The 2025-2026 Professional Affairs Committee was charged to socialize the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies within the Academy, pursue endorsement of the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies by the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners, and recommend future considerations for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy to pursue in advancing community pharmacy practice. The committee socialized the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies by holding a focus group of employer representatives from community pharmacy practice, a focus group of pharmacists working in community pharmacy practice, presenting at a national pharmacy conference for continuing education credit, and conducting a continuing education webinar for pharmacists. Due to the creation, socialization, and release of the Key Elements of a Pharmacist Practice Management Ecosystem document by Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners in January 2026, the second committee charge was achieved. Finally, the committee generated 3 recommendations for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and 5 suggestions for colleges and schools of pharmacy.
The 2024-2025 AACP Professional Affairs Committee was charged to finalize the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies document developed by the 2023-2024 Professional Affairs Committee; develop SMART recommendations for the dissemination, socialization, and utilization of the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies document focused on target audiences such as pharmacy academia and community-based pharmacy employers; and collaborate with the 2025 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Community Pharmacy Student Scholars cohort to generate a resource from the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies document targeting potential pharmacy school applicants. The committee finalized the Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies document, conducted one focus group with leaders employed with community pharmacy organizations to obtain feedback on the document, and has recommendations for continuing its socialization during the 2025-2026 academic year. In addition, a video featuring student pharmacists and a video featuring community pharmacy residents speaking about their interest and commitment to community pharmacy practice were created for the Academy and profession. Finally, the committee generated one proposed policy statement, 3 recommendations for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and one suggestion for colleges and schools of pharmacy.
Background: As community-based pharmacy continues to evolve from a focus on product distribution to a practice focused on patient care, a key requirement is for pharmacists to document their patient care activities. Some community-based pharmacies are working to routinely use the Pharmacist eCare Plan standard in documenting their new care activities. Objectives: With the need for a robust patient record in community-based pharmacies, the purpose of this study was to identify key elements and functionalities for a community-based pharmacy patient record. Methods: An expert panel of 26 individuals participated in 3 rounds of surveys using an online Delphi method to develop consensus about the key data elements and functionalities for a pharmacy patient record system. Results: A total of 46 items reached consensus: 16 as essential elements for a longitudinal pharmacy patient record, 7 as essential elements for a patient encounter, and 23 functionalities for a pharmacy patient record system. A rubric was developed to assess community-based pharmacy patient record systems. Conclusion: The functionalities can support pharmacists in fully adopting a standard care process and providing and documenting patient care, while coordinating and improving communication with patients, providers, and payers. Pharmacists are encouraged to use the rubric in evaluating software for their practices. (c) 2023 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
