Clinical pharmacy

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) defines clinical pharmacy as an area of pharmacy concerned with the science and practice of rational medication use.

Clinical pharmacy is a health science discipline in which pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes medication therapy and promotes health, and disease prevention. The practice of clinical pharmacy embraces the philosophy of pharmaceutical care, blending a caring orientation with specialized therapeutic knowledge, experience, and judgment to ensure optimal patient outcomes. As a discipline, clinical pharmacy also has an obligation to contribute to the generation of new knowledge that advances health and quality of life.

To see the complete, unabridged version of clinical pharmacy defined, please visit http://www.accp.com/docs/about/ClinicalPharmacyDefined.pdf.

Clinical pharmacy is a key area of the pharmacy profession. Future pharmacists should be concerned with advancing the profession as a whole. The Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) is a forum for leaders within pharmacy organizations. In 2004, officers of 15 professional pharmacy organizations met to share their visions for the future of pharmacy practice. Later that year, JCPP drafted a vision statement that, in 2005, was endorsed by every major pharmacy practitioner organization.

JCPP has now evolved into an action-oriented, policy-making organization. In April 2007, an implementation planning group was formed to focus on the practice model, payment policy, and communications – the key elements of the JCPP vision. The JCPP Vision Statement (below) depicts a model of what pharmacy practice should be in 2015. The vision outlines the foundation of pharmacy practice, the ways in which pharmacists will practice, and the ways in which pharmacy practice will benefit society.

Converting this vision into practice will take commitment and resources. However, if pharmacy practice is going to continue as the exemplar of drug expertise, helping to lead health care, we must now begin to unite the voices of pharmacists to address the unmet needs of our patients and society.

ACCP Student Chapters provide students with a local connection to the national organization. They exist for the following reasons:

  1. To familiarize students with the field of clinical pharmacy by providing information about careers and opportunities within the field of clinical pharmacy; promoting dedication to excellence in patient care, research, and education; and encouraging the professional development necessary to function within an interdisciplinary team.
  2. To advocate for the role of clinical pharmacists in providing direct patient care, including evaluation of the patient and his or her pharmacotherapeutic needs; initiation, modification, or discontinuation of patient-specific pharmacotherapy; and ongoing pharmacotherapeutic monitoring and follow-up.
  3. To encourage participation in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy at the national level and in local/regional chapters.

Student Chapter Structure

Each chapter must have a minimum of 5 ACCP student members in order to form a chapter. Students interested in forming an ACCP chapter on their campus should contact their ACCP College of Pharmacy Faculty Liaison. If no faculty liaison has been identified, members of the prospective student chapter can identify one to serve in this capacity. The faculty liaison must be a current ACCP member and serve as the advisor for the chapter. Each chapter serves a school or college of pharmacy. Schools with branch campuses may elect to form a student chapter on each campus, provided that each chapter has a College of Pharmacy Faculty Liaison. Each chapter shall have a set of bylaws which are approved by ACCP. A sample set of bylaws can be downloaded from the Student Chapter Resources section below. All proposed amendments of a chapter's bylaws must be approved by ACCP. Chapters must elect a President and President-Elect from its members to direct chapter activities. Chapters may establish such additional officers as may be needed to accomplish its activities.

Establish an ACCP Student Chapter

The student chapter recognition process is designed to help student groups that are ready and interested in establishing a formal relationship with ACCP the opportunity to do so through recognition as an ACCP student chapter.

Prior to submitting your chapter application, consider the following:

  1. Identify your school’s ACCP College of Pharmacy Faculty Liaison. You can view a list of current faculty liaisons at http://www.accp.com/stunet/liaisons.aspx. If your school does not have a liaison, members of the chapter can identify one to serve in this capacity. He or she must be a current ACCP member who is willing to be actively involved and provide guidance and advice to the student chapter.
  2. Establish your student chapter’s officers (President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and ACCP College of Pharmacy Student Liaison), and verify that each of these individuals are members of the ACCP national organization. The ACCP student membership application can be found at www.accp.com/join.
  3. Compile a list of charter chapter members who are students at your school committed to joining the chapter. A minimum of 5 ACCP student members is required to form a student chapter. All chapter members must be ACCP members.
  4. Fill out a New ACCP Student Chapter Application (see Student Chapter Documents below).
  5. Create a set of bylaws for your chapter (see Student Chapter Documents below to download a sample set of bylaws).
  6. Make a copy of your New ACCP Student Chapter Application, proposed bylaws, and a list of charter chapter members, and e-mail or mail the originals to:
     

    American College of Clinical Pharmacy
    ATTN: Membership
    13000 West 87th Street Parkway
    Lenexa, KS 66215-4530
    E-mail: membership@accp.com

Maintain ACCP Student Chapter Recognition

In order for a chapter to maintain its recognition as an ACCP student chapter, the following requirements must be met on an annual basis.

  1. Appoint an ACCP College of Pharmacy Student Liaison to work with the chapter’s faculty liaison.
  2. Conduct at least one membership drive annually as a way to recruit and develop chapter members.
  3. Conduct at least one professional development project that supports ACCP's mission.
  4. Participate in the ACCP Clinical Pharmacy Challenge (i.e., either at the local or national level).
  5. Prepare and submit an annual report of chapter activities to ACCP.

New Student Chapter Documents

Student Chapter Annual Reports and Awards

Student Chapter Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Our school has already formed an informal chapter. Can we still form an ACCP Student Chapter?

A: Yes. Please review the sample student chapter bylaws found in the Student Chapter Resources prior to submitting your student chapter application. You may need to make minimal revisions to the structure of your student chapter; however, most chapters will need to make few, if any, changes. If you have questions about completing the New ACCP Student Chapter Application please contact membership@accp.com.


 

Q: How many students are needed to form an ACCP Student Chapter?

A: A minimum of 5 students are required to form a student chapter.


 

Q: Do students have to be ACCP members to be members of the chapter?

A: All student chapter members are strongly encouraged to become members of the national organization. However, student members of the national organization are not required to be members of their student chapter.


 

Q: Will student chapters replace the ACCP College of Pharmacy Liaisons Program?

A: No. College of Pharmacy Faculty Liaisons and Student Liaisons will continue to serve an essential role in ACCP's efforts to involve students in clinical pharmacy and increase their awareness of the College. Faculty liaisons will serve as advisors to the student chapter, and will continue to be responsible for appointing the student liaison to assist them with their duties.


 

Q: Is there a deadline to submit New ACCP Student Chapter Applications?

A: No. Student Chapter applications can be submitted anytime throughout the year.

Recognized ACCP Student Chapters

The following schools or colleges of pharmacy have established ACCP student chapters.

  • Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Appalachian College of Pharmacy
  • Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy
  • Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • California Northstate University College of Pharmacy
  • Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Cedarville University School of Pharmacy
  • Chapman University School of Pharmacy
  • Chicago State University College of Pharmacy
  • Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy
  • Creighton University Medical Center School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
  • Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
  • D’Youville College School of Pharmacy
  • Ferris State University College of Pharmacy
  • High Point University Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy
  • Howard University College of Pharmacy
  • Husson University School of Pharmacy
  • Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) School of Pharmacy
  • Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy - Bradenton Campus
  • Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy - Erie Campus
  • Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy
  • Long Island University Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Manchester University College of Pharmacy, Natural and Health Sciences
  • MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Boston
  • MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Manchester
  • MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Worcester
  • Mercer University College of Pharmacy
  • Midwestern University College of Pharmacy-Glendale
  • North Dakota State University College of Health Professions School of Pharmacy
  • Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy
  • Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy
  • Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy
  • Oregon State University College of Pharmacy
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy
  • Regis University School of Pharmacy
  • Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy
  • Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy
  • Rutgers University: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
  • Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy
  • Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy
  • South Carolina College of Pharmacy - University of South Carolina
  • South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy
  • St. John Fisher College Wegmans School of Pharmacy
  • St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • St. Louis College of Pharmacy
  • Temple University School of Pharmacy
  • Texas A&M University College of Pharmacy
  • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy
  • Touro New York College of Pharmacy
  • Touro University - California College of Pharmacy
  • Union University School of Pharmacy
  • University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
  • University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy
  • University of Charleston School of Pharmacy
  • University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy
  • University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
  • University of Findlay College of Pharmacy
  • University of Florida College of Pharmacy
  • University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
  • University of Houston College of Pharmacy
  • University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy
  • University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
  • University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
  • University of Kansas School of Pharmacy
  • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
  • University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy
  • University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
  • University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy
  • University of Montana College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences Skaggs School of Pharmacy
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy
  • University of New England College of Pharmacy
  • University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
  • University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy
  • University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
  • University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
  • University of South Florida College of Pharmacy
  • University of the Sciences Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
  • University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
  • University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • University of Utah College of Pharmacy
  • University of Washington School of Pharmacy
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy
  • Virginia Commonwealth University at the Medical College of Virginia Campus School of Pharmacy
  • Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • West Coast University School of Pharmacy
  • West Virginia University School of Pharmacy
  • Western New England University College of Pharmacy
  • Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy
  • Wingate University School of Pharmacy
  • Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy