American Society of Consultant Pharmacists 2015 Annual Meeting & Exhibition
The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is the international professional association that provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to advance the practice of consultant and senior care pharmacy. ASCP’s 6,000 members manage and improve medication therapy and improve the quality of life for geriatric patients and other individuals residing in nursing and subacute care facilities, assisted living communities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and in-home and community-based care.
Consultant pharmacists specializing in senior care pharmacy practice are essential participants in the health care system, recognized and valued for the practice of pharmaceutical care for the senior population and people with chronic illness. In their role as medication therapy experts, consultant pharmacists take responsibility for their patients’ medication-related needs; ensure that their patients’ medications are the most appropriate, the most effective, the safest possible, and are used correctly; and identify, resolve, and prevent medication-related problems that may interfere with the goals of therapy.
The ASCP Foundation was established in memory of one of ASCP’s former presidents, Larry Niemerow, with the mission of fostering appropriate, effective, and safe medication use in older persons by providing leadership and expertise on the practice of senior care pharmacy and the use of medications to treat diseases that disable elderly people and diminish their quality of life.
This year’s Annual ASCP Meeting acted on those aims, bringing together leading consultant pharmacists and other post-acute care providers with expertise in senior care pharmacy to discuss the ways in which pharmacists can work to promote the safety, well-being, and quality of life for older adults. The meeting was comprised of educational activities and presentations of original research projects on a diverse range of topics including geriatric pharmacotherapy research; the promotion of patient-centered principles and practice; enhancing appropriate, effective, and safe medication use; the evolving role of pharmacists in patient care; innovative practice and payment models; and educating consumers, families, caregivers, health professionals, and the aging network regarding appropriate medication use in the senior population.
Communicating Value Via Pharmacist, Provider Collaboration
During a session at the ASCP conference, attendees learned how providers who engage consultant pharmacists to improve patient care around accountable outcomes can provide a foundation for success for all involved.
Managing High-Risk Geriatric Patients After Heart Procedures
During an educational session, a researcher reviewed the indications, complications, and pharmacotherapies of three cardiovascular procedures in the post-acute management of elderly patients.
