After years of work to get it right, to listen carefully to stakeholders, and to construct realistic standards that will make a difference in patient care, the window of opportunity is now open! Outpatient pharmacy practices in the community, hospitals, health systems, and clinics that have an interest in improving patient care and differentiating themselves in the marketplace may now apply for the Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation’s (CPPA) voluntary new pharmacy practice accreditation program. The application is available on CPPA’s website.

CPPA is a nonprofit organization that was established by APhA, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The entity was formed to recognize pharmacy practices for providing patient care services that improve health outcomes and contribute to lower health care costs. Accredited pharmacies will be known for providing to patients, payers, and providers a pharmacy site practicing an advanced, safe, and consistent level of quality patient care services. And these pharmacies will be recognized for promoting practice innovation and empowering pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their training.

CPPA developed accreditation standards for community pharmacy practice through input from all stakeholders to build consensus for outpatient practice standards. Pharmacy practice accreditation meets the public’s need for specific, predictable, and measurable pharmacy-based patient care services.

You can find all the details about the accreditation application and accreditation process, including a policy and procedure assessment checklist, at www.pharmacypracticeaccredit.org.