APhA Policy Manual

1. APhA supports the use of manual and automated blood pressure measurement devices that are clinically validated initially and then undergo routine calibration to ensure accurate results.
2. APhA supports laws, regulations, policies, and peer-reviewed clinical validation testing for automated blood pressure measurement devices.
3. APhA promotes public awareness of accuracy of automated blood pressure measurement devices.

1. APhA supports education about digital health technologies and integration in pharmacy practice, in pharmacy school curricula, and for the pharmacy workforce.
2. APhA supports inclusion of pharmacists in the design and development of digital health technologies.
3. APhA supports that digital health technologies be interoperable with and integrated into pharmacy management systems and electronic health records.
4. APhA supports pharmacists applying digital health technologies to optimize patient care outcomes.

1. APhA supports the use of the milliliter (mL) as the standard unit of measure for oral liquid medications.
2. APhA encourages the mandatory use of leading zeros before the decimal point for amounts of less than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.
3. APhA discourages the use of trailing zeros after the decimal point for amounts greater than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.
4. APhA supports access to and universal availability of dosing devices with numeric graduations that correspond to the unit of measure that is on the container’s label for oral liquid medications.

1. APhA recognizes the value of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services and promotes the provision of those tests and services in accordance with the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process.
2. APhA advocates for laws, regulations, and policies that enable pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services that are consistent with the pharmacists’ role in team-based care.
3. APhA opposes laws, regulations, and policies that create barriers to the tests that have been waived by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and that are administered and interpreted by pharmacists.
4. APhA encourages use of educational programming and resources to facilitate practice implementation of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services.
5. APhA supports patients taking active roles in the management of their health, including their ability to request and obtain pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and related clinical services.
6. APhA advocates for access to, coverage of, and payment for both pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and any related clinical services.

APhA opposes the reuse of devices intended for “single use” in the screening and management of patients, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.

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 collaboration with other interested health care organizations, public and environmental health groups, waste management groups, syringe manufacturers, health insurers, and patient advocacy groups to develop and promote safer systems and procedures for the disposal of used needles and syringes by patients outside of health care facilities.