Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Virginia Board of Pharmacy

 

Dear Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, and Pharmacy Interns:

During its meeting on September 30, 2025, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy voted to amend the vaccine statewide protocol for persons eighteen years of age or older.  The amended statewide protocol became effective as of October 1, 2025.  As such, pharmacists, or a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern under the supervision of the pharmacist may now administer the COVID-19 vaccine to persons 18 years of age or older in accordance with the directions for use in adults of a manufacturer's product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") or the Immunization Schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC").  All other vaccines must be administered in accordance with the Immunization Schedule published by the CDC. 

Please note that the Board’s action does not impact the Health Commissioner’s standing order for pharmacists or pharmacy interns under the supervision of a pharmacist to administer the COVID-19 vaccine which was issued on September 10, 2025.  Either the Board’s protocol or the Health Commissioner’s standing order may be used, and one may work better than the other for billing purposes.  The legal authority for each order is addressed in two separate laws.  The law associated with the Health Commissioner’s standing order does not allow administration by pharmacy technicians; however, the law associated with the Board’s statewide protocols does include such an allowance.  Links are provided here to view the Board’s amended statewide protocol and the Health Commissioner’s standing order or they may be accessed on the Board’s homepage under Featured News at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Pharmacy/.

Thank you for being a vital member of Virginia’s healthcare team.

Virginia Board of Pharmacy

pharmbd@dhp.virginia.gov

The proposed 340B Rebate Pilot Program threatens to harm health systems. VSHP urges you to contact your federal representatives by end of day September 5, 2025 to voice concerns.

How to act:

• Ask your representative to sign the bipartisan letter (led by Reps. Matsui, Johnson, Dingell, and Mann) urging HHS to halt or strengthen safeguards on the program.

·          

• • This is attached as a PDF for reference - but legislators will know how to access and sign on to letter ("Quill" link is not active outside their system)
• Send your own letter to HHS—individually or on behalf of your health system. (340Bpricing@hrsa.gov) 
• If you’re a 340BHealth member, access a template letter here: 340B Health Advocacy Tools. (link only works for 340B Health members)

Find your representative: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.

8-28-25-Dear-Colleague-Rebate-Pilot-Letter.pdf

Thank you for taking quick action to protect 340B.

Josh Crawford & Nik Lawson

VSHP Legislative Co-Chairs

VSHP Webinar 

Thursday, September 18, 2025 – 12:00pm-1:00 pm

Clotting Conundrum: Anticoagulation, Antiplatelet Therapy, or Both?

 

 

Speaker:

 

Allison Dery, PharmD, BCGP, CACP

Supervisor, Pharmacy - Clinical/Operations 

Sentara Ambulatory Services Division 

 

Objectives for Pharmacists            

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• ·         Describe the risks and benefits associated with antithrombotic therapies, alone or in combination.
• ·         Identify indications for combined use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications and opportunities for deprescribing.
• ·         Apply a standardized, systematic approach to assess and manage patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.
• ·         Select interventions to minimize bleeding risk in patients requiring combined use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications.

 

Objectives for Pharmacy Technicians      

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• List the risks and benefits associated with antithrombotic therapies, alone or in combination.
• List indications for combined use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications and opportunities for deprescribing.

 

Accreditation:

Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider for continuing pharmacy education and has assigned 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credits for participating in this activity.  Participants of the session who complete the evaluation and provide accurate NABP e-Profile information will have their credit submitted to CPE Monitor as early as 1 day after the event and no later than 60 days after the event.  Please know that if accurate e-Profile information is not provided within 60 days of the event, credit cannot be claimed after that time.  The participant is accountable for verifying the accurate posting of CE credit to their CPE Monitor account within 60 days. Participants must participate in the activity and complete the course evaluation in its entirety to claim continuing pharmacy education credit. 

ACPE UAN:  0108-0000-25-062-L01-P; 0108-0000-25-062-L01-T

Activity type: Application-based

This is a member service of VSHP.  There is no charge for members to attend.  Dues must be current to receive CE credit.

Non-members will be charged $20.

To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_izNSD6UHT5O_TAu5wf0hzQ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call for Award Nominations

 

Each year, VSHP recognizes pharmacy practitioners that have demonstrated outstanding service to the pharmacy profession within Virginia. 

 

VSHP Annual Awards include:

VSHP Technician of the Year

VSHP New Practitioner of the Year 

VSHP Pharmacist of the Year 

VSHP Collaboration Award

Clinical Pharmacy Practice Achievement Award 

R.D. Anderson Distinguished Leadership Award

 

 

To nominate: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GJPXCZL

 

Additional details on award criteria and nomination process can be found at Annual Awards. 

 

The deadline for award nomination is Monday, October 6, 2025. Awards will be presented during the VSHP Fall Seminar, Friday, November 7, 2025.  

 

2025 VSHP Fall Seminar Poster/Abstract Submission:

·  Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLKvdgKn9vgUQWXdTADCiJjtA8fbbPRHROm125F46QYzagGg/viewform?usp=dialog

·  Abstract submissions for Fall Seminar Posters are due Monday, September 22nd, 2025

2025 VSHP Fall Seminar Presentation/Pearl Submission for the General Session, CLF, and Tech Summit:

·  Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJumTyBrGLtMRLZKMb0-Y-vil6ShEbj1trDbi_yvoJi304tg/viewform?usp=dialog 

·  Presentation/pearl submissions for Fall Seminar due on Monday, August 18th, 2025

Hot Topics:

Ambulatory Care

Antimicrobial Updates

Anticoagulation Updates

Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Practice

Asthma Updates

Controlled Substance Stewardship

Critical Care/Emergency Medicine/Toxicology

Data Management

Diabetes Updates

Employee Engagement

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

Heart Failure Updates

Informatics

Pediatrics/Neonatal

Retail and Specialty Pharmacy

Seizure Updates

Stroke Updates

Technician Advancement and Resume Building

USP 797/800

Women's and Men's Health

VSHP Webinar 

Recording 

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 – 12:00pm-1:00 pm

Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Patients with Diabetes

Speaker:

Keerthana Akkisetty, Pharm.D.
PGY2 Ambulatory Care Resident
VCU School of Pharmacy

Objectives for Pharmacists            

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Discuss updated terminology for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

2. Apply screening and diagnosis tools for progression of MASLD

3. Recognize initiation and monitoring parameters for  pharmacotherapy in a person with MASLD

Objectives for Pharmacy Technicians      

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Discuss updated terminology for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

2. List screening and diagnosis tools for progression of MASLD

Accreditation:

Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider for continuing pharmacy education and has assigned 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credits for participating in this activity.  Participants of the session who complete the evaluation and provide accurate NABP e-Profile information will have their credit submitted to CPE Monitor as early as 1 day after the event and no later than 60 days after the event.  Please know that if accurate e-Profile information is not provided within 60 days of the event, credit cannot be claimed after that time.  The participant is accountable for verifying the accurate posting of CE credit to their CPE Monitor account within 60 days. Participants must participate in the activity and complete the course evaluation in its entirety to claim continuing pharmacy education credit. 

ACPE UAN:  0108-0000-25-058-L01-P; 0108-0000-25-058-L01-T

Activity type: Knowledge-based

This is a member service of VSHP.  There is no charge for members to attend.  Dues must be current to receive CE credit.

Non-members will be charged $20.

To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I1BD-HBITxC90sFTzxZPLw

VSHP Webinar 

Recording

Thursday, June 19, 2025 – 12:00pm-1:00 pm

Stroke of Genius: Navigating the 2024 Guideline Update in Pharmacologic Prevention

Speaker:

Taylor Bernas, PharmD

Pharmacy Resident

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center

Objectives for Pharmacists            

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• Identify key recommendation updates to the 2024 AHA/ASA Primary Prevention of Stroke guidelines.
• Describe major changes in lifestyle modification advice (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, sleep, etc.) and risk factor screening (e.g., blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, social determinants of health) for stroke prevention
• Identify updates in pharmacologic management for stroke prevention, including use of antihypertensives, statins and newer lipid-lowering agents, diabetes medications (e.g., GLP-1 agonists), and antithrombotic therapy
• Discuss stroke prevention considerations in special populations, such as women (pregnancy, menopause, etc.) and transgender patients, as introduced in the 2024 guidelines
• List diabetes medications that now carry guideline-recommended cardiovascular and stroke risk reduction benefits, including GLP-1 receptor agonists

Objectives for Pharmacy Technicians      

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• List key recommendation updates to the 2024 AHA/ASA Primary Prevention of Stroke guidelines.
• Describe major changes in lifestyle modification advice (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, sleep, etc.) and risk factor screening (e.g., blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, social determinants of health) for stroke prevention
• Recite updates in pharmacologic management for stroke prevention, including use of antihypertensives, statins and newer lipid-lowering agents, diabetes medications (e.g., GLP-1 agonists), and antithrombotic therapy
• Discuss stroke prevention considerations in special populations, such as women (pregnancy, menopause, etc.) and transgender patients, as introduced in the 2024 guidelines
• List diabetes medications that now carry guideline-recommended cardiovascular and stroke risk reduction benefits, including GLP-1 receptor agonists

Accreditation:

Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider for continuing pharmacy education and has assigned 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credits for participating in this activity.  Participants of the session who complete the evaluation and provide accurate NABP e-Profile information will have their credit submitted to CPE Monitor as early as 1 day after the event and no later than 60 days after the event.  Please know that if accurate e-Profile information is not provided within 60 days of the event, credit cannot be claimed after that time.  The participant is accountable for verifying the accurate posting of CE credit to their CPE Monitor account within 60 days. Participants must participate in the activity and complete the course evaluation in its entirety to claim continuing pharmacy education credit. 

ACPE UAN:  0108-0000-25-057-L01-P; 0108-0000-25-057-L01-T

Activity type: Application-based

This is a member service of VSHP.  There is no charge for members to attend.  Dues must be current to receive CE credit.

Non-members will be charged $20.

To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HrRd2yKzRhC57wo06miT0A

VSHP Webinar 

Recording 

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 – 3:00pm-4:00 pm

Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults: Beers Criteria Updates

Speaker:

Madeline Johnson, Pharm.D.

PGY1 Pharmacy Resident 

HCA Healthcare | Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Hospital

Objectives for Pharmacists            

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• Identify the purpose of Beers Criteria and the target audiences.
• Distinguish medication and criteria changes in the 2023 Beers Criteria update.
• Discuss evidence used to support changes made to recommendations in the 2023 Beers Criteria update.
• Formulate practical implementations of Beers Criteria recommendations in the clinical practice setting.

Objectives for Pharmacy Technicians      

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• List the purpose of Beers Criteria and the target audiences.
• Recite medication and criteria changes in the 2023 Beers Criteria update.
• List evidence used to support changes made to recommendations in the 2023 Beers Criteria update.

Accreditation:

Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider for continuing pharmacy education and has assigned 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credits for participating in this activity.  Participants of the session who complete the evaluation and provide accurate NABP e-Profile information will have their credit submitted to CPE Monitor as early as 1 day after the event and no later than 60 days after the event.  Please know that if accurate e-Profile information is not provided within 60 days of the event, credit cannot be claimed after that time.  The participant is accountable for verifying the accurate posting of CE credit to their CPE Monitor account within 60 days. Participants must participate in the activity and complete the course evaluation in its entirety to claim continuing pharmacy education credit. 

ACPE UAN:  0108-0000-25-056-L01-P; 0108-0000-25-056-L01-T

Activity type: Application-based

This is a member service of VSHP.  There is no charge for members to attend.  Dues must be current to receive CE credit.

Non-members will be charged $20.

To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cnvBSER2SrSsodYVn0tVNg

VSHP Board will hold its annual Leadership Retreat June 27-28 at Wintergreen Resort.

The Board will use the time there conducting strategic planning and setting goals for VSHP's future.