CONTACT: Frank Fortin
202.223.7189; ffortin@aphanet.org

WASHINGTON, DC -- The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) have released the Pharmacist’s Fundamental Responsibilities and Rights  (Fundamentals) for public comment. The Fundamentals principles focus on pharmacists’ responsibilities and workplace expectations by addressing pharmacists’ professional responsibilities as outlined in the Oath of a Pharmacist, the Pharmacist Code of Ethics, and scopes of pharmacy practice, along with addressing essential rights to which pharmacists are entitled so that their responsibilities can be fulfilled. 

The Fundamentals principles reflect the issues of concern national and state pharmacy organizations have heard expressed by pharmacy personnel. The Fundamentals principles can be used to facilitate meaningful dialogue and action among pharmacists, pharmacy personnel, and pharmacy employers to enhance the pharmacy workplace and patient safety. 

APhA and NASPA will be holding virtual Town Hall meetings on April 6, 2021, at 7pm (ET) and April 7, 2021, at 7pm (ET) to discuss the Fundamentals and hear from interested parties.  Register for the April 6th Town Hall here.  Register for the April 7th Town Hall here.  Registration is required to attend.

APhA and NASPA also invite written comments via email to wellbeing@aphanet.org through April 28, 2021. 

APhA and NASPA joined together in this activity to address recommendations from the July 2019 Enhancing Well-Being and Resilience Among the Pharmacist Workforce: A National Consensus Conference focused on working conditions and patient safety.  

Pharmacists and pharmacy personnel well-being continues to be a critical, complex issue for the profession and patient safety. The Well-Being Index for Pharmacy Personnel (WBI), invented by the Mayo Clinic and offered by APhA, found that nearly 33% of those who used the WBI are at a high risk for distress (as of 3/6/21). Researchers from Mayo Clinic have found that those pharmacists that are at a high risk for distress also have a:

• 3 fold higher risk of low quality of life 
• 8 fold higher risk of burnout 
• 2.5 fold higher risk of high fatigue 
• 2.5 fold higher risk of intent to leave their current job 
• 2-fold higher risk of medication error

Additional projects will be released soon including a state-based national survey to understand workplace conditions that may be occurring and may lead to increased stress and patient safety issues.