pharmacists contribute to the overall health of any community not only in the care provided but also in contributions to the economic and civic health of the community. As a health care provider, the pharmacy adds a stable business to any town s economic structure. Additionally, through involvement of the owner and other staff members in civic organizations, these individuals serve as volunteer leaders in activities ranging from school and hospital boards to elected offices. 

Independent community pharmacy practice provides a vast array of opportunities for professional development and personal satisfaction. This venue accommodates all types of practitioners, ranging from allowing entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs the freedom to develop their ideas into actual goods or services to offering individuals interested in being their own boss the chance to start their own pharmacy and pursue unique practice niches. The independent community pharmacy continues to evolve from its earliest appearance in the United States to the technologically advanced patient care service entities of the twenty-first century. Independent pharmacists will continue to deal with unique issues facing their practices, and yet they will continue to innovate and provide quality patient care. 

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