title: Obtaining accreditation by the pharmacy compounding accreditation board, part 1: an overview.
abstract: An organization's performance is constantly compared with that of other similar businesses and is challenged to comply with industry standards. Accreditation by an external standard-setting body officially sanctions a business and differentiates it from competitors. Various industries have external standard-setting entities to which they can apply for accreditation. Compounding pharmacists are encouraged to seek accreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation board. The accreditation process may seem daunting, but it can be simplified and more clearly understood if you divide the application procedure into sections, involve your entire pharmacy staff, and discuss the application prodedure with past applicants. One of the most exciting new developments in the world of compounding is the opportunity for a pharmacy to obtain accreditation. Other healthcare organizations have had that opportunity for years: Hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); home care organizations are credentialed by both the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc., and the JCAHO; and health management organizations and preferred provider organizations are accredited by the National Council for Quality Assurance. All those industry segments have realized the value of measuring their organization's performance against national standards. The first question that a compounder may ask is, "Why is accreditation important?" For me, the answer is simple. I have yet to see pharmacy advertising that states, "Our pharmacy meets minimal standards and we have the least qualified staff in town." Every pharmacy says that it is excellent. However, because of certain current media issues (steroid scandals American Medical Association resolutions, congressional hearings), compounders must prove to physicians and patients that their pharmacy meets a high standard, and accreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) is that proof of quality. Athough acquiring accreditation by the PCAB is a great opportunity for differentiating your pharmacy from others, extensive preparation may be required to achieve full compliance with the specified standards. This article addresses some of the questions posed by compounders about accreditation, such as: How do I initiate the process of application for accreditation? What is required during that process? Which standard operating procedures (SOPs) are required? How much time will be required? Will I need to change what we do? What do ceratin standards mean? What will the survey process be like? How long does the preparation preocess take? How does a compounding pharmacy prepare for accreditation?
authors: Joe
authors: J
authors: Cabaleiro