------------------------ Summer 2018 Newsletter -----------------------Volunteering Opportunities within ASCP Part 3 There are four departments of ASCP: Professional Affairs, Education, Advocacy, and Organizational Affairs. Emails are sent in the spring to all members asking which committees they may be interested in volunteering. The incoming president then assembles the various committees with assigned volunteers. Your participation begins at the time of the Annual meeting in November of each year. This article (Part 3) will focus on Policy and Advocacy. Please consider joining an ASCP committee. It gives you more insight into your professional organization. Policy and Advocacy Political Action Committee (PAC) Description: A standing leadership group that convenes at the Annual Meeting and ideally at least monthly. Board of Trustees of the PAC, as designated by the Committee s bylaws is: 6 ASCP members nominated by the ASCP President and confirmed by the ASCP BOD. List server and conference calls are also expected for this group s deliberations. This committee is empowered to solicit, directly or indirectly, and accept, voluntary personal contributions, and to make expenditures in connection with the attempt to influence the selection, nomination, or election of any individual to any Federal office. In addition to PAC duties, the 6 PAC Board of Trustee members, and the Board Liaison, will be appointed to the Government Affairs Committee. The PAC Board Chair will serve as Chair of the Government Affairs Committee. Trustee members are appointed to a three year term.
Charges: 1. Educate ASCP members about the function and purpose of the PAC. 2. Develop a strategic annual plan identifying 4 specific fundraising efforts (Forum, Annual meeting, regional/chapter meetings, and an ongoing annual program via social media) and participate in PAC fundraising events. 3. Provide oversight of the distribution of PAC funds to insure consistency with ASCP s legislative goals. Government Affairs Committee (GAC) Description: The chair of the ASCP-PAC Board will also serve as the chair of the Government Affairs Committee, and members of the ASCP-PAC Board also serve in the capacity of Government Affairs Committee members. However, members appointed to the Government Affairs Committee are not ASCP-PAC Board members, have no PAC oversight authority, and have no vote on matters brought before the ASCP PAC Board for decision. The PAC Board remains a separate leadership group and will continue to set PAC policies and approve contributions. 1. Work with the CEO and key staff on the Legislative Fly In associated with Forum. 2. Assist in the formulation of ASCP s legislative priorities and communications. 3. Build outreach by focusing on key ASCP legislative initiatives yet allow for flexibility in local implementation. 4. Establish a Provider Status Workgroup composed of a broad group advance practice members for the purpose of shaping and sharing ASCP s position on pharmacist provider status language in legislation and provider strategy and support to GAC on legislative efforts aimed at adding pharmacists to the list of approved providers under the Social Security Act (Title 18).
DEA Task Force Description: The DEA Task Force is charged with monitoring proposed changes to the Controlled Substances Act and promulgated regulations that affect long-term care pharmacy practice. The task force will develop strategies to work with the DEA and other stakeholder groups to ensure ASCP s voice is heard and considered by the DEA and other policymaking bodies. The task force will make suggestions to the Board of Directors for policy statements as needed. Charges: 1. Review and update ASCP s NABP Model Guideline Rules. 2. Develop resources to educate legislative and regulatory staff on controlled drug access barriers and why new legislation and/or regulation is necessary. a. Engage the grassroots network to continue tracking and communicating instances of controlled drug access barriers. Policy Review Committee Description: This group is appointed by the President and charged with updating/adding policy statements for the organization. Charges: 1. Review 25% of the existing ASCP policies and guidelines annually and create any new ones as needed or requested by the Board of Directors and/or CEO. Submitted by Deborah Milito, Pharm.D., BCGP, President Elect PA-ASCP ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast Regional Dinner Meeting Recap On the evening of June 5th the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) held a Regional Dinner Meeting in the Southeast area of the state at Buca di Beppo in Exton, Pennsylvania. It was an evening of good food, education, and networking with fellow ASCP members. The dinner was sponsored by Biocodex, an independent multinational pharmaceutical organization with an international portfolio of products including Florastor, a natural yeastbased probiotic which is the #1 probiotic worldwide. Jeffrey Borchert from Biocodex gave a presentation on the history of Bicodex, some background on probiotics and probiotic research, and highlighted different Florastor products. President of the Pennsylvania Chapter Laura Finn, BCGP, FASCP welcomed everyone in attendance. She reminded everyone how the Pennsylvania chapter extends ASCP s mission beyond looking out for the concerns of older adults and promoting healthy aging through achieving safe, effective and appropriate use of medications by all older adults. PA ASCP also supports the Senior Care & Consultant Pharmacists who serve them within the state of Pennsylvania and the region as well as pharmacy students. Laura serves as advisor to the student chapter of ASCP at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and two of her former students attended the meeting. For the Immunization Update portion of the program Laura briefly spoke about Pneumococcal vaccination, and distributed an Adult Pneumococcal vaccination guide highlighting CDC s ACIP Pneumococcal recommendations for immunecompromised patients aged 19 and older as well as immunocompetent adults aged 65 and older. Paul Caceres the Southeast Regional Director who helped plan the dinner meeting, provided the group with a Zoster update and discussed clinical pearls regarding the Shingrix vaccine. A handout was also distributed that highlighted key points to be aware of regarding differences between the Zoster vaccine live (ZVL) and the Zoster recombinant vaccine (RZV). Thomas Snader past president of ASCP was among the 15 people in attendance. Tom encouraged everyone to be involved in the organization and echoed what Laura mentioned at the beginning of the program about taking the first step and participating in one new opportunity with ASCP. After dessert there was a vibrant time of discussion and networking. The next regional dinner meetings in the Central and Northeast parts of the state are being planned in the near future, be on the lookout for emails (check you spam or junk mail folders as they may inadvertently get sent there from ASCP) with more details to come. Looking forward to seeing you there! Submitted by: Paul Caceres, PharmD, BCGP, CCP, Southeastern Regional Director PA-ASCP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pharmacy Students Are Invited to Attend National Meeting Apply for Scholarship & Ambassadorship Pharmacy students are cordially invited to attend the ASCP Annual Meeting outside of Washington DC - November 1-4. Join students and pharmacists from across the country as you network and enjoy the many educational programs including a student track of programs, residency showcase, trivia night and the opportunity to share your student chapter stories in the Chapter Activity Poster Fair. The deadline is September 7, 2018 to apply for the Arnold S. Feldman Memorial Senior Care Pharmacy Scholarship Program and the ASCP Student Ambassador Program. Learn details of these opportunities and apply. Two pharmacists who attended ASCP Annual Meeting while they were student ASCP members at their pharmacy college share their thoughts on being part of a national ASCP Meeting. In addition to attending education sessions of interest, networking was a highlight of the Annual Meeting for both Amisha Patel, PharmD 17 and Dorothy Krzyworzeka, PharmD 18. Amisha said, I was honored to have received the opportunity to attend the ASCP National Meeting in Dallas in 2016 as a Student Ambassador. I really liked the fact that this meeting was smaller than other national meetings because I received the chance to network with so many different people and make important connections. I would definitely recommend all students interested in geriatrics to attend. It's an experience they will never forget." Dorothy shares: The 2017 ASCP annual meeting in Kissimmee, Florida allowed me to present a poster on my research concerning Fall Prevention Awareness Day. I was also able to network meeting pharmacists and collecting business cards for potential career opportunities. During my free time, I experienced Disney Springs where I enjoyed extreme milkshakes and Minnie Mouse caramel apples with other pharmacy students." Whether its competing in GeriParty or displaying your student chapter activity poster, join the fun and celebrate this year s theme: Senior Care Pharmacists: Health Care Heroes. Submitted by: Laura Finn, BCGP, FASCP, President PA ASCP, PCP student chapter adviser. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ASCP Events Pennsylvania Chapter ASCP is planning a series of regional dinner meetings across the state with a focus on Immunizations/Antibiotic Stewardship. - More information to follow!
ASCP Mid-Atlantic Conference - August 3-5th, 2018 Linthicum Heights, MD Sponsored by MD and PA chapters Newsletter prepared by: Paul Caceres, PharmD, BCGP, CCP Please submit news and ideas to paulcaceres@msn.com Paul Caceres is the PA-ASCP Southeastern Regional Director and a member of the PA-ASCP Education Committee.