Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Please see attached a joint communication that is being issued by Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) and Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists (VSHP).  The joint communication informs our public and private partners that due to pending DEA and FDA regulations, hospitals and health systems will discontinue the current model of hospital and health system provided pre-filled drug kit exchanges as of November 27, 2024.  Further, after that date, single drug replenishment may be possible only in limited avenues that are able to support the resource heavy and complex infrastructure under the FDA and DEA regulations. 

We remain committed as your community partners to provide assistance at a local or regional level that may be available to ease the transition to a compliant model for all EMS agencies across the state.  This joint communication is part of our efforts to assist in the transition. 

Thanks, 

Brent 

R. Brent Rawlings

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association

EMS Drug Kit Joint Message VHHA-VSHP 041624.pdf

Congratulations to Nicholas DiStefano - Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy and Anna Dlott - Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy who are recipients of ASHP 2023-2024 Student Leadership Awards. The ASHP Student Leadership Award Program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding leadership contributions of student pharmacists who represent the very best attributes and accomplishments of ASHP student members.

read more  

ASHP announced 28 members (including our own Craig Kirkwood) have been named “Fellows of ASHP” (FASHP) in recognition of their professional accomplishments and practice leadership. Learn about the Fellows’ achievements and the FASHP program here: https://hubs.ly/Q02qjbzP0

March 28, 2024 Board of Pharmacy Meeting Update

***Breaking News: USP Standards Delay***

Enforcement of USP standards have been delayed to October 31, 2024 due to concerns shared with the Board with uncontrollable factors (such as supply shortages with test agents and delay in acquiring needed equipment). Keep in mind that at this time all pharmacies should be continuing to work towards compliance and be able to provide documentation of such efforts. Lack of documentation of compliance efforts can lead to disciplinary actions during inspections. Check with your hospital accreditation body with regards to this delay of enforcement and interpretation to your accountability expectations.

 

EMS Kits Updates

Several public and written comments were submitted by EMS agencies and pharmacy stakeholders to the Board with regards to upcoming FDA and DEA regulations. The Board voted to convert the May 2^nd Regulatory meeting to a Full Board meeting in order to begin the process for enacting emergency regulations to support the adoption of CSRs by EMS agencies and the resulting changes to the EMS replenishment process. VSHP will continue to engage with EMS stakeholders to work through the transitioning period.

 

Board of Pharmacy Positions – Open Position

As reviewed from the VSHP Spring Seminar, members appointed through the 2024 term will end on June 30^th, opening up the process for new Board member appointment. If you are interested and plan to apply, please reach out to VSHP (contact@vshp.org) to inform us if your intent so that we can support your nomination.

 

Sincerely,

The VSHP Legislative/Regulatory Committee

Thank you to everyone who participated in the VSHP/VPhA Legislative Day 2024.

Application for Fellow of VSHP

The application for recognition as a Fellow of VSHP, to honor sustained contribution to VSHP and health-system practice in Virginia, is now available on the VSHP web site.

The Fellow of VSHP award was created to recognize VSHP-member pharmacists with continual, but perhaps less apparent, contribution to the VSHP mission.  The criteria were developed with consideration of other state societies’ and ASHP’s criteria.  After approval by the Executive Committee and the Board, a group of FASHP-awarded VSHP members reviewed the proposed criteria, processes, and application.

Applications received prior to January 31, 2024, will be considered in the first round of the Fellow of VSHP candidates. Inaugural Fellows of VSHP will be recognized at the 2024 VSHP Spring Seminar.

FVSHP Application Form

Guidance Document

2024 Spring Seminar Abstract and Poster Submission

VSHP is hosting a Poster Competition at VSHP Spring Seminar 2024!

 

Accepted posters will be displayed at the VSHP 2024 Spring Seminar on March 7-9, 2024 at Virginia Crossings Hotel in Glen Allen, VA.

 

General Information:

• The primary author for each pharmacy resident, pharmacy student, and pharmacy technician poster submission will receive free registration for the 2024 VSHP Spring Seminar.
• All presenters must be registered for the 2024 VSHP Spring Seminar, at minimum for the day of the presentation
• Only one submission per member is permitted as primary author. A member may be a co-author for multiple abstract and poster submissions.

Award Information:

• Primary author for pharmacist poster category will be eligible to win a recognition certificate from the VSHP Educational Affairs Committee
• The primary author for one submission in the pharmacy resident, pharmacy student, and pharmacy technician poster categories will be eligible to win a $100 award and a recognitioncertificate from the VSHP Educational Affairs Committee

• One recognition certificate will be provided per category.
• One $100 award will be provided for the student, resident, and technician categories.

Key Dates:

• Monday, February 5th, 2024: Due date for poster abstract only
• Monday, February 12th, 2024: Primary author will be notified by e-mail of submission acceptance/declination
• Monday, March 4th, 2024: Due date for accepted posters to email their poster (in PDF format) to contact@vshp.org 
• Saturday, March 9th, 2024: Author(s) present and available to discuss their posters at the VSHP Spring Seminar. Posters should remain displayed until the last day of the conference.
• The winning poster(s) will be alerted via direct email to the presenter and will be announced to the VSHP cohort in the VSHP newsletter and social media posts.

Poster submission link:  https://forms.gle/YtofH6xnG8QYJcTL9

 

2024 Spring Seminar Presentation Proposals

Call for Presentation Proposals for the Spring Seminar, March 7-9, Virginia Crossings Hotel, Glen Allen, VA

VSHP is accepting speaker proposals that will provide quality continuing education to our members. Please submit your completed proposal by Friday, January 5, 2024.

Thank you for supporting the educational mission of VSHP!

The 2024 Spring Hot Topics list is located below. The VSHP Education Committee will consider all topics for presentation, with additional consideration for all presentations related to subjects on the Hot Topics list.   Presentations with interactive activities are encouraged.  Pharmacists, residents and technicians are encouraged to submit.

Submission form

 Hot Topics - Clinical:

Ambulatory Care (weight management, chronic disease state management, osteoporosis, etc)
Behavioral Health (antipsychotic use, substance misuse)
Critical Care/Emergency Medicine
Diabetes
Guideline Updates
Geriatrics
Heart Failures
Infectious Diseases
Medication Safety (chronic medication pump management, clinical metrics)
Oncology Patient Care
Pain Management/Opioid Use

Hot Topics - Operational/Leadership

340B
Board of Pharmacy/Regulatory Updates
Controlled Substance Monitoring
Drug Shortages
Employee Engagement/Retention
Informatics - AI Innovation/Automation
Operational Pearls
Specialty Pharmacy
USP 797, 795, and 800

 

VSHP CALL FOR COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS FOR 2024   The mission of the Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists is to inspire innovative pharmacy practice by promoting education, advocacy and collaboration to help people achieve optimal health outcomes. We work towards fulfilling our mission every year through education of our members via region meetings, statewide meetings, newsletters, and our website; fostering professional standards; educating the public about the role of health system pharmacists; monitoring legislative issues that affect pharmacy; and by promoting health system pharmacy as a career path for future pharmacists. The majority of our Society's work is done by member volunteers working through our committees. You can play a vital role by serving on one of our committees. What will you get out of it? You will meet and get to know many of the current and future pharmacy leaders in Virginia. You will have the professional satisfaction of helping shape and advance health system pharmacy in Virginia. You will make new friends. You will build your resume. If you are interested in serving on a committee for VSHP, please fill out the form below.  Committee involvement typically takes less than 1 hour per month and is facilitated through conference calls. The Committee Chair will contact you regarding upcoming meetings or other opportunities to participate.    COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS AND CHARGES: COMMUNICATIONS: The Communications Committee is responsible for the direction, development, and quality control of all VSHP publications, including the VSHP web site. EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS: The Educational Affairs Committee is responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating educational content of the 2 statewide VSHP meetings. GRANTS: The Grants Committee will review requests from individuals and groups in need of grant funding for specific programs or program elements which match the mission of VSHP. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: The Legislative Affairs Committee is responsible for informing the VSHP membership and Board of Directors of important legislation and regulations and how they will impact pharmacy practice in organized health care settings in Virginia. MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT: The Membership Engagement Committee reviews and suggests ways for the membership of VSHP to become more engaged in VSHP.  ORGANIZATIONAL AFFAIRS: The Organizational Affairs Committee reviews and analyzes the VSHP organization and make recommendations to increase its effectiveness.  PAC: The Political Action Committee works to raise monies for the VSHP PAC and determines the best uses for the funds raised. STUDENT and RESIDENTS COMMITTEE: The Student and Residents Committee provides input to VSHP on how to get students interested in health-system pharmacy practice and how to get them interested and involved in VSHP. Make a commitment to get involved in VSHP. To join a committee: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vshp-committee-2024 Please respond by 12/31/2023

 

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF VIRGINIA DELEGATES TO THE ASHP HOUSE OF DELEGATES

All pharmacist ASHP members in Virginia are eligible to nominate, be nominated, and vote for delegates and alternates to represent Virginia at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 2024 House of Delegates. 

Individuals wishing to nominate themselves or another ASHP member for the slate of candidates are invited to submit names, by 5pm, Friday December 15, 2023, to: contact@vshp.org.   Nominations must be accompanied with a bio not to exceed 300 words which will be used in the ballot.

Two (2) delegates for a three (3) year term and up to two (2) alternate delegates for a one (1) year term will be elected.

Duties of Delegates

The Chair of the House of Delegates will conduct a welcome webinar in late February or early March to provide new and returning delegates with an overview of service requirements before participating in the March 2024 virtual House of Delegates. The Chair also regularly communicates with delegates through email messages to alert delegates to upcoming action items.

Regional Delegate Conferences are scheduled April 27-30, 2024, and it is recommended that delegates attend one of these sessions either in-person or virtual.

The House of Delegates will meet on two separate occasions at the 2024 ASHP Summer Meetings, scheduled to be held June 8-12, 2024, in Portland, OR.     

Additional virtual House of Delegates may be held in May 2024 and November 2024 and/or at additional times, as deemed necessary.

Resources to Help Serve as a Delegate

Please review the ASHP House of Delegates webpage for more information on delegate responsibilities.

The candidate receiving the most votes will become delegate, with the next highest vote receivers elected as alternates.  A simple majority is required for election. 

For further information, please contact the VSHP office at (850) 906-0779 or email contact@vshp.org .