American Society Of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation

Programs: Research and education projects the ascp foundation assists in fostering science and research by funding, coordinating and conducting research that centers on geriatric pharmacotherapy and senior care pharmacy practice. The ascp foundation conducted a landmark three-phase research initiative - the fleetwood project - to demonstrate the impact of consultant pharmacy services on patient outcomes and health care costs and to improve quality of care for nursing facility residents. The fleetwood project may be the most important research initiative ever undertaken on behalf of pharmacy practice. The ascp foundation develops and implements special programs, educational events and tools to be used by pharmacists and other health care practitioners to increase their knowledge and awareness of medication-related problems in older adults. In keeping with its mission, the ascp foundation develops, integrates and applies knowledge regarding the medication use in the senior population and the practice of senior care pharmacy to optimize health care outcomes. These programs vary throughout the year, but are all designed to accomplish this goal.

pharmacotherapy traineeshipsthe ascp foundation's pharmacotherapy traineeships are five-day, experiential, patient-focused educational programs at clinical practice sites. Traineeships are designed to create experts in specific therapeutic areas, prepare them to provide a high level of pharmaceutical care to their patients, empower them to change the way they perceive their role in patient care, and create advocates for appropriate care and treatment of their patients pharmacotherapy traineeships have been the ascp foundation's premier educational programs since 1993. That year, the foundation conducted its first traineeship with just three participants. Since then, nearly 700 pharmacists and other health care professionals have participated in one or more of the 120 traineeship sessions the foundation has conducted on a variety of diseases and conditions. During a pharmacotherapy traineeship, participants work with interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, other allied health professionals, caregivers, and patients and their family members. During a traineeship session, participants are involved in direct patient care, contribute to the development of treatment plans, and provide input into problem identification and resolution to ensure that participants use the skills and knowledge gained in some measurable way. After completing a traineeship, participants are required to submit case consults for which they made recommendations for treatment or interventions to improve care of patients. In addition, traineeship participants are expected to become involved in local support groups or disease-specific organizations and participate in other activities that directly apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the traineeship.

center for medicines and healthy agingthe center for medicines and healthy aging is a resource that provides practical information to help people make the best use of their medicines. It improves the health and well-being of older adults through appropriate, effective, and safe medication use.