California Pharmacist Winter 2024 - Flipbook - Page 30
peer-to-peer
Standard of Care: A Regulatory Model for
California Pharmacy
Daniel Robinson
Abstract
Purpose
To review advances in the pharmacy profession over the
past 60 years, describe the “statutory handcu昀昀s” created
by state laws based on scope of practice that limit the
emerging and evolving roles and responsibilities of
pharmacists, and explain how a standard of care approach
to laws and regulations could bene昀椀t the practice of
pharmacy in California.
Summary
Pharmacy practice has changed over the past 60 years
from a product focus to a clinical profession concerned
with safe and e昀昀ective medication use and the provision of
essential direct patient care services. The laws governing
pharmacy practice have not supported pharmacists'
evolving roles and responsibilities in providing essential
direct patient care services. Passed in October 2013, the
landmark California legislation Senate Bill 493 declared
that pharmacists are healthcare providers with the
authority to provide healthcare services. Yet outdated
protocols and statutory requirements often constrain
their ability to practice fully at the top of their education
and training. A shift to a standard of care model—used
for many years to regulate medicine and nursing—would
emphasize professional judgment, provide adaptability
Introduction
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vol. 71, no. 4 | California Pharmacist
to advances in science and healthcare delivery, and
enable competency-based standards. With this change,
pharmacists could provide patient care services without
being bound by rigid protocols and work as full partners in
team-based care to improve health outcomes. Evidence
from states such as Idaho and recommendations from
national organizations, including the National Association
of Boards of Pharmacy, underscore the feasibility and
bene昀椀ts of this approach.
Conclusion
For pharmacists to provide the greatest bene昀椀t to society
and the citizens of California, adopting a standard of care
regulatory model will maximize the ability of pharmacists
to function fully as healthcare providers. If approved
during the 2025 pharmacy law review by the California
Legislature, the standard of care approach will provide a
better future for pharmacy and its patients.
Calif Pharm. 2024(winter);71(4):29-35
Daniel Robinson, PharmD, FASHP, is Dean & Professor
Emeritus, College of Pharmacy, Western University of
Health Sciences
Correspondence: drobinson@westernu.edu
Con昀氀icts of Interest: The authors declare no con昀氀icts of
interest.
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