Minutes of the AACP Board of Directors Meeting: February 27-28, 2003, Long Beach, California

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2003

The Board discussed AACP's role and responsibility in assisting the profession of pharmacy in achieving its goal for recognition, through federal legislation, of pharmacists as providers of medication therapy management services for the purpose of compensation under Medicare. The Board specifically considered a request from the Pharmacist Provider Coalition to join as a full partner. Staffing considerations prevent AACP from accepting full partnership status in this coalition at this time, however the Board affirmed its strategic importance and directed Executive Vice President Maine to identify appropriate means to engage with the Coalition. They affirmed that, to the extent feasible, AACP should utilize all opportunities to explain the importance of comprehensive pharmacy services to staff and members of Congress and to articulate support for the goals of the Pharmacy Provider Coalition.

In addition, AACP will be actively engaged in the Alliance for Pharmaceutical Care and its exhibit strategy at the National Conference of State Legislatures and will provide policy analysis and other support for the HRSA Pharmacy Services Support Center. Further, AACP will work to engage at least three individuals from each member school or college in grassroots political action to provide the broadest possible exposure of pharmaceutical education and research issues to members of Congress and their staffs.

12A. Preceptor Development Resources

Director Beck presented a comprehensive report resulting from a joint task force of the section of Teachers of Pharmacy Practice and the Professional Experience Program SIG detailing recommendations for preceptor development activities. The Board discussed the draft recommendations in the report. Director Beck will communicate the Board's comments to the task force and is committed to working with the task force to refine their report. The task force will then present its report to section and SIG members and further refine it based on input from these members. The task force will consider whether the section/SIG should put forth one or two policy recommendations as suggested in the report. Preceptor development resources might become a component of a possible curricular resource sharing initiative and/or Education Scholar program.

13. AACP Relationship with the Pharmacy Technician Educators Council

The Board met with PTEC President-elect Valerie Wagner for a discussion of the past and current relationship between the two organizations. President-elect Wagner expressed appreciation for the past support of AACP and communicated the desire of PTEC leaders to continue a joint annual meeting strategy with some modifications. She also indicated an interest in additional collaboration that might result in finding synergistic programs and strategies for better integrating technician training programs with the colleges and schools of pharmacy. One step toward this is identifying current models among member colleges and schools and featuring them in meetings and publications. A joint hearing, sponsored by ACPE, on the possible development of a national standard for pharmacy technician education will be held during the 2003 meetings in Minneapolis.