COMPETENCE, BOARD CERTIFICATION, CREDENTIALING, AND SPECIALIZATION - WHO BENEFITS

Pharmacists are concerned with the rapid changes in the healthcare sys tem and what the requirements will be for a pharmacist in the near fut ure. The emergence of hoard certification, credentialing, and other ce rtification programs for pharmacists are causing significant concern a mong pharmacists. Pharmacists must assess certification programs and d ecide on the value of certification to their careers and to the patien ts they serve. Employers of pharmacists and those paying for healthcar e and pharmacy services must also evaluate the value of pharmacist cer tification. Perhaps the most direct and significant benefit of pharmac ist certification lies in the ability of the pharmacist to provide bet ter and more comprehensive care to patients or selected groups of pati ents (eg, diabetic patients). Better and more comprehensive care provi ded by a pharmacist benefits the patient, other healthcare professiona ls, the healthcare system generally, and payers of healthcare and phar macy services. Demonstrated competence of the pharmacist to provide ph armaceutical care is essential to achieving this benefit. Board certif ication of pharmacists in current board-recognized specialty areas of nutrition support pharmacy, pharmacotherapy, psychiatric pharmacy, nuc lear pharmacy, and oncology pharmacy totaled 2075 board certified phar macists in the United States as of January 1997.