Standard of Care is Coming
I live in Iowa, and as of July 1st this year, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy’s regulations are going from 41 chapters to 8.
Why?
Because we’re the third of four states (1. Idaho 2. Alaska 4. Tennessee) to adopt Standard of Care as our pharmacy practice act.
And this movement has only just begun.
What does Standard of Care mean to our practice?
By definition, it’s a legal term referring to the degree of care a prudent and reasonable person would exercise under the circumstances. It removes burdensome restrictions, allowing pharmacists to care for patients the way they were fully educated and trained.
Rather than ask if a practice is allowed by law*, a pharmacist will now ask three questions:
- Is this prohibited?
- Have I been educated and trained (and feel confident) to do it?
- Would another pharmacist in my situation do the same thing?
It’s a huge win for our profession as it aligns with other healthcare providers.
It’s a huge win for patients because we can provide care without burdensome restrictions.
It’s a huge win for pharmacists because we now have a larger stage on which to demonstrate our knowledge and improve patient outcomes.
It’s also a change. And with change comes uncertainty.
It will take time to adjust, and may require a shift in the way we approach patient care.
Overall, as a pharmacist and education provider I’m excited about this opportunity. For too long CE was viewed as a check the box requirement. Now we can each guide our individual education journeys to prove competence and confidence in our practice.
Even if you aren’t in one of the four states, more are sure to follow.
Prepare yourself for progress – whether it’s now or to come.
As always, have a great week and keep learning!
Jen
*be sure to follow your state laws as they may vary from this broad definition
