ASHP to offer classes for certified geriatric pharmacists

The Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy recently designated the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) an approved professional development provider to offer recertification credit hours for certified geriatric pharmacists (CGPs).

The professional development program will launch in December at ASHP’s Midyear Clinical Meeting in New Orleans. ASHP will offer six hours of continuing education at the meeting as well as an additional 35 hours of programming in 2016, available via live and home-study formats.

“We’re excited to have this opportunity to assist geriatric pharmacy practitioners in preparing and maintaining their credentials as CGPs,” ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz, said. “ASHP is committed to providing our members with top-notch education in specialty areas that support them in their patient care practices. This is particularly important as ASHP members practice in all of the settings where geriatric patients receive care, with the largest number of CGPs practicing in hospital settings.”

Geriatric patients make up 38 percent of patients discharged from hospitals and have inpatient stays that are almost 45 percent longer than younger patients. Pharmacists in serious care settings focus on the medication-related needs of geriatric patients and play a vital role in managing medication reconciliation, as well as transitions of care as seniors move from inpatient to ambulatory or long-term care settings.