American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is a professional organization representing the interests of pharmacists who practice in hospitals, health maintenance organizations, long-term care facilities, home care, and other components of health care systems.

As of 2009, ASHP has 36,000 members, a staff of more than 175 and a budget that exceeds 40 million dollars. Previously it was known as the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists.

Mission
The mission of the society is to advance and support the professional practice of pharmacists in hospitals and health systems and serve as their collective voice on issues related to medication use and public health. ASHP provides legislative advocacy on health system pharmacy issues, partly to achieve public policy that helps people make the best use of medicines. ASHP attempts to assure that there are enough competent pharmacists in hospitals and other health care facilities to improve the safety and accessibility of medication to patients.

ASHP provides professional advocacy on health system pharmacy issues to government agencies, such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and healthcare organizations like Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and Institute of Medicine (IOM).

Vision
ASHP Vision ASHP dedicates itself to achieving a vision for pharmacy practice in hospitals and health systems in which pharmacists:

1.Will significantly enhance patients’ health-related quality of life by exercising leadership in improving both the use of medications by individuals and the overall process of medication use.

2.Will manage patient medication therapy and provide related patient care and public health services.

3.Will be the primary individuals responsible for medication use and drug distribution systems.

4.Will be recognized as patient care providers and sought out by patients to help them achieve the most benefit from their therapy.

5.Will take a leadership role to continuously improve and redesign the medication-use process with the goal of achieving significant advances in (a) patient safety, (b) health-related outcomes, (c) prudent use of human resources, and (d) efficiency.

6.Will lead evidence-based medication use programs to implement best practices.

7.Will have an image among patients, health professionals, administrators, and public policy makers as caring and compassionate medication-use experts

Publications

 * American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
 * AHFS Drug Information Book
 * Handbook on Injectable Drugs
 * Best Practices for Hospital and Health-System Pharmacy

History
Prior to the 1920s, hospital pharmacy was not a strong, well-organized component of the profession. By 1936, a subsection of hospital pharmacists was formed in the American Pharmaceutical Association (APHA), and for the first time, hospital pharmacists had a voice in a national organization. In 1942, hospital pharmacists established the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, affiliated with APhA. In 1947, ASHP and APhA jointly established a hospital pharmacy division with permanent staffing.

This document highlights a few of the milestones in ASHP's development, concentrating on the Society's early years, with emphasis on educational programs (institutes) for hospital pharmacists, minimum standards for hospital pharmacy practice, and comprehensive surveys of practice and publications. The history recited here conveys a sense of how the organization has progressed from 154 charter members to 31,000 today.