Official Newsjournal of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists

ICHP KeePosted

November 2021

Volume 47 Issue 4

Print Entire Issue

2016 Annual Meeting

KeePosted Info

Features

ICHP Ambulatory Care Network

Call for Entries: 2016 Best Practice Award

It's Back!

Nominate the Best!

We’re Looking For a Few Good Men…. And Women!

Represent Your Part of the State

Columns

President's Message

Directly Speaking

Leadership Profile

Government Affairs Report

Board of Pharmacy Update

Leadership: It’s Not Just for Leaders

5 Things to Know for the Newest New Practitioners

ICHPeople

College Connections

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy

Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy

Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy

More

Welcome New Members!

Officers and Board of Directors

ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund (PAC) Contributors

Upcoming Events

KeePosted Info



Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists
4055 North Perryville Road
Loves Park, IL 61111-8653
Phone: (815) 227-9292
Fax: (815) 227-9294
ichpnet.org

KeePosted
Official Newsjournal of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists

EDITOR
Jacob Gettig

ASSISTANT EDITOR
Jennifer Phillips

MANAGING EDITOR
Scott Meyers

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR
Trish Wegner

DESIGN EDITOR
Amanda Wolff

ICHP Staff
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Scott Meyers

VICE PRESIDENT - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Trish Wegner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Maggie Allen

INFORMATION SPECIALIST
Heidi Sunday

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
PHARMACY TECH TOPICS™ SPECIALIST

Jo Ann Haley

ACCOUNTANTS
Jan Mark and Trisha Blassage

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Amanda Wolff

LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT
Jim Owen

ICHP Mission Statement
Advancing Excellence in Pharmacy

ICHP Vision Statement
ICHP dedicates itself to achieving a vision of pharmacy practice where:
  • Pharmacists are universally recognized as health care professionals and essential providers of health care services.
  • Patients are aware of the training, skills, and abilities of a pharmacist and the fundamental role that pharmacists play in optimizing medication therapy.
  • Formally educated, appropriately trained, and PTCB certified pharmacy technicians manage the medication distribution process with appropriate pharmacist oversight.
  • Pharmacists improve patient care and medication safety through the development of effective public policies by interacting and collaborating with patients, other health care professionals and their respective professional societies, government agencies, employers and other concerned parties.
  • Evidence-based practices are used to achieve safe and effective medication therapies.
  • There are an adequate number of qualified pharmacy leaders within the pharmacy profession.
  • Pharmacists take primary responsibility for educating pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacist peers, other health professionals, and patients about appropriate medication use.

KeePosted Vision
As an integral publication of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists, the KeePosted newsjournal will reflect its mission and goals. In conjunction with those goals, KeePosted will provide timely information that meets the changing professional and personal needs of Illinois pharmacists and technicians, and maintain high publication standards.

KeePosted is an official publication of, and is copyrighted by, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP). KeePosted is published 10 times a year. ICHP members received KeePosted as a member benefit. All articles published herein represent the opinions of the authors and do not reflect the policy of the ICHP or the authors’ institutions unless specified. Advertising inquiries can be directed to ICHP office at the address listed above. Image disclaimer: The image used in the Pharmacy Tech Topics™ advertisement is the property of © 2016 Thinkstock, a division of Getty Images.

Copyright © 2016, Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists. All rights reserved.

Features

ICHP Ambulatory Care Network
Coming August 2016!

Dear ICHP colleagues, we are truly excited and energized to announce the formation of the ICHP Ambulatory Care Network! All ICHP pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists with interest in the delivery of non-hospitalized patient care are welcome to join us in a journey to guide ambulatory practice advancement and advocacy efforts in Illinois. Our call to action is to bolster recognition of pharmacy as a critical element of the healthcare team to ensure the health and wellness of those patients we serve, across all healthcare settings.

Network participants will share responsibility to assess and identify ambulatory best practices in the state, foster collaborative research with ambulatory care practice sites, and solicit presentations and content for ICHP Spring and Fall meetings. Interested? Please contact Bryan McCarthy at Bryan.McCarthy@uchospitals.edu or Ginny Nash at nash_virginia@msn.com! Want more info? View the Network Guidelines. ICHP Ambulatory Care Network, coming August 2016 to a theater near you!



Call for Entries: 2016 Best Practice Award


The objective of the Best Practice Award program is to encourage the development of innovative or creative pharmacy practice programs or innovative approaches to existing pharmacy practice challenges in health systems within the state of Illinois.

Applicants will be judged on their descriptions of programs and practices employed in their health system based on the following criteria:

  • Innovativeness / originality
  • Contribution to improving patient care
  • Contribution to institution and pharmacy practice
  • Scope of project
  • Quality of submission

If you have any questions related to the program please contact Trish Wegner at trishw@ichpnet.org.

Previous Winners

2015
Kuntal Patel, Pharm.D., Pavel Prusakov, and Heather Vaule
“Osteopenia of Prematurity (aka Better Bones for Babies)”

2014

Arti Phatak, Pharm.D.; Brooke Ward, Pharm.D., BCPS; Rachael Prusi, Pharm.D.; Elizabeth Vetter, Pharm.D.; Michael Postelnick, BS Pharm, BCPS (AQ Infectious Diseases); and Noelle Chapman, Pharm.D., BCPS

“Impact of Pharmacist Involvement in the Transitional Care of High-Risk Patients through Medication Reconciliation, Medication Education, and Post-Discharge Callbacks”

2013
Nicole Rabs, Pharm.D., Sarah M. Wieczorkiewicz, Pharm.D., BCPS, Michael Costello, PhD, and Ina Zamfirova, BA

“Development of a Urinary-Specific Antibiogram for Gram Negative Isolates: Impact of Patient Risk Factors on Susceptibility”

2012
Kathryn Schiavo, Pharm.D.; George Carro RPh, MS, BCO; Abigail Harper, PharmD, BCOP; Betty Fang, PharmD; Palak Nanavati, PharmD
“Outpatient Oncology Treatment Center Approach to Enhancing Continuity of Care Related to Dispensing Oral Chemotherapeutic Agents”

Online entry formhttp://ichpnet.org/pharmacy_practice/professional_practice/
best_practices/application_form/
 
Submission deadline: July 1, 2016

Eligibility
Applicants must be a member of ICHP practicing in a health system setting. More than one program can be submitted by a health system for consideration. Past submissions may be re-submitted if not previously given the award. Any new data should be included.

Instructions for preparing manuscript
Each entry for the Best Practice Award must include a manuscript prepared as a Word document, double-spaced using Times New Roman 12-pitch type. A header with the paper title and page number should appear on each page. The manuscript should not exceed 2000 words in length (not counting references), plus no more than a total of 6 supplemental graphics (tables, graphs, pictures, etc.) that are relevant to the program. Each picture, graph, figure, and table should be mentioned in the text and prepared as a separate document clearly labeled.

The manuscript should be organized as a descriptive report using the following headings:

  • Introduction, Purpose, and Goals of the program
  • Description of the program
  • Experience with and outcomes of the program
  • Discussion of innovative aspects of programs and achievement of goals
  • Conclusion

Format
Submissions will only be accepted via online submission form. The manuscript will be forwarded to a pre-defined set of reviewers. Please do not include the names of the authors or affiliations in the manuscript to preserve anonymity.

All applicants will be notified of their status within three weeks of the submission deadline. Should your program be chosen as the winner:

  • The program will be featured at the ICHP Annual Meeting. You will need to prepare a poster to present your program and/or give a verbal presentation. Guidelines will be sent to the winner.
  • You will be asked to electronically submit your manuscript to the ICHP KeePosted for publishing. This program will be accredited for CPE and will require that you complete material for ACPE accreditation.
  • You will receive a complimentary registration to the ICHP Annual Meeting, recognition at the meeting and a monetary award distributed to your institution.

Non-winning submissions may also be considered for publication in the ICHP KeePosted, but your permission will be obtained beforehand.


Thank you to PharMEDium for providing a grant for the 2016 Best Practice Award!







It's Back!
The ICHP Pharmacy Action “Auction With A Twist”

by Scott A. Meyers, ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund Treasurer

Last year’s “Toss for Treasure” fundraiser for the Illinois Pharmacy Action Fund at the ICHP Annual Meeting was a great success, but back by popular demand this year is the beloved “Auction With A Twist”! Truly the most successful of the ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund fundraising events, raising nearly $18,000 total the previous four times it was held!

To refresh your memories, or in case you’re new to ICHP this year, the “Auction With A Twist” is technically a Chinese auction featuring outstanding prizes donated by ICHP members, pharmacy departments, colleges of pharmacy and other friends of ICHP. A Chinese auction is a combination of a raffle and an auction. The difference between a raffle and a Chinese auction is that in a raffle with multiple prizes, there is one “hat” from which names are drawn for all prizes. That means you may win something you don’t want or need, but in a Chinese auction each prize has its own “hat” (or in our case a mason jar). This allows participants purchase their tickets and choose which prize or prizes to focus on, as opposed to having a first, second, or third prize, etc.

Each of the previous “Auctions With A Twist” featured more than 40 different prizes that included a flat screen TV; iPads; Microsoft Surface; iPod Touches; Apple TV; Kindles; Nooks; tickets to the White Sox, Cubs and Bulls; lawn chairs; text books; college logo gear; a weekend getaway; ICHP logo gear; handmade jewelry; golf clubs; a special round of golf; one-of-a-kind paintings; framed photographs; a variety of gift baskets and cards; and even a backyard cookout. The online “Pre-Auction” provides ICHP members who can’t get to the ICHP Annual Meeting with the same chances to win these great prizes. So everyone has a chance to win!  We would love to have you there on that Saturday of the Annual Meeting, so you can take possession of your prizes and immediately begin to enjoy them, but previous year’s online winners can verify that you can win and you will receive your prizes!

A great way to participate in this year’s Auction, is to team up with your ICHP colleagues to donate even bigger prizes by pooling contributions. A donation of $25 from you and 15 co-workers could purchase all kinds of great prizes: TVs, an iPad, Surface or the tablet of your choice. $50 donations from you and 9 of your colleagues could purchase a really large flat screen TV if you’re a savvy shopper! Providing a contribution from your pharmacy department will earn recognition and appreciation from all of your pharmacy colleagues, create some good-natured competition with other pharmacy departments around the state, and will still provide each contributor with the individual recognition as an ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund donor. Individual contributors are certainly welcomed, too. Whether the prize is a gift you’d like to win yourself or if you have a special talent, hobby or skill and want to share with your pharmacy colleagues, auction it off to help the ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund and the pharmacy profession. Gift baskets of all types, gift cards, spa visits, theater tickets, music CDs, movie DVDs, designer purses, sports memorabilia, and much more are reasonable individual gifts that will draw lots of attention and even more tickets from prospective prize winners. Your imagination is the only limit on what prizes will raise the most excitement at this year’s “Auction With A Twist”!

With the ICHP Annual Meeting held on September 15-17, the prizes should be received by ICHP no later than August 22nd so that we can photograph each prize and place it and a description on the ICHP website for “Pre-Auction” bidding that takes place two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting. Once you've decided what prize you're donating, please email us at members@ichpnet.org so we can list your prize on the website. If you plan to provide a special prize and have logistical concerns, please contact the ICHP office (815-227-9292) for guidance. If you have a unique prize but aren’t sure it will draw the bids worthy of its value, give us a call, too. We’ll be happy to tell you what was hot and what was not in the past!

Tickets for the “Auction With A Twist” may be purchased online beginning on August 29th and ending on September 12th, or they may be purchased in person at the Annual Meeting all day Thursday and Friday, September 15th and 16th and until 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 17th. Tickets purchased online will be placed in the mason jars of your choice before the Annual Meeting, and the jars will be thoroughly shaken each day of the Annual Meeting and just before the drawing is made. Prize winners will be announced at the Saturday Awards Luncheon, but you need not be present to win.

Help us make this year’s “Auction With A Twist” an even greater success than in the past and hopefully win a prize or two of your own. It’s a fun way to get into the act of advocacy for the profession!

 

Nominate the Best!
ICHP Awards Process Is Open

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

It’s that time of year. ICHP is looking for Illinois Pharmacy’s best and brightest! The nominations process for the 2016 ICHP Pharmacist of the Year and Amy Lodolce Mentorship Award recipients is open, and it’s your chance to recommend someone you know. The process is different for both awards, so let’s start with ICHP’s highest honor, the Pharmacist of the Year.

Pharmacist of the Year Award

A Pharmacist of the Year nominee should meet the following criteria:
  • The nominee is a person of high moral character, good citizenship and high professional ideals;
  • The nominee has made significant contributions affecting the practice of health-system pharmacy throughout the State; and
  • These contributions should be in the form of sustained exemplary service in health-system pharmacy or a single outstanding achievement, or a combination of accomplishments benefiting health-system pharmacy, through it, humanity and the public health. These accomplishments, achievements, or outstanding performances may be in the following areas:
    • Health-system pharmacy practice
    • Health-system pharmacy education
    • Health-system pharmacy administration
    • Pharmaceutical research or development related to health-system pharmacy
    • Pharmacy organizational activity with a definite relationship to health-system pharmacy
    • Scientific or professional pharmacy writing, e.g., noteworthy articles on pharmaceutical subjects with applicability to health-system pharmacy
    • Pharmaceutical journalism related to health-system pharmacy
    • Public and/or inter-professional relations activities benefiting health-system pharmacy
    • Pharmacy law or legislation, professional regulations, standards of professional conduct or pharmacy law enforcement as related to health-system pharmacy.
Nominations may be received from Selection Committee members (past recipients of the award), past Presidents of the Council, affiliated chapters of the Council or any six active members of the Council submitting and signing a recommendation. Nominators are encouraged to write a complete nomination letter and submit it to the ICHP office at scottm@ichpnet.org. Nominations should include the name of the nominee and details describing how they meet the above criteria. This year’s Selection Committee Chair is last year’s recipient, Mike Rajski. All nominations will be forwarded to the Selection Committee for review.

Amy Lodolce Mentorship Award

Amy Lodolce was a University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy faculty member who touched the lives of pharmacy students, residents, and colleagues through her passion for teaching and the profession of pharmacy. Throughout her time at the college, Amy oversaw the training of four PGY2 drug information pharmacy residents, all of whom are currently drug information faculty at various institutions. She worked directly with numerous PGY1 residents and APPE students during their drug information rotations. She also served as a formal mentor to her student advisees and was the advisor of the Phi Delta Chi pharmacy fraternity for many years. As the Assistant Director of the Drug Information Group, Amy served as an informal mentor to other faculty and was quick to help new faculty become oriented and situated.

Amy approached being a leader and a mentor with an “open door” policy, and she would selflessly pause her work to address others’ needs. Students, residents, and faculty alike would ask her for guidance with career decisions and other professional concerns. Amy was respectful and nonjudgmental in her approach when assisting others whose goals and aspirations may have been different from her own. Her dedication was exemplary in that she worked tirelessly to provide residents and students with quality learning opportunities. She led and coached by example, consciously choosing behaviors that she hoped students and residents would emulate. An active pharmacist member of ICHP, Amy placed emphasis on professional organization involvement and giving back to the profession. Amy’s dedication and generosity to the profession of pharmacy have positively shaped many pharmacists’ careers, and the memory of her will continue to do so.

Award Criteria:
  • The individual nominated to receive this award must be an ICHP pharmacist, associate or technician member in good standing;
  • The individual should be an exemplary preceptor, professor and/or mentor of students, residents, pharmacy technicians and/or new practitioners;
  • The individual should be a positive role model for pharmacists, pharmacy students and/or pharmacy technicians;
  • In order to be considered for the award, individuals must have been nominated using the approved nomination form below;
  • More than one person may complete a nomination form for an individual.
To nominate someone for the Amy Lodolce Mentorship Award:
  1. Please provide your name(s), i.e., the name of the nominator(s). (More than one person can nominate a nominee).
  2. Provide the name of the person you are nominating. In addition, the nominee’s curriculum vitae must be included in the nomination package.
  3. Please answer the following questions about the nominee:
    a. Is the nominee a member of ICHP?
    b. In what capacity have you worked with the nominee?
    c. In what ways do you see the nominee working to advance the profession of pharmacy?
    d. Give some examples of ways in which this nominee is a model mentor/preceptor.
    e. Give some examples in which this nominee has demonstrated a service to community (outside of job responsibilities).
    f. How has this nominee impacted your career?
Completed nominations should be sent by July 1, 2016, to Scott Meyers at scottm@ichpnet.org or to the ICHP office by fax at 815-227-9294 or mail to 4055 N. Perryville Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111.


We’re Looking For a Few Good Men…. And Women!
How Would You Like To Run For An ICHP Office?

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

Every year, ICHP elects new members to its Board of Directors. As existing officers complete their terms, they often move up to higher offices or move on for a variety of reasons not the least being that they’ve completed the highest office of President. So every year the ICHP Committee on Nominations searches for new leaders who are ready to step up to carry on the business of the Council and who are dedicated to ICHP’s Mission of Advancing Excellence in Pharmacy.

This year is no exception. We are looking for a cadre of candidates to fill the following offices:

President-elect
Treasurer-elect
Chair of the House
Director-elect of the Division of Government Affairs
Director-elect of the Division of Professional Affairs
Director-elect of the Division of Organizational Affairs
Central Region Director-elect
Northern Region Director-elect
Southern Region Director-elect
NPN Chair-elect

The election isn’t until this fall, so you have a little time to make up your mind. But once you decide to run or if you would like to know more about an office before committing to run, you may contact ICHP’s Executive Vice President, Scott Meyers at scottm@ichpnet.org. We hope you are ready to run and take the lead for ICHP and Pharmacy!


Represent Your Part of the State
Affiliate Delegates Sought for ICHP House in September

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

Summer hasn’t even officially started yet, but we’re already looking for a few good women and men to represent their local affiliates in this year’s ICHP House of Delegates in the fall. The House will meet on Thursday evening, September 15th at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace during the first day of the ICHP Annual Meeting.

Delegates must be pharmacist members of ICHP and must be elected by their local affiliate. The ICHP office will be happy to coordinate affiliate elections for any affiliate with interested candidates. Voting members of the ICHP Board of Directors and Past Presidents of ICHP are already qualified as delegates, so this is a great chance for members who would like to get more involved in ICHP’s governance to step forward and run. Every affiliate may seat at least two delegates for the first 50 pharmacist members and one additional delegate per additional 50 pharmacist members to a maximum delegation of 10 seated delegates. Here is the 2016 apportionment of the House based on the January 2016 membership report:
Metro East Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2 delegates
Northern Illinois Society of Health-System Pharmacists 10 delegates
Rock Valley Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2 delegates
Sangamiss Society of Health-System Pharmacists 3 delegates
Southern Illinois Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2 delegates
Sugar Creek Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2 delegates
West Central Illinois Society of Health-System Pharmacists 3 delegates

To express your interest in serving as a delegate in this year’s Annual Meeting, please email the ICHP office at members@ichpnet.org by the end of June. Elections will occur in July via electronic voting. Please make sure your email server whitelists @ichpnet.org so that you receive a ballot, even if you are not interested in running for this position.

Seated delegates are elected by their own affiliate, and if there are additional candidates who are not elected, they will be designated as alternates and may serve as a delegate (in the order of most votes received) if an elected delegate cannot serve for any reason. Delegates must register for the Annual Meeting in order to serve; however, those who do serve qualify for a 50% Annual Meeting Registration refund following the Annual Meeting and upon completion of the appropriate form. The form will be distributed following the Annual Meeting.

For more information on the duties of a delegate, please watch this video.


Columns

President's Message
Women in Leadership: Bridging the Gap

by Jen Phillips, PharmD, BCPS, ICHP President

I thoroughly enjoyed attending this year’s ICHP Spring Meeting held in Peoria on April 8-10, 2016. There were a number of unique things about this year’s Spring Meeting. First, it was held in conjunction with another association – the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), which allowed us to broaden our influence and networking capacity. Second, it was the first time that continuing education was offered for attending the poster session. This led to much higher attendance at the poster sessions and more in-depth conversations with the poster authors, which both the authors and attendees seemed to thoroughly appreciate. Third, the programming was specular! There were top-notch clinical programs covering topics such as immunizations, geriatrics, hepatitis C, new lipid-lowering drugs and new anticoagulant reversal agents. There were also a myriad of programs covering everyday issues facing healthcare workers, including regulatory issues, emotional intelligence, change management, and crucial conversations. I was truly impressed with the quality of the speakers and the timely and relevant messages they imparted to the audience.

There is one educational session that I would like to spend more time reflecting on because it is an issue that affects many practicing pharmacists today. Dr. Despina Kotis delivered a session on Women in Leadership, which focused on the gender gap in healthcare leadership as well as strategies to address this issue. She began by highlighting data that revealed that although women represent 74% of the healthcare workforce, they comprise less than 25% of senior executives or hospital CEOs.1 Representation in pharmacy is slightly better – with women holding 39% of director of pharmacy positions, 31% of college dean positions, and 59% of residency program director positions.1 In addition, women tend to be better represented in mid-level management positions (71%).1 However, there is apparently still room for improvement in this area.

This gender gap phenomenon has been identified in other healthcare disciplines as well. A survey of 4000 high-potential individuals revealed that women generally tend to have more mentors than men, but are still paid less, are not promoted as much, and have less career satisfaction.2 What needs to be done to ameliorate this situation?

A number of strategies have been considered. In one recently published study, researchers interviewed 30 women who had obtained full professorship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.3 These women indicated that factors responsible for their academic success include academic excellence, hard work, and their ability to “carefully construct their femininity”.3 Women included in this study also noted that they had one person – usually a male – who acted as a sponsor for them during their career development.3

This concept of a sponsor was one that I had not previously heard of before. Sponsorship is different from mentorship. While mentors can be at any level, sponsors, by definition, need to be in key leadership positions. Sponsorship involved the public support of an individual by an influential person.4 By virtue of their influential role, sponsors are able to open doors for others, enhance their credibility and potentially unlock more opportunities for them.4

So where do we go from here? ASHP has recently created a Women in Pharmacy Leadership Steering Committee to help advise ASHP on this important issue. I look forward to seeing the work and recommendations from this committee.5 In the meantime, I think the first step is awareness. I applaud the ICHP Spring Meeting Planning Committee for having this session at the Spring Meeting. The next step needs to be action. If you are in a position to be a sponsor for the high-performing women in your institution, then I encourage you to embrace this role. By promoting their accomplishments and finding or recommending opportunities for them, you can help play a pivotal role in helping to reduce the gender gap in healthcare leadership. When it comes to career advancement, studies have shown that sponsorship benefits both men and women and that women tend to be less likely to have sponsors than men.6 Therefore, if you are a woman who is interested in building a leadership career, then consider proactively identifying a sponsor who can help promote your capabilities to key decision-makers within your institution.

I look forward to a day when a gender gap does not exist in healthcare and pharmacy leadership. We can all play a role to help alleviate this issue. I encourage everyone to do what is in your power to either raise awareness, serve as a sponsor, or help with initiatives that address this issue.

References
  1. Kotis D. Women in Leadership. Presented at the ICHP Spring Meeting, Peoria, IL. April 8-10 2016.
  2. Ibarra H, Carter NM, Silva C. Why men still get more promotions than women. Harv Bus Rev. 2010;88(9):80-5.
  3. Pingleton S, Jones EVM, Rosolowski TA, Zimmerman MK. Silent bias: challenges, obstacles, and strategies for leadership development in academic medicine – lessons from oral histories of women professors at the University of Kansas. Acad Med.
  4. Travis EL, Doty L, Helitzer DL. Sponsorship: a path to the academic medicine c-suite for women faculty? Acad Med.  2013;88:1414-17.
  5. ASHP.  Women in Pharmacy Leadership Steering Committee. http://www.ashp.org/menu/PracticePolicy/ResourceCenters/Leadership/Women-in-Pharmacy-Leadership/Women-in-Pharmacy-Leadership-Steering-Committee.html. Accessed 9 Jun 2016.
  6. Hewlett SA, Peraino K, Sherbin I, Sumberg K. The sponsor effect: breaking through the last glass ceiling, Boston, Mass: Harvard Business Review; 2011.


Directly Speaking
Give it away, sell it, recycle it or worst case, throw it out!

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

If you’ve read my columns over the past six issues, you know my father passed away last January at the age of 89. What I haven’t shared is that my 90 year old mother, God bless her, is still with us and within a month of my Dad’s passing, decided she needed to move into an assisted living facility. She loves it there and is doing very well. What I also haven’t shared until now is that my brother (my only sibling) and I have been spending much of our free time getting my parent’s home ready for sale. And really, why would I share it with you because it has nothing to do with pharmacy or ICHP? But there is a lesson that I’m learning that can carry over to your pharmacy practice, to ICHP and to your personal life.

Since we began our mission to get the house sales worthy, my brother and I have hauled over 1¼ tons of metal and metal containing materials to an area recycler. While our ROI on time spent sorting this stuff is less than minimal (just over $200 for our Mom’s cash flow), we have the peace of mind to know that we kept three Dodge Ram truckloads of junk out of the landfill! In addition, we may have found a retirement vocation for both of us as we worked together well and actually got better at it as we went along. But again, not to the lesson yet.

We also discovered that our Dad was a very organized hoarder. Or if not a very organized hoarder, he was a person who never threw away anything he might be able to use someday regardless of whether it worked or not. We found appliances with no electric cords, electric cords with no appliance attached. We found nuts, bolts, screws, nails, hinges, door plates, door knobs, door locks, drawer handles, and every other kind of hardware, some as old as me! We found three electric mixers, two toasters (one still in the original box), multiple lights including indicator lights for electric panels, spotlights for theatrical performances and enough electric timers that had he put them to use, he would have never had to flip a light switch on again! But Dad was the ultimate tinker. He loved to build things and he was good at it because he was a certified airplane mechanic, certified school bus mechanic and head of plant maintenance for a large Rockford manufacturer during his career! In fact, we still have a couple of his tinkering projects to dismantle so that when someone buys the house they will be able to get the garage door open without extra complexity, the garage light to go off when they want it to, and the main living room light to work when needed rather than only between the hours of 5:00 and 10:00 pm.

I believe that his plan was eventually to get rid of a lot of the stuff that was stored neatly here and there including in the rafters in the basement ceiling, behind the built-in desk in the den and in every nook and cranny of his workshop. But sometimes life, or in his case death, messes up those plans. On the other hand, he may have been thinking, the boys might need this stuff one day, so I need to keep it for them. He was always quick to offer assistance and resources if he had them when something at our house broke. Until a couple of years ago, he would be the one to fix things at my house. Fortunately my brother picked up a lot of my Dad’s talents while I landed my Mom’s valuable social skills. Anyway, he was prepared for a lot, and if he bought something once and it worked, when it died and he couldn’t fix it, he bought the same item again and stored the old item for parts for the next break down. 

Here’s the lesson that has slowly seeped into my head as we have cleaned out all this accumulation of pieces and parts and duplicates and triplicates of things we may someday need: “If you haven’t used it in a year and don’t see yourself using it in the next year, give it away, sell it, recycle it or worst case, throw it out! But you probably won’t need it and eventually somebody else is going to have to get rid of it if you don’t.”

In pharmacy, it may be expired products. We know that not only Joint Commission and the other accrediting bodies frown on expired products on the shelf, but it’s a violation of the Pharmacy Practice Act too, so obviously it’s important to stay on top of clearing off the shelves. So far not rocket surgery! But the same can be said for old references. If the IDFPR staff get the compounding rules completed this year, you’re going to have to have to keep a new and current version of the USP/NF compounding reference on your shelves or accessible in your computers in order to be compliant. Go through your references, keep what is current, recycle what isn’t or is no longer required but get your book shelves current and uncluttered. The same is true for old equipment. If it is full of metal, get permission to take to a metal recycler and use the cash for your party during Pharmacy Month! If you’re not using it, get rid of it.

The same philosophy can work for processes in your department that don’t work or could be improved. When is the last time you sat down with key staff members and determined where improvements could be easily made? Listen for moments when you hear someone say, “We’ve always done it that way!” That may mean someone is questioning why the process follows a particular pattern or they think there might be a better way to do things. Whenever you hear the “We’ve always done it that way,” ask whoever the person speaking said it to, “What did you just ask?”, and see if you might be able to throw out an antiquated process and replace it with one that works much better!

This process is currently being considered by ICHP as we consider getting rid of our House of Delegates. For the last several years, the House has met during the Annual Meeting but has produced a limited number of delegate recommendations and not much more. Granted the House approves a dozen or two position statements each year brought to them by the Division of Professional Affairs, but they do it with little debate or modification. The Division of Professional Affairs is good, but are they that good that there’s no need for improvement on their work? That certainly isn’t the case with ASHP’s Councils and what their House of Delegates does to their position statements annually! The ICHP Board of Directors and the Division of Organizational Affairs have implemented several new processes that have improved communications with members and gather even more input than the processes of the House. While ICHPchat, ICHP’s online community with multiple forums and discussion topics has not yet caught on like we had hoped, eventually it will, and even more enhanced communications can occur.

The ICHP Town Hall Meetings at the Spring and Annual Meetings have produced a variety of improvements in services for members and the level of communication during those sessions has been found valuable to many. The ICHP website recently underwent more than a facelift and a rather a complete reconstruction, and ICHP’s Facebook page now has more than 1,100 likes. An ICHP LinkedIn account is on the horizon, and there are other efforts underway to enhance and expand the communications and information our members receive.

My hope is that at this year’s House of Delegates, the delegates will finally decide that its days are over and new processes are in place that make it no longer needed. I doubt that we will be able to generate any cash from recycling it, and I’m sure it won’t take up any landfill space. I suspect that like many family traditions, it will remain a warm memory of when it worked, which will only take up space in our collective minds.



Leadership Profile
Katherine Miller, PharmD

How were you initially motivated to get involved in ICHP, and how has that changed during your tenure in ICHP?
I have been involved in state and national organizations since my residency, and when I moved to Chicago, it felt like the right thing to do. Not only am I able to give back to the profession by supporting ICHP through my membership, but it also provides an opportunity to develop a network that I can bounce ideas and day-to-day challenges off of.
 
Please describe your leadership position in ICHP and what you think are the greatest benefits to being an ICHP member. 
I am currently the Secretary of ICHP. Through my involvement in ICHP, I have been able to personally benefit from the networking, CE opportunities, and leadership sessions ICHP provides. Professionally, I have used ICHP Career Center to advertise new jobs, participated in the Residency Showcase, and am looking forward to using the new interactive section of the website to work with colleagues to enhance our pharmacy practice.
 
What are the greatest challenges to being an ICHP member? 
The biggest challenge is committing to being involved and trying to leave work on time to get to the events!
 
Describe your pharmacy background (i.e. school, training, work experience, etc.).
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with my Doctor of Pharmacy and pursued a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). While there, I had a couple great mentors who guided me toward administration, and I completed a PGY-2 Health System Pharmacy Administration Residency at OHSU as well. My first job was at United Hospital, part of Allina Health, in St. Paul, MN, where I was a Pharmacy Operations Manager. During that time I also participated in the ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Leadership Academy and then pursued a Masters of Health Administration through Simmons College. I moved to Chicago about two years ago to begin a role as an Operations Manager at the University of Chicago Medicine. While at UCM I have also had the opportunity to lead the Safety, Quality, Compliance, Informatics, and Education teams, and recently transitioned back into Operations as the Assistant Director.
 
Describe your greatest professional accomplishments and a significant mentor in your career. 
My greatest accomplishment is simply graduating and getting to where I am today. Pharmacy is a tough world, and I believe many of us work extremely hard to be successful. I have had several great mentors throughout my career who have supported me, and I hope I can pay it forward through mentoring and precepting students and residents. I would have to say the most significant mentors in my career were two of my preceptors at OHSU who worked with me, showed me my strengths, and ultimately convinced me to follow the path into administration. They were both preceptors and mentors during my administration residency, and I maintain close relationships with them.

What advice do you want to give to pharmacy students and what pharmacy-related problem do you hope to see them solve in the future? 
Work hard and keep focusing on the goals ahead! Pharmacy is a great world to be in and be proud to be part of it. Find a way to ensure that pharmacists are working at the top of their license, at the top of their training, and are always putting the patient first. We need to take better care of each other, as colleagues, and as pharmacists – please keep the profession focused on that.
 
What pharmacy related issues keep you up at night? 
Drug shortages! You would think that after all this time we would have gotten this figured out, right? In reality, the Pharmacy Practice Act and the ability for pharmacists to gain provider status is the big issue that we need to band together as pharmacists in order to solve.
 
What interests or hobbies do you have outside of work? 
When I lived in Oregon, I fell in love with pinot noir, so I maintain a membership at a winery to keep some of that around. About a year ago, I joined a gym focused on women and strength training, and I love my kettlebell ladies! And I’m looking forward to the Chicago weekend festivals to start up again.
 
What is an interesting/unique fact about yourself that few people know?
I played percussion for two years in elementary school before switching to flute. 
 
What 3 adjectives would people use to best describe you?
Focused, efficient, thoughtful.



Government Affairs Report
Things End as They Began: No Budget!

by Jim Owen and Scott Meyers

The General Assembly did not manage to pass a budget again this session, and it is unclear whether they will meet during the summer to try to craft something both parties can live with. Rumor has it that nothing more than a few stop-gap measures will pass until after the November general election. If anything significant materializes, we will keep you informed.

SB3336 has been passed by both chambers of the General Assembly and goes to the Governor for his signature. The hard work of ICHP, IPhA and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the collaboration of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation took a potentially disastrous bill and turned it into something that will hopefully improve pharmacist care and protect the citizens of Illinois.

Other pharmacy related bills that were passed by both chambers before adjournment include HB2403 requiring sepsis training for all health-system staff with direct and in-direct patient care responsibilities, HJR0139 urging a study by IDPH and the State-supported Colleges of Pharmacy relating to the impact of mandating e-prescribing stop/DC orders and auto-refills on medication errors, HB5540 codifies the naloxone dispensing by pharmacists through a standing order in the Pharmacy Practice Act, and HB5949 extends the voluntary pilot program for locking medication closure devices to January 1, 2018.

The ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund’s Auction With A Twist returns to this year’s Annual Meeting, so now it’s time to put together your department’s team or a team of your friends to donate a great prize.  Details on the Auction can be found in the this issue of KeePosted. We encourage each pharmacy department to consider participating this year! Contributions to the ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund or the Auction With A Twist, help our voice to be heard in Springfield!

Here’s our report on all the bills we watched during the Spring Session:

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

Location

ICHP Position

SB2177

Noland, D-Elgin

Creates the Illinois Universal Health Care Act. Provides that all individuals residing in the State are covered under the Illinois Health Services Program for health insurance. Sets forth the health coverage benefits that participants are entitled to under the Program. Sets forth the qualification requirements for participating healthcare providers. Sets forth standards for provider reimbursement. Provides that it is unlawful for private health insurers to sell health insurance coverage that duplicates the coverage of the Program. Provides that investor-ownership of health delivery facilities is unlawful. Provides that the State shall establish the Illinois Health Services Trust to provide financing for the Program. Sets forth the requirements for claims billing under the Program. Provides that the Program shall include funding for long-term care services and mental health services. Provides that the Program shall establish a single prescription drug formulary and list of approved durable medical goods and supplies. Creates the Pharmaceutical and Durable Medical Goods Committee to negotiate the prices of pharmaceuticals and durable medical goods with suppliers or manufacturers on an open bid competitive basis. Sets forth provisions concerning patients' rights. Provides that the employees of the Program shall be compensated in accordance with the current pay scale for State employees and as deemed professionally appropriate by the General Assembly.

Assignments Comm.

Neutral

SB2269

Bennett, D-Champaign

Makes appropriations to UIC, CSU and SIUe from the General Professions Disciplinary Fund.

Assignments Comm.

Neutral

SB2349

Righter, R-Mattoon

Makes appropriations to UIC, CSU and SIUe from the General Professions Disciplinary Fund.

Assignments Comm.

Neutral

SB2403

Rose, R-Champaign

Hospitals shall ensure that professional staff with direct and indirect patient care responsibilities including pharmacy staff, are periodically trained to implement sepsis protocols.

House 2nd Reading

Neutral

SB2408

Rose, R-Champaign

Makes appropriations to UIC, CSU and SIUe from the General Professions Disciplinary Fund.

Assignments Comm.

Neutral

SB2416

 

Same as HB6082

Haine, D-Alton

Senate Amendment #2: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the State Board of Health shall review proposed administrative rules within 30 (rather than 90) days of submission by the Department of Public Health. Deletes provisions concerning compensation for Board members. Makes other changes.

Rules Comm.

Oppose

SB2461

 

Same as HB4970

Barickman, R-Bloomington

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Removes provisions concerning the position of deputy pharmacy coordinator. Removes limitations on the number of pharmacy investigators that must be employed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (previously no less than 4 pharmacy investigators needed to be employed by the Department). Amends the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Provides that the requirement for licensure that an applicant must submit certification issued by the Department of State Police that the applicant's fingerprinting equipment and software meets all specifications required by the Department of State Police applies to fingerprint vendor agencies (rather than fingerprint vendors), and that the requirement is a continuing requirement for licensure. Effective immediately.

House Rules Comm.

Neutral

SB2498

Bush, D-Grayslake

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning licensure without examination.

Assignments Comm.

Neutral

SB2515

 

Same as HB5591

Munoz, D-Chicago

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides a process to register with the Department of Insurance as a pharmacy benefits manager and what information must be included. Provides that the Director of Insurance may revoke, suspend, deny, or restrict a certificate of registration for violation of the Code or on other grounds as determined necessary or appropriate by the Director. Provides that the Department shall regulate the drug pricing process used by pharmacy benefits managers, and specifies the appeals process for such pricing. Provides that pharmacy benefits managers shall not mandate that a covered individual use a specific pharmacy or provide incentives to encourage the use of a specific pharmacy under specified circumstances. Provides criteria for entities to use in performing on-site audits of pharmacy records. Provides that health plans must permit their enrollees to receive benefits, which may include a 90-day supply of covered prescription drugs, at any of its network community pharmacies. Contains provisions concerning medication synchronization. Provides that dispensing fees shall be determined exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed. Regulates how pharmacy benefits managers may utilize personally identifiable data. Provides that the Department can regulate other specified activities of pharmacy benefits managers. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2017.

Assignments Comm.

Support

SB2901

Same as HB5949

Martinez, D-Chicago

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Extends the repeal of the medicine locking closure package pilot program from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. Effective immediately.

House Rules Comm.

Neutral

SB3158

McCann, R-Jacksonville

Amends the Home Health and Hospice Drug Dispensation and Administration Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health may by rule provide for the possession and transportation of greater quantities of specified drugs by a home health agency, hospice, or authorized nursing employee.

Assignments Comm.

Neutral

SB3326

Luechtefeld, R-Okawville

Amends the Personnel Code to provide for partial jurisdiction B exemption for certain positions within the Department of Human Services.

Assignments Comm.

Neutral

SB3336

 

 

Same as HB6180

Righter, R-Mattoon

Senate Amendment 3: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that when a pharmacist, registered certified pharmacy technician, or a registered pharmacy technician licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is terminated for actions which may have threatened patient safety, the pharmacy or pharmacist-in-charge shall report the termination to the chief pharmacy coordinator. Provides that such reports, and any records associated with such reports, are exempt from public disclosure and the Freedom of Information Act. Provides specific information that shall be submitted to the chief pharmacy coordinator in writing on forms provided by the Department within 60 after a pharmacy's determination that a report is required under the Act. Provides that the contents of any report and any records associated with any report shall be strictly confidential and may only be reviewed by specific individuals. Provides that an individual or organization acting in good faith, and not in a willful or wanton manner, in complying with the provisions shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil damages. Effective immediately.

Passed both Chambers

Support Senate Amendment 3

HJR0139

Zalewski, D- Riverside

Urges the Department of Public Health to undertake a study coordinating with the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy (Chicago and Rockford campuses), the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy, and the Chicago State University College of Pharmacy to determine the appropriateness of promoting and encouraging interprofessional communication between healthcare providers, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, and pharmacists to facilitate more effective methods for transitioning care of a patient between the various healthcare settings or managing their medication regimens. Urges the Department of Public Health to examine and recommend solutions for a mechanism or process for electronically-prescribed prescription orders to electronically transmit "discontinuation", "cancel", or "stop" notifications to the pharmacy upon discontinuation or cancellation of the order. Urges the Department of Public Health to examine the overall benefits of mandated pharmacist-led medication reconciliation upon patient entrance into a new healthcare setting and patient discharge education upon transition to a new healthcare setting, follow-up communication with patients by healthcare providers after a specified period of time after transitioning, electronic communication to pharmacies whenever a change in medication occurs, and use of the primary care provider as a nexus for communication between healthcare providers, including pharmacists, to assure a centralized medication list is maintained for each patient.

Adopted both Chambers

Support

HR0944

Zalewski, D-Riverside

Urges the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to undertake a study to determine the appropriateness of mandating a mechanism for electronically-prescribed prescription orders to electronically transmit "discontinuation", "cancel", or "stop" orders from health care providers to pharmacies and to examine the effects of auto-refill programs on the unnecessary filling of discontinued medications no longer endorsed by the prescriber.

Health Care Licenses  Comm.

Support

HR1018

Mitchell, R-Decatur

Urges Congress to adopt legislation banning direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. Urges the United States Food and Drug Administration to adopt appropriate rules and regulations banning direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.

Rules Comm.

Support

HB3627

Evans, D-Chicago

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Makes changes to the definition of "practice of pharmacy", including (ii) allowing for the vaccination of patients ages 10 through 13 pursuant to a valid prescription or standing order (was, limited to Influenza (inactivated influenza vaccine and live attenuated influenza intranasal vaccine) and Tdap (defined as tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccines). Effective January 1, 2016.

Rules Comm.

Support

HB4408

G. Harris, D-Chicago

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding Medicaid co-payments.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB4429

Nekritz, D-Buffalo Grove

Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that after the effective date of the amendatory Act, any bill approved for payment under the Act and pursuant to a health benefit plan under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 or submitted under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code, except a bill for pharmacy or nursing facility services or goods, if payment is not issued to the payee in a timely manner under the Section, the following interest penalty shall apply to any amount approved and unpaid until final payment is made: the sum of the prime commercial rate plus 4.0% per year, applied pro rata for the amount of time the bill remains unpaid. Defines "prime commercial rate". Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning timely payment for health care services, provides that the interest to be charged on late payments of periodic payments, payments by independent practice associations and physician-hospital organizations, and payments by health insurers, health maintenance organizations, managed care plans, health care plans, preferred provider organizations, and third party administrators shall be the sum of the prime commercial rate plus 4.0% per year. Defines "prime commercial rate". Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that the program of health benefits offered under the Act is subject to certain provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code concerning late payments and assignability except as otherwise provided.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB4539

Brady, R-Normal

Makes appropriations to Colleges of Pharmacy at UIC, CSU and SIUe from the General Professions Disciplinary Fund.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB4554

Flowers, D-Chicago

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that individual or group policies of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for all drugs that are approved for marketing by the federal Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended by the federal Public Health Service or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, assorted labs, and counseling to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among individuals who are not infected with HIV but who are at high risk of HIV infection. Provides that the provision does not require a policy of accident and health insurance to provide coverage for clinical trials relating to any drug for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that upon federal approval, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide similar coverage. Effective January 1, 2017.

Passed both Chambers

Neutral

HB4936

Durkin, R-Burr Ridge

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning licensure without examination.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB4957

Tryon, R-Crystal Lake

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide medical assistance coverage for diabetes education provided by a certified diabetes education provider for children with Type 1 diabetes who are under the age of 18. Defines "certified diabetes education provider" to mean a professional who has undergone training and certification under conditions approved by the American Association of Diabetes Educators or a successor association of professionals. Defines "Type 1 diabetes" to have the same meaning ascribed to it by the American Diabetes Association or any successor association. Effective immediately.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB4970

 

Same as

SB2461

Stewart, R-Freeport

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Removes provisions concerning the position of deputy pharmacy coordinator. Removes limitations on the number of pharmacy investigators that must be employed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (previously no less than 4 pharmacy investigators needed to be employed by the Department). Amends the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Provides that the requirement for licensure that an applicant must submit certification issued by the Department of State Police that the applicant's fingerprinting equipment and software meets all specifications required by the Department of State Police applies to fingerprint vendor agencies (rather than fingerprint vendors), and that the requirement is a continuing requirement for licensure. Effective immediately.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB4981

D. Harris, R-Mt. Prospect

Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that, for bills paid on or after the effective date, the interest penalty shall be 0.75% per month (currently, 1% per month). Effective immediately.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB5534

Feigenholtz, D-Chicago

Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Makes changes to the definition of "designated caregiver". Allows pharmacists to oversee through MTM the use of medical cannabis.  Effective immediately.

Rules Comm.

Support

HB5540

Flynn-Currie, D-Chicago

Creates Section 225 ILCS 85/19.1 Naloxone dispensing without a prescription.  Consistent with the Heroin Crisis Act of 2015.

Passed both Chambers

Neutral

HB5591

 

Same as SB2515

Lang, D-Chicago

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides a process to register with the Department of Insurance as a pharmacy benefits manager and what information must be included. Provides that the Director of Insurance may revoke, suspend, deny, or restrict a certificate of registration for violation of the Code or on other grounds as determined necessary or appropriate by the Director. Provides that the Department shall regulate the drug pricing process used by pharmacy benefits managers, and specifies the appeals process for such pricing. Provides that pharmacy benefits managers shall not mandate that a covered individual use a specific pharmacy or provide incentives to encourage the use of a specific pharmacy under specified circumstances. Provides criteria for entities to use in performing on-site audits of pharmacy records. Provides that health plans must permit their enrollees to receive benefits, which may include a 90-day supply of covered prescription drugs, at any of its network community pharmacies. Contains provisions concerning medication synchronization. Provides that dispensing fees shall be determined exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed. Regulates how pharmacy benefits managers may utilize personally identifiable data. Provides that the Department can regulate other specified activities of pharmacy benefits managers. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2017.

Rules Comm.

 

Support

HB5641

Bellock, R-Westmont

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment, provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall adjust the useful life expectancy of eligible orthotic and prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment to 5 years. Requires the Department to require by rule all vendors of durable medical equipment to be accredited by an accreditation organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and recognized by the Department. Provides that no later than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department shall file proposed rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement this requirement. Provides that no later than 15 months after the effective date of the rule, all vendors must meet the accreditation requirement. Provides that the Department may contract with a third-party vendor to audit eligible durable medical equipment suppliers.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB5750

Harris, D-Chicago

Creates the Health Insurance Claims Assessment Act. Imposes an assessment of 1% on claims paid by a health insurance carrier or third-party administrator. Provides that the moneys received and collected under the Act shall be deposited into the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund and used solely for the purpose of funding Medicaid services provided under the medical assistance programs administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB5751

Ives, R-Wheaton

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that no medical provider shall be reimbursed for a supply of prescriptions filled outside of a licensed pharmacy except when there exists no licensed pharmacy within 5 miles of the prescribing physician's practice. Provides that, if there exists no licensed pharmacy within 5 miles of the prescribing physician's practice, no medical provider shall be reimbursed for a prescription, the supply of which lasts for longer than 72 hours from the date of injury or 24 hours from the date of first referral to the medical service provider, whichever is greater, filled and dispensed outside of a licensed pharmacy. Provides that the limitations on filling and dispensing prescriptions do not apply if there exists a pre-arranged agreement between the medical provider and a preferred provider program regarding the filling of prescriptions outside a licensed pharmacy.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB5809

Mussman, D-Schaumburg

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that "practice of pharmacy" includes the prescribing and dispensing of hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives. Defines "hormonal contraceptive patch" as a transdermal patch applied to the skin of a patient, by the patient or by a practitioner, that releases a drug composed of a combination of hormones that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and "self-administered oral hormonal contraceptive" as a drug composed of a combination of hormones that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and that the patient to whom the drug is prescribed may take orally. Allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense contraceptives to a person over 18 years of age and a person under 18 years of age only if the person has evidence of a previous prescription from a primary care or a women's health care practitioner. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to adopt rules to establish standard procedures for pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives. Provides requirements for the rules to be adopted by the Department. Provides that all State and federal laws governing insurance coverage of contraceptive drugs and products shall apply to this Section.

Rules Comm.

Support

HB5949

Same as SB2901

Zalewski, D-Riverside

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Extends the repeal of the medicine locking closure package pilot program from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. Effective immediately.

Passed both Chambers.

Neutral

HB6082

 

Same as

SB2416

Demmer, R-Rochelle

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Abolishes the State Board of Health. Transfers responsibility for developing a State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) from the Board to the Department of Public Health. Removes provisions establishing a planning team for the SHIP and provides that the SHIP Implementation Coordination Council shall serve as the planning team. Provides that the SHIP Implementation Coordination Council shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor (instead of the Governor appointing a new SHIP Implementation Coordination Council for each SHIP). Amends the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. Transfers certain functions under the Act from the Board to the Department of Public Health. Amends the Counties Code. Requires plans for certain facilities to be submitted to and approved by the Director of Public Health (instead of the Secretary of the State Board of Health). Repeals an obsolete provision of the Obesity Prevention Initiative Act. Amends the Hospital Report Card Act. In a provision concerning the retirement of reporting measures by the Department, requires the Department to obtain approval from the Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care Advisory Committee (instead of the Board). Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. In a provision concerning the adoption of rules requiring immunization of children, requires the Department (instead of the Board) to conduct 3 public hearings before the rule is adopted. Effective immediately.

Rules Comm.

Oppose

HB6158

Willis, D-Northlake

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on or after July 1, 2016, drugs which are prescribed to residents of a nursing home shall not be subject to prior approval as a result of the 4-prescription limit. Effective July 1, 2016.

Rules Comm.

Neutral

HB6180

 

Same as

SB3336

McAuliffe, R-Chicago

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Requires pharmacies to establish and maintain a quality assurance program designed to prevent dispensing errors as well as a process designed to detect and identify dispensing errors. Requires pharmacies to commence an investigation into any detected dispensing errors within 2 days after the date the dispensing error is discovered. Requires that if an investigation into a dispensing error indicates that the dispensing error is attributable, in whole or in part, to the pharmacy or its personnel, that a quality assurance review be performed. Provides requirements for the quality assurance review and its records. Provides that the records of the quality assurance review shall not be subject to discovery in any arbitration, civil, or other proceeding, except in certain circumstances. Effective 12 months after becoming law.

Rules Comm.

Oppose as currently worded

 

 


Board of Pharmacy Update
Highlights from the May 2016 Meeting

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

The May 10th Board of Pharmacy Meeting was held at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. These are the highlights of that meeting.

Renewals and Paperless Licensing – Department staff reported that 90% of the eligible pharmacists renewed their licenses before the expiration date of March 31st. This is comparable to the previous relicense period in 2014. There was about a 5% decrease in pharmacy technician license renewals from last year. This may be attributed to those technicians that were required to mail in their license renewal accompanied by proof of becoming certified. Pharmacy license renewals were also on par with previous renewal cycles.

Citation Program – 41 citations have been issued by investigators since the program began at the end of March. So far, 36 citations have been paid on time with the outstanding citations still remaining within the 21 day payment period. Citations are now being issued for non-disciplinary violations of the Pharmacy Practice Act or Rules. The citation program has been established to save time for pharmacies cited for minor infractions that are easily corrected. The fines must be paid within 21 days of issue; however, a pharmacy is not bound to accept the citation and may ask for an informal hearing in its place. Fines range from $100 for one infraction to $500 for three. Repeat infractions will require the pharmacy and pharmacist in charge to appear at a disciplinary hearing.

Third Party Logistics Provider Licenses – The federal government has now prohibited all State Regulatory Agencies from licensing third party logistics providers as wholesalers through the Drug Supply Chain Quality and Security Act. Illinois has done this in the past. The FDA has, however, not provided States with guidance on licensing requirements for this new category of licensee. Therefore, no third party logistics provider is now licensed in Illinois.

NABP District IV Meeting 2016 – The Illinois Board of Pharmacy and the UIC College of Pharmacy will be co-hosting the NABP District IV meeting on November 2-4, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza on Halstead in Greek Town, Chicago. Phil Burgess, Board of Pharmacy and Dr. Nick Popovich, UIC are co-chairs of the planning committee. The program will offer CPE and networking and will be open to any pharmacist who would like to attend. Registration will open in early fall.

Biosimilar Presentation – The Board received a very basic presentation on biosimilars by two representatives from Pfizer. It was unclear what the purpose of the presentation was, but no new information was provided.

Legislative Update – Garth Reynolds provided the May Legislative Update and shared progress on the many bills pharmacy is following. A complete list of bills can be found in the KeePosted’s Government Affairs Report for June.

Next Meeting – The next meeting of the Board of Pharmacy will take place on Tuesday, July 12th at 10:30 am in the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, Chicago. Members of the profession and public are welcome to attend.


Leadership: It’s Not Just for Leaders
New Practitioners Network

by Anne Misher, PharmD, PGY2 Ambulatory Care Resident, Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy; Lindsey Westerhof, PharmD, Assistant Professor Pharmacy Practice, Ferris State University; Jen Phillips, PharmD, BCPS, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy

As the profession of pharmacy continues to grow in size and scope, there will be many more opportunities for pharmacists to serve as leaders within the profession. A 2004 survey of pharmacists, managers, and students predicted a major gap in pharmacy leadership.1 A repeat survey found that although the leadership gap was narrowing, strategies need to be implemented to avoid a leadership crisis in the next 10 years.2

There has been a calling for increased efforts in leadership development of new practitioners.3 New pharmacy practitioners are looked upon to bring new energy, passion, and curiosity into the clinical workforce. While many new practitioners may not have immediate aspirations to step into a “Big L” leadership role (i.e., manager, director, etc.) in the near future, continuing to develop leadership skills can have numerous advantages, regardless of role or area of practice. First, having a solid leadership foundation can help the pharmacist be a better practitioner. Several pharmacy organizations have advocated that leadership skills are necessary for all pharmacists, not just those in leadership positions.3,4 Therefore, we must encourage ourselves and our colleagues to seek opportunities to further develop the building blocks of a strong leader, regardless of job title. As Toby Clark once said, the greatest leadership sin is to remain passive in the face of challenges.5

Leadership skills help pharmacists adapt to change. The pharmacists and pharmacy leaders of today need to be prepared for several challenges, including: the adoption of improved information technology to accommodate increased safety and quality demands; drug shortages; and establishment or expansion of chronic disease management within community and ambulatory care pharmacy settings.6,7 Skills, knowledge and abilities identified as being most important for pharmacists to be successful in managing challenges include ability to see the big picture, demonstrate the value of pharmacy services, lead and manage ethically and influence senior leadership.8 Having these strong leadership skills can help both the “Big L” and “Little l” leaders be successful in these initiatives.

Leadership skills may also help new practitioners remain competitive in today’s market. Choosing a combination of available options to further leadership skills can help to create a well-rounded skill set that can enhance marketability of the candidate when pursuing employment. Practice and experience can help foster an understanding of the challenges the profession faces as well as the motivation to seek change and advancement. New practitioners can pursue leadership training through a number of different mechanisms, including:

Being a Mentor and Seeking Mentorship
Mentorship is essential for leadership development. Most people naturally seek mentorship through informal interactions with supervisors or those in management roles. Additionally, many will serve as mentors to younger practitioners as experience in clinical practice grows. When selecting mentors, it is important to seek those who will be most beneficial for achieving your desired goals. As stated in Good to Great, mentorship often does not come from a single individual, but rather a “cabinet”.9 Each member of the cabinet should play a unique role in guiding various aspects of career development. As interests and goals change during the course of a career, the mentorship may also change as new points of view may be necessary to take on new opportunities. In looking for mentors, it is essential to find individuals who cannot only help shape your career, but can help establish a manageable work life balance.10 Regular mentorship meetings can help to build a strong relationship and set a course of action for development.

Professional Organization Leadership Programs
Seeking roles within professional organizations can give new practitioners the practical experience needed to grow and show their leadership capabilities while keeping up to date with the latest developments in the profession. Involvement in local or state organizations can be a great starting place for organization involvement. Additionally, most national organizations have committees or networking groups, such as ASHP’s Sections and Forums, which can be a platform for gaining knowledge while demonstrating interest in leadership. Many organizations (including ICHP!) also have new practitioner groups, which can provide networking opportunities to foster relationship building and understanding of available leadership roles within the organization.

Attending annual conferences provides opportunities to network with peers and acquire knowledge that can be used to advance the practice within your own health system. Specifically, programming such as Great eXpectiations at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting provides new practitioners with sessions focused on career development and becoming a leader within clinical practice.

For those seeking more advanced leadership training, many pharmacy organizations offer leadership training programs that utilize both self-study as well as interactive sessions focused on a variety of leadership topics.12,13 Each program offers different experiences and has a variety of unique opportunities for participants.

Resident and Professional Training Opportunities
For those interested in leadership development during residency, there are a variety of ways to accomplish this. First, make the most out of your management rotation. Even if you are convinced that you will never be a “Big L”, there are many things you can learn that will help make you a more knowledgeable and well-rounded practitioner. In addition, many programs offer teaching certificates which provide new practitioners with skills for not only teaching students, but also for developing communication and assessment skills that can be used to better facilitate interactions with the healthcare team. Having the ability to serve as a co-preceptor is another great way to experience first-hand some of the challenges involved in leading others.  

Some residency programs are specifically designed to develop their residents into future leaders of the profession. For example, The Nebraska Medical Center (TNMC) residency program includes a Leadership Development Series in which residents participate in leadership discussions throughout their year of training. Other programs offer specialized residency programs that provide a two year residency program focused on Health System Pharmacy. At the current time, there are 34 PGY-2 residencies and 7 PGY-1/2 programs in Health Systems Pharmacy Administration, and 2 PGY-2 programs in Corporate Pharmacy Leadership in the United States. There are an additional 36 PGY-1/2 programs in Health Systems Pharmacy Administration that offer the resident an opportunity to get a master’s degree upon completion of the program.14

Some established organizations offer professional development programs for leaders and those interested in leadership positions. For example, the Pharmacy Leadership Institute developed through collaboration between University of California, San Francisco and the Center for the Health Professions provides learning seminars, coaching and leadership projects to help members become more effective leaders.15 For those unable to complete a leadership focused residency, these types of leadership development programs can assist with obtaining skills and experience. 

Degree Programs
Pursuing a degree program can help learners formally acquire advanced knowledge and credentials that may be helpful when developing their leadership potential.  For example, obtaining a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) can provide the business acumen needed to fulfill a leadership role in administration. Pursuing a Masters of Health Administration (MHA) can help fine tune leadership skills specific to a health system. Other advanced degree programs can help further develop knowledge of clinical practice or research. For example, seeking a PhD or fellowship training can provide the background needed to serve as a leader in research. Learners can acquire skills in project development, grant submission and research team coordination, which can all be helpful for new practitioners who are interested in advancing their research careers.

Credentialing
Regardless of formal leadership titles, all pharmacists should seek to be leaders in the realm of medication management. One way to do this is by pursuing board certification, or advanced credentialing in areas such as: diabetes education, anticoagulation, and geriatric pharmacy, to name a few. Although not all credentials are specific to leadership, these credentials show dedication to the practice of pharmacy and assurance of the necessary expertise to lead others in clinical practice. Additionally, advanced credentialing demonstrates credibility beyond the profession of pharmacy to others within healthcare. This can be especially helpful in expanding our practice into new practice areas and leading healthcare in new ways. 

Personal Development
Once leadership skills are attained, they must be maintained. Attending professional conferences, networking with colleagues, and staying up to date with recently published literature are a few ways for practitioners to continue to hone their leadership skills. It is also a good idea to regularly schedule time for quality improvement assessments of your leadership abilities to ensure that the knowledge and skills you have learned are being optimally implemented in your work environment and/or to identify further opportunities for growth. This can be done formally or informally. Formal methods include evaluations from supervisors, co-workers, or student/resident evaluations. Some institutions have started using a 360 degree evaluation system that incorporates feedback from an individual’s peers, supervisors, and subordinates in addition to a self-evaluation. Informal methods of evaluation include devising a personalized continuing professional development plan or self-reflection through journaling. Actively engaging students, co-workers, and supervisors in an informal dialogue (especially after particularly challenging decisions or tasks) is another way to gain immediate feedback on performance as well as strengthen relationships. One way this can be done is through a Leadership journal or book club, where all members can learn about new ways to implement leadership skills.16

As pharmacists, we are all called to be leaders whether formally or informally on a daily basis. As new practitioners entering a competitive job market, it is even more important to be aware and take advantage of opportunities to develop leadership skills. Choosing a variety of training opportunities and remembering to “sharpen the saw” – as stated in Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – can help to become and remain an active member of the healthcare team.17

References:
  1. White SJ. Will there be a leadership crisis? An ASHP Foundation Scholar-in-residence report. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2005;62(8):845-55.
  2. White SJ, Enright SM.  Is there still a pharmacy leadership crisis? A seven year follow up assessment. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013;70(5):443-7.
  3. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP statement on leadership as a professional obligation. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2011; 68:2293-5.
  4. American College of Clinical Pharmacy. ACCP white paper: a vision of pharmacy’s future roles, responsibilities, and manpower needs in the United States. Pharmacotherapy. 2000;20(8):991-1020.
  5. Clark T. Leading healers to exceed. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2013; 70:625-31
  6. Clark JS. A vision for the future of pharmacy residency training. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2014; 71:1196-8.
  7. Medvdeff D. Real leaders wear running shoes: myriad variables need to be evaluated and strategies developed for lifelong career in pharmacy. J Am Pham Assoc. 2007 Sep-Oct; 47(5): 576-8.
  8. Meadows AB, Maine LL. Pharmacy executive leadership issues and associated skills, knowledge, and abilities. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2005 Jan-Feb;45(1):55-62.
  9. Collins J. Good to great: Why some companies make the leap…and others don’t. New York, NY: HaperCollins Publishers Inc; 2001.
  10. Raub JN, Thurston TM, Fiorvento AD, Mynatt RP, Wilson SS. Implementation and outcomes of a pharmacy residency mentorship program. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2015 Jun 1;72(11 Suppl 1):S1-5.
  11. White SJ, Wilkin NE. Leadership development: empowering others to take an active role in patient care. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2012 May-Jun;52(3):308-18. 
  12. Aleshea Martin. Fostering career development through involvement in professional organizations. Am J Health Syst Pharm. July 15, 2007 64:1472-1473; doi:10.2146/ajhp070096.
  13. Pasek K. Leadership opportunities within ASHP for new practitioners. Am J Health Syst Pharm. December 15, 2009 66:2164-2169.
  14. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  Residency directory. http://accred.ashp.org/aps/pages/directory/residencyProgramSearch.aspx. Accessed 26 June 2005
  15. Louie C, Mertz E. A pharmacy leadership action study. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2009 Jan-Feb;49(1):98-104. 
  16. Eric Wombwell, Christopher Murray, Stephen J. Davis, Katherine Palmer, Monica Nayar, and Justin Konkol. Leadership journal club. Am J Health Syst Pharm. November 1, 2011 68:2026-2027; doi:10.2146/ajhp110008.
  17. Covey SR. 7 Habits of highly effective people. New York, NY: Free Press; 1989. 


5 Things to Know for the Newest New Practitioners
New Practitioners Network

by David Martin, PharmD, BCPS, Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Reviewed by Matt (Junyu) Zhang, PharmD

The month of June ushers in a flurry of new life and opportunities each year. The daffodils and tulips signify that warmer weather is finally here to stay. People dust off their running shoes or bicycles and hit the roads for some much needed fresh air. It is an exciting time for students, families, and faculty as a new batch of pharmacists walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. It is especially exciting for us to welcome these new practitioners into the world of pharmacy.

Whether you are directly entering the workforce or furthering your education through residency or fellowship training, there are so many exciting opportunities and challenges that lie ahead of you. It has been three years since I walked across my own graduation stage, and since that time I have completed residency programs and started working at three different institutions. The following are important lessons that I have learned over these past few years, and I would love to share them with you, our newest members of the pharmacy profession.

1. Keep in touch with your friends and professors from college.
The friends you make during the formative years of higher education are likely to be your life-long friends. Whether you see them every day or every 5 years after graduation, you will want to maintain contact with them. Similarly, most students developed a mentor-mentee relationship with at least one faculty member. These relationships can further strengthen as you enter the profession because your professors can often offer insight and advice for difficult situations. As you enter the workforce, you will find that networking plays an even larger role than you had imagined. Maintaining old relationships with your fellow classmates, friends, and professors is an important way to build your network and expand your opportunities.

2. If you move away from your family, take time to visit them.
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new job, a new city, and the new freedom from classes and exams. As a new practitioner, you may also find vacation time is hard to come by with your new employer. However, I would challenge you to devote at least part of that time to your family. My relationship with my parents has evolved over the years, and I cherish every moment I am able to spend with them. Please don’t forget to call your mother at least once a week!

3. Learning doesn’t stop the moment you receive your pharmacy license.
Continuously learning is mentally exhausting, so you are probably ready for a break. However, keep in mind that medicine never stops changing, evolving, and discovering. As such, you are going to need to change, evolve, and discover right along with it. Sign up for list-serves and newsletters that offer new ideas in the areas of interest to you (some of my favorites are the ACCP PRN’s, ICHP monthly newsletters, ASHP blogs, and Pharmacotherapy content alerts). Read journal articles and guideline updates, attend local and national meetings, and consider studying for and taking a specialty exam in your area of interest. Don’t forget about those pesky continuing education requirements for your pharmacy license too! (Hint: sign up for the CPE Monitor with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, NABP, as soon as possible. Go to www.mycpemonitor.net.)

4. Explore the wide variety of opportunities available to you as a pharmacist and don’t be afraid to change.
The field of pharmacy offers so many different opportunities as it is continuously changing and evolving. The field of specialty pharmacy was barely a speck on the radar when I graduated pharmacy school, and it is now one of the most rapidly growing (and lucrative) areas of pharmacy practice. For example, anticoagulation pharmacy services are changing with the decline in warfarin use as newer oral anticoagulants emerge; as new practitioners, you must also be flexible and adapt to these changing environments. Challenge yourself to think outside the box and be open to new areas of pharmacy that may not yet exist. Volunteering and/or participating in local organizations are also great ways to get involved and learn about new opportunities as practice evolves.

5. Work hard, play hard.
This may be the most important lesson. We must all work extremely hard to care for our patients, expand the profession of pharmacy, and educate ourselves and the next generation of healthcare professionals. There is no room for a laissez-faire attitude in the area of pharmacy practice, and we expect the highest-quality work from each other. However, once the work is complete, enjoy your time to travel, try different foods, volunteer, or take up a new hobby (or several). Play hard so that you can return to work the next day for the next 40 years and provide optimal care for your patients.



ICHPeople

Congratulations to ICHP member, Mary Ann Kliethermes, on being selected as the 2016 recipient of the ASHP Distinguished Leadership Award.












College Connections

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy
Kick Butts Day

by Levi Pilones, P2, ICHP Student Chapter President

Every year in March our chapter participates in a nationwide event that dedicates one day to educate and empower youth regarding the dangers of smoking tobacco, called “Kick Butts Day.” The purpose is to prevent smoking among children. It is a unique event in which we have an afternoon full of activities that are both fun and educational for children. The opportunity to work with children makes this a favorite event to volunteer for among our members!

This past March, we held Kick Butts Day at Laurance Armour Day School which has a range of students from 1st to 8th grade. Considering their age, our Lung Health Committee had to be creative in organizing activities that would be fun enough to capture the children’s attention and, at the same time, informative enough for them to learn. We came up with four different stations for the kids to rotate through. Each station had different activities, as well as different lessons.

The first station was the straw challenge. We had the children perform some physical activities while breathing through a straw, such as jumping jacks and push-ups. They were also challenged to move a golf ball by blowing air through a straw. These were to simulate the difficulty of breathing experienced by patients with asthma or COPD, which is associated with smoking tobacco. They loved these activities, especially since they were able to move around. In addition, they gained some insight into asthma and COPD.

The second station was role playing. We prepared several small skits that revolved around peer pressure. In these skits, the kids could take turns acting within various scenarios. I remember, during one of the skits, a pharmacy student volunteer stating, “Yo man, you want to take a hit of this cigarette? It’s what we cool kids do.” To which one of the audience volunteers boldly shouted, “No, smoking is not cool! It is bad!” It was so exhilarating to hear such an empowered statement coming from our young audience. The goal of the activity was to educate our young audience through these scenarios on how to resist the peer pressure to smoke. Just knowing that in some way we contributed to their self-confidence to stand up for themselves and make healthy choices makes it worthwhile.

Another station showed contrasting pictures that depicted lung health – some good and some bad. At this point, they were all very engaged to participate because of the previous activities. They explained to us and their fellow schoolmates why smoking is bad or exercising is good. It was surprising to see how knowledgeable they were. The older kids were teaching the younger kids. We merely facilitated their discussion and it was during this activity that we saw a lot of learning taking place.

Lastly, there was a station for the children to write letters asking their loved ones to quit smoking. They actually took this activity very seriously. They wrote to their moms, dads, uncles, and even cousins. I’d like to think that our activities contributed to their willingness to fight against tobacco smoking. On top of that, they took a pledge to say no to smoking by tracing their hands on a poster. Their teacher was quite glad with the activity and she asked to keep the poster to display in their classroom as a reminder to their pledge.

At the end of the day, there were plenty of learning and plenty of fun. One can see why Kick Butts Day is a favorite among our members. It is an event where our efforts contribute to a great cause and, at the same time, volunteers feel really good about themselves. Volunteers often describe the event as enjoyable, gratifying, and even satisfying. Until next year, members of UIC ICHP student chapter will be looking forward to another successful Kick Butts Day.

Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy
A Grateful Reflection of Three Years of Membership

by Lisa Marie Nguyen, PS-3, ICHP Student Chapter Treasurer

As a member of ICHP’s Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy chapter for the past three years, I want to take this opportunity to reflect back on the time I have spent. My first year of pharmacy school was overwhelming, to say the least; it was a grueling ‘sink or swim’ method of immersing myself into learning more about a profession I had previously only scratched the surface of. I knew that I had to join an organization that would give me an opportunity to explore the profession and would also cultivate my professionalism. During the organizational fair held on campus my first year, ICHP’s enthusiastic executive board members who were advertising the organization intrigued me. They told me of the opportunities a membership would provide and I was hooked.

In order to remain close to an organization that best reflects my ideals of a future pharmacist, I took on the integral role of secretary during my second year. Later, after attending the Annual Meeting in Oakbrook Terrace, I learned about the various career paths available in the field of pharmacy and I continued to nurture my curiosity and interests through various speaker events and roundtable opportunities. My third year gave me an opportunity to be a treasurer for SSHP, a role that gave me the opportunity to explore a new position and learn new skills. I continued to grow and foster my love of the profession by attending all of the events and collaborating with my wonderful executive board members. It is with a sad and heavy heart that I move on to my final year as a rotation student.  

I hope my future role in pharmacy will allow me to demonstrate my passion for our profession of pharmacy and continue the mission statement of ICHP of “Advancing Excellence in Pharmacy.” I will not forget the invaluable lessons I learned from being a student leader in ICHP and the sage advice I received from practitioners I was fortunate enough to meet. I plan on continuing to be an active member of ICHP throughout my career as a pharmacist and I will continue to advocate for the profession of pharmacy. I am, and will forever be, grateful for the opportunity to serve in an organization that fosters professional growth in students. 

Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy
Recent residency round table event and upcoming changes at Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy

by Katarzyna Plis, P2, ICHP Student Chapter President; Selma Dzelil, P2, ICHP Student Chapter Vice President; Brandon Swinford, P2, ICHP Student Chapter President Webmaster

Residency Round Table
Throughout the past year as first-year pharmacy students, we have all acquired a significant amount of information from our Student Society of Health Systems Pharmacy (SSHP). We began our first year of pharmacy school not knowing much about clinical pharmacy, residencies, or the various opportunities involved in health systems pharmacy. SSHP has not only helped to educate us, but also has encouraged us to set substantial goals for the future.

Recently, one of the first year pharmacy students organized the residency round table event. This event consisted of seven residents from the following places: Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and NorthShore University Health Systems. Many residents that participated were in their postgraduate year one training (PGY1) and only two in the postgraduate year two training (PGY2). Residents were divided into separate tables and students would rotate from table to table to ask questions. Here is a personal experience from one of the students who attended this event. 
“As a P1 with virtually no knowledge of how residencies in pharmacy work, the roundtable helped me understand the different types of residencies one can pursue. As a PGY1, pharmacists are exposed to a wide variety of operations within an institution.  For example, residents at Northwestern will rotate through the Emergency Department, the OR, Inpatient, Administrative positions and special departments within those departments. The PGY2 year is where a specialization develops, and there are nine different paths to pursue. If a resident does not want to specialize, they can choose to complete only their PGY1. After finding out more about what specializations entail, I was drawn to the administrative side of pharmacy. Administration encompasses all of Drug Information, Informatics, Clinical Practice Guidelines for institutions and P&T committees. If it wasn’t for the roundtable, I would have been scrambling at the last minute trying to decipher which rotation was right for me. Hearing each resident's experience, schedule, and expected duties gave me the opportunity to do more pointed research on my own.  I am confident my interests and strengths will be better represented as a candidate after this experience.” (Brandon Swinford). 

Upcoming Changes
As the new executive board, we hold SSHP to a high standard and view it as one of the most important organizations on campus. As we take on the responsibility to run SSHP, we have chosen to implement a new position in the next academic year. This new position that was recently approved, is membership chair. The duties and responsibilities include presenting to incoming students about SSHP. In addition, not only will the individual in this position be responsible for explaining to the students what SSHP is, but he or she will also need to find time to help those students join. We believe that this new position is crucial, because by obtaining new members we can continue to build our SSHP chapter at Roosevelt University COP. The membership chair will serve as an advocate for SSHP and will enthusiastically answer questions students may have while promoting the organization as a whole.  

As the new executive board we have accepted the responsibility to continue all the traditions that SSHP has done in the past. However, we believe that we have the ability to initiate new changes and opportunities for our chapter. As we move forward, we will work on organizing new events and opportunities that will benefit all students at Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy. 


More

Welcome New Members!


New Member Recruiter
Afwaj Binhussein
Carrie Hunt Desi Kotis
Sharlynne Legaspi
Helen Kolodizner Jennifer Splawski
Helen Choi Tomi Mamora
Antoinette Wildon Leslie Junkins
Sima Shah JoAnn Stubbins
Laura Lane
Iwona Sulocha Deanna Horner
Amy Stewart Megan Corrigan
Kirsten Roberts



Officers and Board of Directors

JENNIFER PHILLIPS 
President
630-515-7167 
jphillips@midwestern.edu 

LINDA FRED 
Immediate Past President
217-383-3253 
linda.fred@carle.com

CHARLENE HOPE
President-Elect
708-783-5933

MIKE WEAVER 
Treasurer 
815-599-6113 
mweaver@fhn.org

KATHERINE MILLER
Secretary

TRAVIS HUNERDOSSE 
Director, Educational Affairs 
thunerdo@nmh.org

CARRIE VOGLER
Director, Marketing Affairs
217-545-5394

KRISTI STICE 
Director, Professional Affairs
217-544-6464 ext.44660 
kristi.stice@hshs.org

CAROL HEUNISCH 
Director, Organizational Affairs 
847-933-6811

KATHRYN SCHULTZ
Director, Government Affairs
312-926-6961

ANN JANKIEWICZ 
Chairman, House of Delegates
Ann_M_Jankiewicz@rush.edu

ANA FERNANDEZ
Technician Representative
312-926-6980

DAVID TJHIO
 
Chairman, Committee on Technology 
816-885-4649 
david.tjhio@cerner.com

REBECCA CASTNER
Chairman, New Practitioners Network
773-821-2164

JACOB GETTIG 
Editor & Chairman, KeePosted Committee 
630-515-7324 fax: 630-515-6958 
jgetti@midwestern.edu 

JENNIFER PHILLIPS 
Assistant Editor, KeePosted 
630-515-7167 
jphillips@midwestern.edu 

SCOTT MEYERS 
Executive Vice President, ICHP Office 
815-227-9292 
scottm@ichpnet.org 


Regional Directors

NOELLE CHAPMAN 
Regional Director North
312-926-2547
nchapman@nmh.org 

ED RAINVILLE 
Regional Director Central 
ed.c.rainville@osfhealthcare.org 

LYNN FROMM 
Co-Regional Director South
618-391-5539

TARA VICKERY GORDEN 
Co-Regional Director South
618-643-2361 x2330
Student Chapter Presidents

KATHERINE SENCION 
President, Student Chapter
University of IL C.O.P. 
ksenci2@uic.edu 

JOANNE CHA 
President, Rockford Student Chapter 
University of IL C.O.P. 
cha17@uic.edu

JESSICA PENG 
President, Student Chapter
Midwestern University C.O.P. 
jpeng54@midwestern.edu

BRITTANY HUFF
 
President, Student Chapter 
Chicago State University C.O.P. 
bhuff@csu.edu

WHITNEY MAHER 
President, Student Chapter 
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville S.O.P
whitney.maher@gmail.com

JORDAN FAISON 
President, Student Chapter 
Roosevelt University C.O.P. 
jfaison@mail.roosevelt.edu

VALENTIN PACURARU 
President, Student Chapter 
Rosalind Franklin University C.O.P. 
valentin.pacararu@my.rfums.org


ICHP Affiliates 


KATHRYN SCHULTZ 
President, Northern IL Society (NISHP)

JARED SHELEY 
President, Metro East Society (MESHP)
jpsheley@gmail.com 

AMY BOBLITT 
President, Sangamiss Society
Boblitt.amy@mhsil.com

ED RAINVILLE
 
President, West Central Society (WSHP)  
ed.c.rainville@osfhealthcare.org

Vacant Roles at Affiliates — 
President, Rock Valley Society; Southern IL Society; Sugar Creek Society



ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund (PAC) Contributors

Names below reflect donations between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016. Giving categories reflect each person's cumulative donations since inception.

ADVOCACY ALLIANCE - $2500-$10000
Kevin Colgan
Edward Donnelly
James Owen Consulting, Inc.
Frank Kokaisl
Scott Meyers
Michael Novario
Michael Weaver
Thomas Westerkamp


LINCOLN LEAGUE - $1000-$2499
Scott Bergman
Andrew Donnelly
Ginger Ertel
Linda Fred
Ann Jankiewicz
Jan Keresztes
Kathy Komperda
Despina Kotis
William McEvoy
Christina Quillian
Michael Rajski
Carrie Sincak
Avery Spunt
JoAnn Stubbings
Patricia Wegner


CAPITOL CLUB - $500-$999
Margaret Allen
Sheila Allen
Rauf Dalal
Kenneth Foerster
Leonard Kosiba
George MacKinnon
Janette Mark
Mary Lynn Moody
Jennifer Phillips
Edward Rainville
Kathryn Schultz
Jill Warszalek


GENERAL ASSEMBLY GUILD - $250-$499
Jennifer Arnoldi
Peggy Bickham
Jaime Borkowski
Scott Drabant
Brad Dunck
Nancy Fjortoft
Jo Ann Haley
Travis Hunerdosse
Kim Janicek
Mary Lee
Ronald Miller
Karen Nordstrom
Peggy Reed
Heidi Sunday
Tara Vickery Gorden
Carrie Vogler
Marie Williams


SPRINGFIELD SOCIETY - $100-$249
Jill Borchert
Noelle Chapman
Kathy Cimakasky
Christopher Crank
Lara Ellinger
Jennifer Ellison
Joan Hardman
Dylan Marx
Katherine Miller
James Sampson
Jerry Storm
Brandi Strader
Amanda Wolff


GRASSROOTS GANG - $50-$99
Katrina Althaus
Rebecca Castner
Megan Hartranft
Christina Jacob
Bella Maningat
Brian Matthews
Bill Middleton
Mark Moffett
Nadia Tancredi


CONTRIBUTOR - $1-$49
Marc Abel
Skylar Boldue
Jeremy Capulong
Antoinette Cintron
Janet Engle
Linda Grider
Heather Harper
Ina Henderson
Antoine Jenkins
Levi Karell Pilones
Josie Klink
Connie Larson
Barbara Limburg-Mancini
Michelle Martin
Natalie Schwarber
Sarah Sheley
David Silva
Helen Sweiss
Steve Tancredi
Karin Terry


Upcoming Events

Visit the ICHP Calendar for the most up-to-date events!Visit the ICHP Calendar for the most up-to-date events!


Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Illinois Department of Public Health Program
Memorial Center for Learning & Innovation | Springfield, IL
More info coming soon. Questions? Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Division of Patient Safety and Quality at DPH.DPSQ@Illinois.gov.


Friday, July 15, 2016
WCSHP and Sangamiss Networking Event
Dozer Park | Peoria, IL
Tickets are $8. For more information or to request tickets, contact Ed Rainville, at Ed.C.Rainville@osfhealthcare.org.


Wednesday, July 20th, 2016 | 5:00pm
David Nguyen, PharmD, BCPS
MESHP Program
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital | Belleville, IL


Wednesday, July 27, 2016 | 12:00pm
Gary Peksa, PharmD, BCPS
LIVE Champion Webinar


Saturday, July 30, 2016
Certificate Training Program hosted by IPhA
IPhA Office | Springfield, IL
Accredited for pharmacists | Up to 21.0 credit hours (2.1 CEUs)
Hosted by Illinois Pharmacists Association. ICHP members may use discount code ICHP2016 to receive the member price. Membership will be verified.


Thursday, September 15 - Saturday, September 17, 2016
Drury Lane | Oakbrook Terrace, IL


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