title: Moving toward the 21st century.
abstract: The status of pharmacist education, areas of professional responsibility, pharmacy management, and ASHP membership is predicted for the coming decades. Because of changes in practice and greater use of nonpharmacists, colleges of pharmacy will graduate fewer pharmacists, all with Pharm.D.degree. Ph.D.-level programs will be initiated for specialized practice as institutional pharmacy continues to expand to include both total-service and specialized practitioners. Pharmacy management will become more demanding and, in large departments, may require both a professional and a nonprofessional director. Hospitals will become larger but fewer in number. They will serve large geographic areas, with the patients coming as referrals from ambulatory health care centers operating in smaller communities. With present services and programs, ASHP membership probably will level off at 21,000. If the Society can broaden its role, membership could reach 25,000--40,000, including many supportive personnel members. The formation of more specialty organizations may be necessary, but they will require a successful umbrella organization for the cooperation needed for continued growth of the profession.
mesh_terms: D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006666:History of Medicine; D010604:Pharmacy / Q000639:trends*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D012957:Societies, Pharmaceutical / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States