California Pharmacists Association Celebrates New Year With Successful Annual Meeting; Charting Pharmacy's Course in the 21st Century

Business Wire, March 7, 2001

Business Editors & Medical Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2001

The California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) hosted its 2001 Annual Meeting in Newport Beach, CA from February 9-11, which was an event-filled weekend geared toward interactive and informative programming to plot the course for the future of pharmacy. The theme of the meeting was Charting Pharmacy's Course in the 21st Century.

Highlights of CPhA's Annual Meeting included: Opening Session keynote speaker Lee Silber, author and radio talk show host; General Session keynote speaker Ron Wade of Pharmacia; California Pharmacists-Political Action Committee events; an installation dinner for CPhA President, Harold Washington, Jr., Pharm.D.; the installation of the CPhA Board of Trustees members; and an awards luncheon.

The following is a list of the 2001 CPhA of Trustees:

Harold Washington, Jr., Los Angeles (President)
Mike Pavlovich, Long Beach (Past President)
Ralph Saroyan, Stockton (2002 President-Elect)
Deborah Johnson, Newport Beach (Speaker of the House)
Steven Gray, Downey (Speaker-Elect)
George Pennebaker, Sacramento (Treasurer)
Dan Phillips, Sonoma (Region 1 Trustee)
Katherine Hillblom, Sacramento  (Trustee at Large & Region 2 Trustee)
Anna Kowblansky, Santa Barbara (Region 3 Trustee)
Carl Britto, Alameda (Region 4 Trustee)
Brian Komoto, Bakersfield (Region 5 Trustee)
Sylvia Moore, Costa Mesa (Region 6 Trustee)
Eddie Bubar, Los Angeles (Region 7 Trustee)
Terrence McCarthy, San Diego (Region 8 Trustee)

The CPhA House of Delegates adopted 37 new policies - three of the key policies are highlighted below:

EXTENDED PROFESSIONAL ROLES: The California Pharmacists Association supports pharmacists' professional practice roles, including, but not limited to:

a. Ordering or performing routine medication therapy related

patient assessment procedures;

b. Ordering medication therapy related laboratory tests;

c. Administering medications and biologicals by injection

pursuant to a prescriber's orders; and

d. Initiating or adjusting the medication regimen of a patient

pursuant to an order or authorization made by the patient's

prescriber and/or in accordance with established policies,

procedures and protocols.

Such roles should be performed only in situations in which adequate patient information or medical records are available and should only be assumed by those pharmacists who can demonstrate the knowledge and competencies necessary to perform such tasks, assuring that the public health and safety is optimized.

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: The California Pharmacists Association supports the policy that a minimum of 40 hours of approved continuing education be required every two years. The California Pharmacists Association encourages pharmacists to seek out and complete quality continuing education that meets the needs of their individual practice settings and maintains their professional competencies. CPhA opposes the mandate of specific continuing education topics by the Board of Pharmacy.

TECHNICIAN RATIOS: In order to assure the safety and accuracy of pharmaceutical services, not withstanding the practice site and circumstances, the ratio of pharmacist to technician shall not exceed 1:1 for the first pharmacist and 1:2 for each additional pharmacist, except for those circumstances relating to unit dose or IV admixture systems, where the ratio may be no more than two technicians to one pharmacist.

In addition to the installation of new officers and the swearing in of the 2001 CPhA Board of Trustees, five pharmacists received an award in one of the following categories: Pharmacist of the Year, Bowl of Hygeia, Distinguished Young Pharmacist, Academy of Pharmacy Specialties (APS) Advancement in Pharmacy Specialties and Pharmacy Student of the Year.

The 2001 Pharmacist of the Year recipient is Pharmacist Clark Gustafson of Optimal Health Services in Bakersfield. Pharmacist Gustafson has been a leader in pharmacy for four decades and has served the profession at the local, state and national level. Pharmacist Gustafson has been instrumental in moving the profession from the product-oriented services to professional patient-care knowledge based services. His business enterprises have always been patient-oriented and cutting-edge in offering services which will improve health outcomes for their patients.

The 2001 Bowl of Hygeia Award recipient is Dr. Richard Kane, owner of Oakdale Pharmacy in Encino, who has devoted over 25 years to his chosen profession. Since graduating with a Pharm.D. from the University of Southern California, Pharmacist Kane has remained active in CPhA including serving on the Insurance Committee and as a past chair of the Academy of Pharmacy Owners. He is also a member of APhA, NCPA, and Rho Pi Phi and has served as a local association president and treasurer. In an effort to ensure that his patients receive quality care, Pharmacist Kane has developed respiratory classes at his pharmacy to help his patients improve their techniques on the proper administration of inhalers, etc. It is common practice for Pharmacist Kane to personally deliver medication to patients after hours.