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Dear VSHP members,


It is with a heavy heart I share with you that R. D. “Andy” Anderson passed away on May 12, 2023.  He was 97 years old. 


Mr. Anderson was born in Dante, Virginia on November 22, 1925.  As a teen he worked in the town’s drugstore, then enrolling in Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy.  His studies were interrupted by World War II in 1944 and he joined the 95th Infantry Division, Company L, 377th Infantry Regiment.  Upon completion of his service, he returned to his studies and graduated in 1947.  Mr. Anderson was named staff pharmacist and assistant clinical professor of pharmacy at MCV Hospital.  He subsequently served as Chief Pharmacist at King's Daughters' Hospital, Assistant Director of Pharmacy Services at Ohio State University Hospital, Director of Pharmacy Services and acting administrator at Waynesboro Community Hospital.  In 1955 he co-founded the Virginia Society of Health System Pharmacists and became our first Society President.


Mr. Anderson went on to be President of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists in 1971 and was named the Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture Award winner in 1976.  He was also an ASHP Fellow, VSHP Pharmacist of the Year, recipient of the Warren E. Weaver Service Award, and the Outstanding Pharmacy Alumnus Award from the Medical College of Virginia Alumni Association.  VSHP created an award in his honor to recognize excellence in health system pharmacy practice leadership in 2005, for which he was the first recipient.  Due to the high level of excellence required, there have only been 8 recipients since its creation.


Mr. Anderson is survived by his brother, John; his son, Donald; stepdaughter, Deborah; daughter-in-law, Nancy; two grandsons, Ryan, Matthew and his wife, Nicole, and their daughter, Riley.  His legacy will live on through the work of his friends at VSHP, who continue to Anderson’s work of inspiring innovative pharmacy practice by promoting education, advocacy and collaboration to help people achieve optimal health outcomes.


A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on May 27, 2023 at the Waynesboro Mennonite Church.



Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesdispatch/name/r-anderson-obituary?id=51921504

Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture:  https://www.harveywhitney.org/lectures/r-david-anderson

ASHP Article from 2020: https://www.ashp.org/news/2020/10/26/ashp-past-president-r-david-anderson-reflects-on-his-first-95-years

 


VSHP PAC Update


VSHP PAC was well represented recently with VSHP’s President-elect Natalie Nguyen, PharmD, MSHA, attending Delegate Otto Wachsmann’s Richmond fundraiser on April 11th at Commonwealth Strategy Group. Natalie commiserated with the Delegate and she invited him to CLF this Fall.


Delegate Wachsmann is a 1986 graduate from the Medical College of Virginia-VCU School of Pharmacy with a diverse career, having practiced in corporate and community pharmacy settings. He also served as Director of Experiential Education at the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University. While at Shenandoah, Wachsmann earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree and served as President of the Virginia Pharmacists Association. He is currently a VPhA and VSHP member and has this to say about professional engagement:


“As one of only two pharmacists in the General Assembly and a VSHP member myself, I value the importance of our professional organizations. Pharmacy’s placement in healthcare is extremely complex, often in the background and we need to build and maintain stronger relationships with our legislators so they can best represent us.”


Delegate Wachsmann represents Brunswick, Greensville, Lunenburg, Southampton, and Sussex counties as well as Emporia and Franklin cities. Learn more about his background and campaign in the new 83rd House district here: Delegate Otto Wachsmann


A great benefit of VSHP PAC is getting our members in front of policymakers who share our goals and champion our profession. This year, all 140 General Assembly seats are on the ballot in November, giving us an opportunity to support our elected champions and educate new legislators. Get information about your local Delegate and Senator here: Who's My Legislator? (virginiageneralassembly.gov)


Please support VSHP PAC and encourage your colleagues to also become good advocates! Donate to VSHP PAC (paypal.com). A big thank you to our 2023 donors to date: Mark Vaughan, Jessica Saville, Edward Pickett, Maria Achilleos, Laura Adkins, Ramona Akins, Scott Anderson, Michael Beller, Brian Baird, Rucha Bond, Danielle Bouldin, Denise Brown, David Brown, Jarrod Brubaker, Erlinda Bulaclac, Royce Burruss, Lindsey Buscemi, Joel Bertrand, and Kristin Austin.


For additional information about Virginia government, politics, and how to engage with elected officials, please contact Catherine Ford at catherine@commonwealthstrategy.net.


Virginia Board of Pharmacy

May 9, 2023


Dear Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, and Pharmacy Interns:


The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. Please be aware of the following information:

COVID-19 Vaccines

·   The Health Commissioner’s standing order for pharmacists to dispense and administer a COVID-19 vaccine, and pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns to administer the vaccine under the supervision of a pharmacist, will expire at the end of the day on May 11th.

·   Per HHS Secretary Becerra’s April 14th announcement, he will issue an amendment to the declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act for medical countermeasures against COVID-19 which will extend through December 2024 to pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID-19 to those individuals three and over.

Other Vaccines on the CDC Immunization Schedule

·   Except for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, per HHS Secretary Becerra’s April 14th announcement, he will issue an amendment to the declaration under the PREP Act that as of end of day May 11th, PREP Act coverage will no longer extend to all routine childhood vaccinations by pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians.

·   The Board’s statewide protocol for a pharmacist to initiate treatment with a vaccine on the CDC’s Immunization Schedule, or to direct a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern to administer the vaccine under the supervision of the pharmacist to persons 18 years of age or older will also expire at the end of the day on May 11th. 

·   A revised statewide protocol for a pharmacist to initiate treatment with a vaccine on the CDC’s Immunization Schedule, including COVID-19, or to direct a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern to administer the vaccine under the supervision of the pharmacist to persons 3 years of age or older will become effective on May 12, 2023.

COVID Tests

·   The Health Commissioner’s standing order for pharmacists to order, dispense, and bill third-party insurance for FDA EUA-authorized at-home COVID-19 antigen and molecular test kits will expire at the end of the day on May 11th.

·    Per HHS Secretary Becerra’s April 14th announcement, he will issue an amendment to the declaration under the PREP Act for medical countermeasures against COVID-19 which will extend through December 2024 to pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID-19 tests to those individuals three and over.

·   Additionally, the Board’s statewide protocol for pharmacists to initiate treatment with, dispense, or administer tests for COVID-19 and other coronaviruses to persons 18 years of age and older may be accessed here.

 

Board of Nursing-approved protocols authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccines to adults for immunization pursuant to § 54.1-3408 (I) and the authority for a prescriber to authorize a pharmacist to administer influenza vaccine to minors pursuant to § 54.1-3408 (W) are not impacted by the expiration of the federal PHE. Additional information on the federal PHE may be accessed here.

 

Virginia Board of Pharmacy

VSHP Webinar 

Thursday, June 15, 2023 – 12:00pm-1:00 pm

Keeping Up with KDIGO - Preventing Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

 

Speaker:

Edidiong Demuren, Pharm.D., MPH

PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident

Inova

 

Objectives for Pharmacists:

      Explain the pathophysiology of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

      Employ appropriate therapeutic plans to prevent CKD progression in T2DM.

      Apply appropriate monitoring strategies for patients receiving finerenone therapy.

      Evaluate lifestyle modifications recommended by the KDIGO guidelines for preventing the progression of CKD.

      Recognize the trials that support the use of Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists (MRAs) in patients with T2DM and CKD.

Objectives for Pharmacy Technicians:

      Discuss the pathophysiology of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

      List appropriate therapeutic plans to prevent CKD progression in T2DM.

      Recite appropriate monitoring strategies for patients receiving finerenone therapy.

      Evaluate lifestyle modifications recommended by the KDIGO guidelines for preventing the progression of CKD.


Accreditation:

Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider for continuing pharmacy education and has assigned 1.0 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credits for participating in this activity.

ACPE UAN: 0108-0000-23-044-L01-P; 0108-0000-23-044-L01-T


Activity type: Knowledge-based

This is a member service of VSHP. There is no charge for members to attend. Dues must be current to receive CE credit.

Non-members will be charged $20.

To register:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BennYm26RtGAp3OLUQbvHg 

 

Urge Your Representative to Protect 340B Drug Pricing Program

ASHP is partnering with 340B Health to oppose new legislation that threatens the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Ask your member of Congress to amend a provision of a bill that would limit certain payments for 340B drugs and to oppose another bill that puts onerous and unnecessary new reporting requirements on 340B hospitals.


Learn more about the 340B Program at ASHP's 340B resource page, which includes model state legislation for advocacy campaigns, educational podcasts, and updates on ASHP's legal and regulatory efforts to support the program.

DEA Announces Timeline for Extension of Telehealth Flexibilities


The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has released a timeline for its recently announced telehealth flexibilities for controlled substance prescribing.


During the public health emergency (PHE), DEA allowed flexibilities around telehealth prescribing of Schedule II – Schedule V controlled substances to ensure continued patient access to critical services, including treatment for behavioral health and substance use disorders. Specifically, the PHE flexibilities allowed clinicians to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth without an initial in-person patient visit. Today, DEA outlined the following timeline for the flexibilities: 

  • Schedule II – V controlled substances can be prescribed via telehealth without an in-person visit until Nov. 11, 2023; and
  • If a patient has received a prescription through telehealth before Nov. 11, 2023, there is an additional one-year grace period until Nov. 11, 2024 to allow that patient to have an in-person visit with the practitioner.


ASHP has advocated for more flexibility than what was included in the proposed rules, spearheading joint comments with other pharmacy organizations, as well as submitting separate comments on the buprenorphine and CIII-CV proposed rules

VSHP Leadership Profile

Joshua Crawford

 

What is your current leadership position in VSHP?

Board Member-at-Large

 

What benefits do you see in being active in a professional association such as VSHP? 

A common theme you will hear is networking. This organization has been an excellent place to meet other pharmacists from across the Commonwealth. VSHP has also allowed me to give suggestions to proposed legislation through the Legislative Committee. It is really exciting to see one of your suggestions on proposed legislature actually lead to a change in a bill.

 

What initially motivated you to get involved in VSHP?

I worked with Rebeccah Collins at Bon Secours when she was Chair of the Education Committee. My wife, Alexis Crawford, was also on the Education Committee (she is now the Chair). They invited me to present at a VSHP seminar so I presented and attended the rest of the conference. I really enjoyed the other presentations and met many new colleagues and ever since I have regularly attended the seminars as a member of VSHP.

 

Where did you go to pharmacy school?

VCU/MCV - Class of 2009

 

Where have you trained or worked? 

Completed PGY1 residency at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center.

 

Describe your current area of practice and practice setting:

I have spent my entire career as a pharmacist with Bon Secours. 

Post residency I have worked in roles ranging from clinical pharmacy specialist to my current role as System Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services. In my current role I work to advance clinical pharmacy services and I also manage our health system’s medication formulary for 34 hospitals spread across 4 states.

 

What advice would you give to student pharmacists?

You will often hear that success is where preparation and opportunity meet. In my career I have found this to be accurate. Make sure you are preparing yourself to attain your career goals through ongoing education, certifications, and networking and do quality work. By expanding your professional circle and building a good reputation, you will find that opportunities come to you.

 

What pharmacy related issues keep you up at night?

Drug shortages and Medication Costs – This has been an ongoing problem for many years but continues to worsen. The core of the problem is that off-patent “generic” drugs are too inexpensive and on-patent “brand” medications are too expensive. The branded medications are heavily marketed and studies show only 1 in 4 new medications provides a benefit over existing alternatives. Meanwhile manufacturers have trouble producing generic medications profitably, leading to both quality issues (think recalls) as well as discontinuations of production.   

 

Do you have any special interests or hobbies outside of work?

No not anymore. Three young children and a demanding job keep me too busy!

 

 

What is your favorite place to vacation?

Our family tries to make annual trips to Gatlinburg, TN as well as Bald Head Island, NC. That way we get to experience both the beach and the mountains.

 

 

What 3 adjectives would people use to best describe you?

Indefatigable, devoted, servant leader  


Matt Jenkins Receives National Recognition

BETHESDA, Md. — Matthew Jenkins, PharmD, MS, CPEL, senior director, pharmacy services, UVA Health, was one of 27 pharmacy leaders who recently received the Certified Pharmacy Executive Leader (CPELSM) credential from the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists). The CPELSM recognizes commitment to achieving and maintaining excellence in professionalism, leading people, leading the pharmacy enterprise, and leading within and across complex healthcare systems.

Launched in 2021 and the first of its kind in pharmacy leadership, the CPELSM acknowledges the unique expertise of pharmacy executive leaders. To be recognized, pharmacists must have a minimum of five years of progressive and sustained leadership experience, including significant managerial oversight in a healthcare organization resulting in advancing pharmacy practice and positive patient outcomes. Candidates also complete a 4-day capstone at ASHP headquarters to demonstrate validated CPEL competencies. 



More information about the credential and the full list of recipients are available at ashp.org/CPEL-May23


Call for Webinar Presenters



VSHP is planning our CE webinar series for 2023 and we're looking for pharmacists who would like to participate as webinar CE presenters. Honorarium of $100 available.

Presentations can be on a variety topics and are welcome to give presentations that you may have already presented in another venue. This is a great way to become more involved in VSHP and a great opportunity to share your work with colleagues around the state.


Sign up for a 2023 webinar:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040d4fadab2babfe3-vshp10


Note: If you don’t see a date and time that works, email contact@vshp.org with a suggested date and time

All at 12 noon

Members Spotlight

The purpose of the column is to recognize members who have received an award, presented at a meeting, elected to an office or some other practice achievement.

To recognize someone, email contact@vshp.org

Did You Know...

If you were unable to attend our live webinars, you can view them at http://vshp.org/Webinars
 
There are 2 options for viewing-one with one hour of pharmacist or pharmacy technician CE credit ($10 CE processing fee) and one without CE.
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Clinical Writing Opportunities

As a new year of APPE rotations begin, writing a clinical article for the VSHP newsletter is a great way for students to get publication experience. As preceptors we can co-author these articles with our students, engage them in the writing process, and enhance their rotation experiences. Topics can be anything related to hospital-system pharmacy. Examples include (but are not limited to): new drug updates, national policy updates for hospital pharmacy, guideline updates, therapeutics reviews, and clinical controversies. Articles are generally 1-3 pages in length, and can include tables and figures. Interested member and students should email Steve Glass, contact@vshp.org for more details.

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