Pledge as a PHARMACIST in the Million Hearts Campaign!

Pledge as a PHARMACIST in the Million Hearts Campaign!  The pharmacy/pharmacist-specific pledge shows your commitment to educate patients, promote healthy habits, help with prescription instructions and adherence, and measure blood pressure.  It also send a message to the Department of Health and Human Services that pharmacists are serious about being healthcare team members in this initiative.  The steps are easy:

1. Go to: http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/pharmacies.html
2. Answer the five quick questions (pharmacist or pharmacy name, email, city, state & zip)- all are gathered only for verification of unique pledges
3. Click “count me in”

Virginia Health Innovation Network Launched

The Virginia Center for Health Innovation today launched the Virginia Health Innovation Network.

The Virginia Health Innovation Network is a product of the Virginia Center for Health Innovation (VCHI), a multi-stakeholder organization committed to accelerating the adoption of value-driven models of wellness and health care throughout Virginia. The Virginia Health Innovation Network is the premier vehicle for the work of the VCHI.

Members are invited to:
- Learn about existing health innovations and models currently in practice
- Connect with colleagues and join communities of interest
- Share and spread what works and generate new innovations

To participate in the Virginia Health Innovation Network, please visit: http://www.innovatevirginia.org/pages/home/

Virginia Board of Health Professions Announces Public Hearing to Receive Comments on Pharmacy Technician Scope of Practice

Following up on last year's Board of Health Professions study of pharmacists, the Board announced on Tuesday, May 14th that they will now move forward with studying the current duties, responsibilities, training and education of pharmacy technicians and will determine what changes, if any, should be made to laws and regulatory policies to best enable effective team approaches for the care of Virginia's patients.

The Board of Health Professions has announced the timetable for the pharmacy technician study:

• July 30, 2013: Public Hearing/Committee Meeting

• July-August 2013: Open Public Comment Period

VPhA encourages you to think about your current practice and if there are any unnecessary restrictions that you feel should be altered to ease the burden on pharmacists and pharmacy technician and better ensure access to healthcare through strengthened health professional teams.

• The full laws and regulations can be found here: http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Pharmacy/pharmacy_laws_regs.htm 

• The Board of Pharmacy has a separate page for Pharmacy Technicians with additional information: http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Pharmacy/news_technician.htm 

The VPhA Board of Directors would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions concerning the review of Pharmacy Technicians.  If you have comments, please feel free to response send us an email at vpha@virginiapharmacists.org.

USP Prescription Container Labeling Becomes Official Standard

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP)  General Chapter <17>Prescription Container Labeling, published in the USP 36-NF 31, became an official standard on May 1, 2013. The standards, which provide a universal approach to the format, appearance, content and language of instructions for medicines in containers dispensed by pharmacists, were published in General Chapter <17> in November 2012. Visit the National Association of Boardsof Pharmacy Web site for additional information. 

Free Archive of Immunization Webinars Posted (No CE Credit Available for Archive)

Unable to attend one of the three webinars hosted by VPhA and the Virginia Department of Health or in need of a refresher of the content?  Archives of all three programs are now available for you to view at your leisure.  Note: CE credit is NOT offered for the archived webinars.

- Immunization Update 2012
- Best Practices for Vaccine Administration and Documentation
- Preventing Hepatitis B Among Diabetics

Archive Viewing (Not Eligible for CE Credit)
To view the archived webcast of the programs:
1. Visit https://lobby.mc.iconf.net/gcc/conferencing/partaccess.asp?ba=6
2. Enter the Moderator's Meeting Number: 4970431
3. Click "View List of Archives" *
4. Select from the list of available archives and click "View"
     - Note: please ignore the "Expired" text after the Immunization Update 2012.  The "view" link is still active.

Planning is already underway for future webinars from VDH and VPhA. Please be on the lookout for future opportunities.

* Some internet browsers do not show the option to click "View List of Archives". If you do not see this option, please try an alternate internet browser such as Internet Explorer.