Organizations

PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY

ORGS/GOVT ORGS IN HEALTH CARE

Date: Aug 5, 2025

OBJECTIVES

  • Discuss the role of professional organizations in pharmacy.

  • Describe the purpose and primary activities of select organizations in pharmacy.

  • Examine the role of state and international organizations in public health.

  • Discuss the role and functions of various agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

History

  • The first professional organization was the American Pharmaceutical Association (now called the American Pharmacists Association, APhA), established in the 1850s.

  • This formation coincided with the establishment of the first college of pharmacy, the University of Sciences in Philadelphia.

  • The goals of the organization included:

    • Protecting one another among members of the profession.

    • Ensuring public safety.

    • Promoting professional competence among pharmacists.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - FUNCTIONS

  • Various functions of professional organizations in pharmacy include:

    • Dissemination of Information: Sharing current findings, updates, and practices within the pharmacy community.

    • Advancement of Science: Fostering research and development in pharmaceutical science.

    • Maintenance of Competency: Upholding standards for continual education and professional practices.

    • Job/Career Planning Assistance: Providing resources for career development and job placements.

    • Networking: Creating opportunities for members to connect with one another.

    • Lobbying: Advocating for policies that favor the pharmacy profession and public health interests.

    • Camaraderie: Building relationships and a sense of community among pharmacy professionals.

SOME PHARMACY AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

  • A list of key pharmacy organizations includes:

    • American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

    • American Society of Health-System Pharmacy (ASHP)

    • National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)

    • National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA) and Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA)

    • American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)

    • American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)

    • American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)

ADDITIONAL NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • Other relevant organizations include:

    • National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)

    • Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA)

    • Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

    • Drug Information Association (DIA)

    • National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)

    • Association for Accessible Medications (AAM, formerly GPhA)

    • United States Pharmacopoeial Convention (USP)

ORGANIZATIONS AIMED AT PHARMACY QUALITY AND MEDICATION SAFETY

  • Relevant organizations focused on quality and safety in pharmacy include:

    • Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)

    • Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA)

    • Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

    • Institute of Medicine (IOM)

    • National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF)

    • Joint Commission

    • National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA)

    • Leapfrog Group

PEER-REVIEWED PHARMACY AND MEDICAL JOURNALS

  • Important peer-reviewed journals in the field include:

    • Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (J Am Pharm Assoc)

    • American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (Am J Health-Syst Pharm)

    • Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy (Res Social Adm Pharm)

    • Consultant Pharmacist

    • American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (Am J Pharm Educ)

MORE PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS

  • Additional notable journals include:

    • Annals of Pharmacotherapy (Ann Pharmacother)

    • Journal of Managed and Specialty Care Pharmacy (J Manage Care Pharm)

    • Value in Health

    • Journal of the American Medical Association (J Am Med Assoc)

    • New England Journal of Medicine (New Engl J Med)

    • Health Affairs (Health Aff)

    • Archives of Internal Medicine (Arch Int Med)

NON-PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS

  • Several non-peer-reviewed publications are significant in pharmacy, including:

    • U.S. Pharmacist

    • Pharmacy Times

    • Drug Topics

    • Numerous other publications exist in various categories.

AGENCIES CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTH CARE/PUBLIC HEALTH

International Organizations

  • Key global health organizations include:

    • World Health Organization (WHO): Focuses on communicable diseases, international health policy, and maintaining an Essential Medicines List.

    • United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): Works on children's health issues.

    • Doctors Without Borders: Involved in global health initiatives along with other NGOs.

National Organizations

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

  • Important agencies within DHHS include:

    • Administration for Children & Families (ACF)

    • Administration for Community Living (ACL)

    • Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)

    • Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR)

    • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

    • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

    • Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

    • Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)

    • Indian Health Service (IHS)

    • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Includes various institutes and centers focusing on diverse health topics.

    • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

OTHER NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • Additional organizations contributing to health care include:

    • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

    • American Red Cross

    • Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)

    • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

    • Various professional and philanthropic organizations, like:

    • American Public Health Association (APHA)

    • Shriner’s Hospital

    • Children’s Miracle Network

    • St. Jude’s

    • American Diabetes Association (ADA)

    • Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)

    • American Cancer Society (ACS)

    • American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA)

    • March of Dimes

    • Easter Seals

REGIONAL/LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • Local contributions to health care/public health include:

    • Local health departments

    • State health departments (e.g., California Health and Human Services Agency)

    • Communication channels with the CDC, such as:

    • Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

    • California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC)

    • California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT)

    • Numerous local/district/regional chapters of state and local organizations.

OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS

  • Additional organizations focused on public health include:

    • American Diabetes Association

    • American Lung Association

    • American Heart Association

    • International Headache Society

    • March of Dimes

    • Easter Seals

    • Mothers Against Drunk Driving

    • American Cancer Society

    • Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

    • St. Jude’s

    • Many more organizations exist.

LOCAL/STATE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • Key organizations at the state level include:

    • California Pharmacists Association (publishes Journal of Contemporary Pharmacy Practice).

    • California Society for Health Systems Pharmacists (publishes Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, CJHP).

    • Local chapters for both organizations (e.g., Diablo, Sacramento Valley).

    • California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT)

    • California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (CAAAA)

    • California Hepatitis C Task Force

    • California Chronic Care Coalition

    • Additional local affiliates of national organizations.

SUMMARY

  • Professional organizations serve to reflect the identity of their members, maintain professional competency, and disseminate scientific information that enhances pharmaceutical care and the profession as a whole.

  • A variety of organizations focus on pharmacy, organized primarily by practice setting. Many of these organizations publish peer-reviewed journals and offer individual as well as institutional memberships.

SUMMARY - PUBLIC HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS

  • International and local agencies play significant roles in public health, particularly regarding vendor inspections and disseminating information about diseases.

  • Numerous federal health agencies exist, some with regulatory authority (and some without), managing various programs intended to enhance individual and population health. Many of these agencies operate under the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS).

  • Additionally, many other professional and philanthropic organizations contribute greatly to public health by providing funds, grants, direct care, advocacy, and developing therapeutic guidelines.

PREPARATION FOR SGD#1—MOCK BOARD ROOM

  • Prepare by reading about what constitutes a Board of Trustees, focusing on both professional and non-profit organizations.

  • Choose one of the governmental or professional organizations discussed today and explore their website to find additional materials.

WORKING IN TEAMS

  • Let's discuss collaboration and teamwork in the context of pharmacy and public health.