APhA Policy Manual

APhA recognizes the urgent need for education and training of pharmacists and student pharmacists relative to the therapeutic and diagnostic use of pharmaceutical biotechnology products. APhA, therefore, supports the continuing development and implementation of such education and training.

APhA encourages the development of appropriate educational materials and guidelines to assist pharmacists in addressing the ethical issues associated with the appropriate use of biotechnology-based products.

1. APhA supports restructuring the current drug classification system and drug approval process. Evidence should drive the restructuring beyond the current prescription and nonprescription classes to ensure appropriate access to medications and pharmacist services and improve medication use and outcomes.
2. APhA encourages pharmacists to exercise their professional judgment to manage access to nonprescription medications and dietary supplements to facilitate patient/caregiver interaction with their pharmacist.

APhA supports having a consistent process across the country for indicating on a prescription that the prescriber does not allow the pharmacist to choose a different drug.

1. As a matter of patient safety, APhA opposes the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it has been out of the control of a health care professional.
2. APhA supports a public awareness program to explain why the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it is out of the control of the healthcare professional is a public health safety concern.

APhA supports pharmacists’ authority to include a medication’s purpose on prescription labels, on the basis of professional knowledge, judgment, and patient preference, using vocabulary that is appropriate for their unique practice sites and that addresses the needs of their specific patient populations.

APhA encourages those responsible for practice environments without direct patient/pharmacist contact to use methods to enhance communication, face-to-face interaction, and patient care.

1. APhA supports the need to protect the health of the American people through proper instruction in the safe and effective use of the more complex home-use diagnostic and monitoring products.
2. APhA supports the promotion of the pharmacist as a widely available and qualified health care professional to advise patients in the use of home-use diagnostic and monitoring products.

APhA encourages patient and caregiver education by a pharmacist on the appropriate use of drug administration devices.

APhA supports counseling by a pharmacist or student pharmacist on medication use to patients or their representatives prior to or at delivery; and encourages verification by pharmacy personnel to ensure the medication will be left in a safe place at delivery.

1. As a matter of patient safety, APhA opposes the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it has been out of the control of a health care professional.
2. APhA supports a public awareness program to explain why the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it is out of the control of the healthcare professional is a public health safety concern.

APhA endorses adequate compensation for pharmacists by the patient, the government, and/or all other third-party programs for performing drug regimen review in all settings where drug therapy is used.

1. APhA recommends that all practitioners and wholesalers provide controlled, room temperature, storage conditions as defined in the official compendia to adequately store drug products.
2. APhA recommends that manufacturers adopt return goods policies that allow the return of drug products even if the expiration date has not yet occurred.
3. APhA shall continue to study the problem of drug storage at all levels of distribution including in transit, in the pharmacy, and in the home and provide guidance for the profession and public in these areas.

APhA supports use of the phrase “community pharmacy” rather than “retail pharmacy.”

APhA encourages a coordinated effort by state and national associations, individual pharmacists, pharmacy employers and stakeholders to promote public understanding about the nature, value and necessity of pharmacists’ services.

APhA encourages the use of the title “Pharmacist” in communications and all public media.

1. APhA encourages the use of pharmacy-based, starter dose programs.
2. APhA recommends that pharmacy-based, starter dose programs should promote patient access, be cost effective, ensure product integrity, maximize patient outcomes and provide appropriate compensation to the pharmacist.
3. APhA recommends that patients and prescribers communicate with pharmacists regarding the use of traditional drug samples to promote safe and effective medication use.
4. APhA encourages that sampling and starter dose programs limit the quantity of medications involved to amounts sufficient for beginning doses only.

1. APhA endorses the Board of Pharmacy Specialties’ process for recognizing specialties and certifying pharmacists in pharmacy practice specialties.
2. APhA believes that because of the existence of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties’ process, separate governmental recognition of pharmacy specialties and pharmacists in pharmacy practice specialties is not necessary.