2014 to Offer Continued Success for UPhA

What a wonderful year it has been for the Utah Pharmacy Association.  We are excited as we enter the New Year and look forward to the new opportunities that the New Year will bring to the profession of pharmacy. 

On the National pharmacy front we continue to see much discussion about provider status and how we as pharmacists can and should play a larger role in the direct care of our patients…and get paid for that care.  The American Pharmacists Association and other National pharmacy associations are deeply committed to helping pharmacists receive provider status.  There is much discussion as to how that would and could change our roles as pharmacists. 

As professionals, we need to be aware of these ideas and goals on a national basis, but more importantly, we need to be involved locally.  We are only days away from our 2014 Utah Legislative Session.  We are aware of a few items that have already been introduced that will affect our profession.  We cannot continue to sit idle on the side lines and expect that someone else will take care of our needs.  Now is the time to be involved.  Your first step should be to offer your services and knowledge to your State Senator and Representative.  They should know you and know that you can be a resource for them if they have pharmacy or health care related questions.

I would personally like to thank all members of the pharmacy profession that have stepped forward this year to serve with the Association in any manner.   Our committees are running well and providing valuable recommendations to us as to the steps we should take as an Association.  I also thank those that have chosen to rejoin or join our ranks.  We truly feel that we are adding value to the profession.      

Our Continuing Education events have been well attended and we continue to receive your feedback on how to better serve your educational needs.  We have worked closely this year with the Utah Board of Pharmacy on many issues to try and help clarify our rules and laws to make them easier to understand and follow as professionals.

 

Let us continue to make 2014 a wonderful year for the profession of pharmacy.  Please be involved as that is truly how we can make a difference.  With the Affordable Care Act changes as well as other opportunities in the health care market, we, as pharmacists, should be anxious to provide new and emerging services to our patients.

 

Please feel free to share your thoughts with us as we are here to serve you.

Paige Patterick

UPhA President