Timely Pharmacy Regulation Topics Offer Attendees Chance to Earn Up to Eight Contact Hours of CPE Credit at the NABP 111th Annual Meeting

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®) is offering attendees the opportunity to earn up to eight contact hours (0.8 CEUs) of Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education-accredited continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit at its 111^th Annual Meeting themed “Boards of Pharmacy and NABP – Marching In Together and Stronger.” The meeting will offer timely CPE sessions that will involve presentations and discussions by some of pharmacy’s most knowledgeable speakers. Programming includes a pre-meeting CPE session, four joint CPE sessions, and two concurrent sessions: one geared specifically for state board of pharmacy executive officers and members, and one geared for compliance officers and staff. The Annual Meeting will be held May 16-19, 2015, at the Roosevelt New Orleans hotel in New Orleans, LA.

Saturday, May 16

By working together, health care regulators and providers have made progress in the prescription drug abuse epidemic. During the pre-meeting CPE session, “Combating Prescription Drug Abuse – Together We Are Making a Difference,” attendees will hear from individuals working on the front line of this issue and learn about the legal responsibilities surrounding the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances and strategies for successful interprofessional communications. This session, sponsored by CVS Health, takes place from 1:30 to 3:30 PM and provides two contact hours (0.2 CEUs) of CPE credit.

Sunday, May 17

Returning to the line-up of meeting topics is the annual favorite, the Educational Poster Session, which will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 AM. This highly interactive CPE session will feature various poster displays that relate to this year’s Poster Session theme, “Protecting the Public Together.” One hour (0.1 CEU) of CPE credit will be awarded through interactive participation with presenters for at least one hour during the three-hour offering and passing of the post-session test. This CPE session is sponsored by Pearson VUE.

During the meeting’s first joint CPE session, “Continuing Pharmacy Education – So Close Yet So Far,” attendees will hear from academic and regulatory experts as they discuss what is working and what needs to change with CPE programs in order to ensure they help pharmacists maintain their currency and competency to practice in lieu of periodic reassessments. This CPE session, sponsored by Walgreen Co, takes place from 3:30 to 4:30 PM and provides one contact hour (0.1 CEU) of CPE credit.

Monday, May 18

Since the enactment of Title I of the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA), many boards have struggled with rulemaking in regard to outsourcing facilities to ensure they are appropriately licensed and regulated. From 9:15 to 10:15 AM, state board of pharmacy regulators will share with attendees what their states have done to ensure safety in conjunction with recently enacted federal law and implementing regulations during the CPE session “DQSA – Are We There Yet?” This session will offer one contact hour (0.1 CEU) of CPE credit.

Tuesday, May 19

Questions have arisen as to whether the Drug Supply Chain Security Act will improve the integrity of the drug supply distribution chain. During the executive officer and board member CPE session, “Drug Supply Chain Integrity – What Will the Future Hold?” attendees will delve into this timely topic to discuss how states will be able to protect patients.  This session will be held from 8:45 to 10:15 AM and will offer 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) of CPE credit.

The compliance officer CPE session will also be held from 8:45 to 10:15 AM. In this session, titled “Inspection Tools – Update on the Uniform Inspection Blueprint,” participants will discuss the updates on the uniform inspection form created in January 2015 by 42 participating states during the Inspection Blueprint Development Workshop. Participants will learn how the form can be used as a uniform inspection tool that can be shared among the states to uniformly enforce pharmacy laws and regulations. This CPE session will offer 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) of CPE credit.

Following both concurrent sessions is the last joint CPE session, “Team-Based Care – Where Do We Start?” which will offer 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) of CPE credit. From 10:30 AM to noon, attendees will learn about this emerging health care trend, including how it is defined in pharmacy, nursing, and medical practice acts. In addition, attendees will discuss what roles the respective licensing boards should assume to oversee team-based care. This session is sponsored by Walgreen Co.

For more information or to register for the 111^th Annual Meeting, visit the Meetings section of the NABP website at www.nabp.net.