Adaptable, Consultative, Respected
ASHP pharmacy services accreditation applies ASHP standards in an accreditation process that brings ASHP’s pharmacy knowledge and accreditation expertise in to your pharmacy organization. These standards reflect national quality initiatives and contemporary and future practices. The process is designed to be easy to understand, flexible, and consultative in nature. The accreditation process can be tailored to different models of care. Accreditation focuses on optimal delivery of pharmacy care.
Successful accreditation signifies to payers, patients, and other healthcare providers that the pharmacy provides an advanced level of high-quality, safe, and efficient patient care in a predictable and measurable way.
The Standards
The community and outpatient pharmacy practice standards outline specific performance areas for community and outpatient pharmacy practices to achieve accreditation. The standards focus on three domains:
1.0 Practice Management
2.0 Patient Care Services
3.0 Quality Improvement
Within each standard domain are key standards that demonstrate competency in the identified area of community and outpatient pharmacy practice. The accompanying narrative for each standard describes the specific criteria for ASHP evaluation of the community or outpatient pharmacy practice to determine consistency with the standards for accreditation within the overall management of medications and clinical pharmacy management of patients. The document also includes published best practices and related professional standards.
All standards are required for accreditation except those designated as a "goal." Accredited practices will be expected to work toward these goals. As best practices evolve and become more prevalent, standards currently designated as goals will be required for accreditation.
In order to receive accreditation, patient care and dispensing services provided by the pharmacy practice must demonstrate compliance with applicable state and national regulatory requirements and/or standards established by a recognized organization appropriate for the services provided.
Standard Domain 1: Practice Management
The pharmacy practice is appropriately managed to allow for safe and effective delivery of services.
- Organizational structure
- Staffing to deliver quality services
- Environment for service delivery
- Information systems and technology
- Interoperability of health information system
- Integrity and privacy of patient information and data
Standard Domain 2: Patient Care Services
The pharmacy practice provides patient-centered services.
- Criteria for patient care services
- Medication therapy management services
- Other patient care services
- Proactive patient counseling
- Staff training and professional development
- Process for evaluating patient care services (Goal)
Standard Domain 3: Quality Improvement
The pharmacy practice operates a continuous quality improvement (CQI) program to enhance patient safety.
- Operation of a CQI program
- Training and education of staff on CQI initiatives
- Patient feedback to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes of care
View the ASHP Community and Outpatient Pharmacy Practice Standards (PDF)