Clinical Pharmacy Definitions by ACCP
The Definition of Clinical Pharmacy
American College of Clinical Pharmacy
Key Words: American College of Clinical Pharmacy, ACCP, clinical pharmacy, definition, clinical pharmacist.
(Pharmacotherapy 2008;28(6):816–817)
As articulated in its strategic plan, the American
College of Clinical Pharmacy’s (ACCP) 10–15year vision for the profession is that pharmacists will be health care providers who are accountable for optimal medication therapy in the prevention and treatment of disease. To achieve this vision, the profession must ensure that there will be an adequate supply of appropriately educated and skilled clinical pharmacists. Toward that end, the
ACCP Board of Regents has developed a definition of clinical pharmacy to serve as the foundation for the core competencies of a clinical pharmacist. Both short (abridged) and detailed
(unabridged) definitions are provided below.
Abridged Definition of Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy is defined as that area of pharmacy concerned with the science and practice of rational medication use.
Unabridged Definition of Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy is a health science discipline in which pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes medication therapy and promotes health, wellness, and disease prevention. The practice of clinical pharmacy embraces the philosophy of pharmaceutical care; it blends a caring orientation with specialized therapeutic knowledge, experience, and judgment for the purpose of ensuring optimal patient outcomes.
As a discipline, clinical pharmacy also has an obligation to contribute to the generation of new knowledge that advances health and quality of life. Clinical pharmacists care for patients in all
This definition was written and approved by the
American College of Clinical Pharmacy Board of Regents on
April 8, 2005.
Address reprint requests to the American College of
Clinical Pharmacy, 13000 West 87th Street Parkway, Suite
100, Lenexa, KS 66215-4530; e-mail: accp@accp.com, or download from
American College of Clinical Pharmacy
Key Words: American College of Clinical Pharmacy, ACCP, clinical pharmacy, definition, clinical pharmacist.
(Pharmacotherapy 2008;28(6):816–817)
As articulated in its strategic plan, the American
College of Clinical Pharmacy’s (ACCP) 10–15year vision for the profession is that pharmacists will be health care providers who are accountable for optimal medication therapy in the prevention and treatment of disease. To achieve this vision, the profession must ensure that there will be an adequate supply of appropriately educated and skilled clinical pharmacists. Toward that end, the
ACCP Board of Regents has developed a definition of clinical pharmacy to serve as the foundation for the core competencies of a clinical pharmacist. Both short (abridged) and detailed
(unabridged) definitions are provided below.
Abridged Definition of Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy is defined as that area of pharmacy concerned with the science and practice of rational medication use.
Unabridged Definition of Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy is a health science discipline in which pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes medication therapy and promotes health, wellness, and disease prevention. The practice of clinical pharmacy embraces the philosophy of pharmaceutical care; it blends a caring orientation with specialized therapeutic knowledge, experience, and judgment for the purpose of ensuring optimal patient outcomes.
As a discipline, clinical pharmacy also has an obligation to contribute to the generation of new knowledge that advances health and quality of life. Clinical pharmacists care for patients in all
This definition was written and approved by the
American College of Clinical Pharmacy Board of Regents on
April 8, 2005.
Address reprint requests to the American College of
Clinical Pharmacy, 13000 West 87th Street Parkway, Suite
100, Lenexa, KS 66215-4530; e-mail: accp@accp.com, or download from
References: 1. Anonymous. American heritage dictionary of the English language, 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 2. Anonymous. Dorland’s illustrated medical dictionary, 31st ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2007.