Professional organizations, pharmacy standards development

The PTCB exam is used and endorsed by many national pharmacy chains, many independent community and hospital pharmacies, and the U.S. military. Employers use the exam as a condition of employment as a requirement to perform selecfed functions, to justify career or salary advancement, and so forth. To create a minimum standard for pharmacy technician capabilities, a growing number of state boards of pharmacy require technicians to be PTCB cerhfied. In addition, many state boards of pharmacy have developed processes for technicians to register with the state. This process allows pharmacy boards to identify individuals currently employed as technicians in their states. Most professional pharmacy organizations and state boards of pharmacy oppose licensure of pharmacy technicians. As the roles of pharmacy technicians continue to evolve and the public becomes more aware of their contributions, the profession will need to provide the required training and competencies to assure the public that the technicians are able to fulfill their vital roles in pharmacy. 

This chapter begins with a discussion of standards for pharmacists professional performance and their importance to a manager. It continues with a brief overview of some key historical mileposts in the development of laws and regulations governing both the quality of drug products (at the federal level) and the conduct of pharmacy professionals (at the state level). Next, it concludes with an examination of how the existence of standards can affect what an organization should and/or needs to do. These concepts are then... 

Over several decades, ASHP has worked with members to develop Best Practices for Health-System Pharmacy, a compilation of statements, guidelines, therapeutic position statements, and residency accreditation standards. In addition to its ongoing creation of practice standards, the Office of Professional Practice and Scientific Affairs at ASHP monitors professional practice needs, works with other major health organizations, works toward the prevention of medication misadventures, and communicates with federal and state regulatory bodies that define pharmacy practice in hospitals and other components of health systems. 

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