Drug Topics - November 19, 2007 - (Page 12)

12 DRUG TOPICS NOVEMBER 19, 2007 www.drugtopics.com Community Practice Pharmacy schools confront new pressures Reid Paul to the shortage of pharmacists, there has also been increased oversight. In an interview at Drug Topics headquarters, Lucinda Maine, executive VP of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, said pharmacy schools are ready for the challenge. The Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education has already announced that it expects pharmacy schools to meet much more stringent requirements for accreditation. The change comes about, in part, because of increased scrutiny and oversight of ACPE from the Department of Education. As a result, the pharmacy schools at Florida A&M and Howard University have been placed on probation recently—although Lucinda Maine Howard’s school has since been removed. Maine warned that they are unlikely to be the only schools criticized. “We are going to see more probationary notices; I am positive of it,” she explained. At the same time, schools are also trying to expand to meet the demand for pharmacists. There are 100 pharma- P there is tremendous pressure to expand in response harmacy schools are caught in a squeeze. While cy school programs in the country. In addition, 12 schools have hired founding deans but have yet to enroll students. Maine expects the number of pharmacy schools to rise to 110 by July 2009 and as many as one-quarter of pharmacy schools have opened new campuses. More than 11,000 students will graduate from pharmacy schools this year, an increase of more than 40% over 2004. “That’s a remarkable increase,” Maine said. “Schools have done an amazing job of responding to the national pharmacy shortage.” Still as schools focus on growth, they are increasingly having difficulty finding enough professors to teach students. A wave of retirements and comparatively low wages has made it hard for schools to attract new faculty. To respond to the challenge, AACP has created several resources for its members to help attract new faculty. These include an on-line teacher training tutorial and a Wal-Mart-sponsored scholarship program that encourages pharmacy students to consider teaching after graduation. In addition, AACP is working with other pharmacy organizations to improve faculty recruitment efforts. “We need to tell the story about why students should choose a career in academia,” Maine said. DT 150 Years of American Pharmacy By Reid Paul Red Book: From genesis to present MAC, WAC, or any other measure, there was Red Book. For more than 100 years, Druggists’ Circular and, after the merger, Drug Topics published Red Book as a regular update on drug pricing. Even before merging with Druggists’ Circular, Drug Topics published a posology list and market report as a service to its readers. In a July 1888 issue, the magazine reported this about the pharmacy compounding ingredient Otto Rose: “The rose trees on the slopes of the Balkans having well resisted the late severe winter, present low prices are likely to prevail.” Red Book offered a much more regular approach to pricing issues, offering prices for most major drugs. “We K for pharmacists. Before the age of AMP, AWP, eeping tabs on pricing has long been an obsession endeavor to keep our prices up to date,” the magazine explained in 1920, “but it is not always easy—or even possible for us to learn about last minute changes.” Red Book, in fact, was one of the drivers for the Drug Topics-Druggists’ Circular merger. “Drug Topics buys Circular to streamline price book,” a 1940 headline reported. The article sought to soothe concerns by insisting that “Drug Topics will continue publication of Red Book in a new and improved manner.” As Red Book grew in size, it came to be seen as an entirely separate publication. Finally, in 2003 that separation was complete. When Advanstar Communications purchased Drug Topics, Red Book was not part of the deal. Still the publication perseveres and is now in its 111th year. DT Photo: Reid Paul http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - November 19, 2007 Contents Latebreakers Letters Leukemia Patients Now Have More Options First-in-Class HIV Drug Boon to Patients at End of Tether 150 Years of American Pharmacy Pharmacy Schools Confront New Pressures From Pariah to Patient ACCP Releases Position Paper on Ethical Interactions New Injectable Antibiotic Welcomed with Open Arms NCCN Updates Head and Neck Cancer Guide Improved Phosphate Binder Approved for Dialysis Patients Considering Combination Concern Ensuring Seamless Care Bill Would Create Center for Comparative Effectiveness Hospital Improves Patient Safety with Automatic Drug Distribution System Infection Rates, Patient Stays Drop with New Drug Device How R.Ph.s Helped Three Hospitals Win Quality and Safety Awards A Pharmacist and Dog in Tow are Alzheimer’s Patients’ Best Friends More PBMs Agreeing to Pricing Transparency New Insulins in the Management of Diabetes New Products Advertisers Index Classified VIEWPOINT: Reflections on Pharmacy School After 30 Years

Drug Topics - November 19, 2007

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