Automation in Pharmacy Initiative

The ASCP Foundation coordinated a pharmacy-wide initiative to address regulatory and legislative barriers to the use of automation in pharmacy. Pharmacy organizations participating in the initiative included the American Pharmaceutical Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, National Community Pharmacists Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, and American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. The Initiative was undertaken in cooperation with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and representatives from the automation industry.

In cooperation with NABP, the Automation Initiative drafted model regulations for automation in pharmacy, which were approved by the NABP membership and incorporated into the NABP Model State Pharmacy Practice Act and Model Rules. The model regulations were widely distributed to state boards of pharmacy and have served as the basis for new or revised regulations concerning automation in many pharmacy practice acts.

The Automation Initiative also commissioned the "White Paper on Automation in Pharmacy," which describes the state of automation in pharmacy today, including descriptions of technologies available; barriers to the use of automated technologies; quality, safety, manpower, and professional issues surrounding the use of automated technologies; and comparisons with other industries. The White Paper was prepared by the Department of Pharmacy Care Systems at Auburn University, headed by Kenneth N. Barker, PhD., and published in the March 1998 issue of The Consultant Pharmacist.