New Certificate Program Fills Antimicrobial Stewardship Gap

Alexandria, VA— Today the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) launched a joint Long-Term Care (LTC) Antimicrobial Stewardship Certificate Program. This is a practice-based certificate program focused on the role that pharmacists play in the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.

 

“The White House and the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) have prioritized the increased threat of antibiotic resistance to public health, and specifically called for strengthening of antibiotic stewardship in LTC settings,” said Frank Grosso, RPh, ASCP’s Executive Director and CEO. “This certificate program will help strengthen antibiotic stewardship in LTC by aiding pharmacists’ knowledge in microbiology, pharmacology, and disease state management.”

 

The CDC's Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes specifically calls on “nursing facilities to work with a consultant pharmacist who has received specialized infectious diseases or antibiotic stewardship training.   “This program further fulfills the pledge that SIDP has made to train pharmacists to improve public health and address antibiotic resistance by conducting antimicrobial stewardship programs. By partnering with ASCP, we are leveraging the expertise of both organizations into this unique program that meets the specialized training called for by CDC guidance,” said SIDP Immediate Past-President, Jason Gallagher, Pharm.D. BCPS, FCCP, FIDSA. Through online programming and live webinars, pharmacists will practice developing interventions at their practice site that aim to improve patient/resident care and clinical outcomes, lower health care costs, and prolong the longevity of antimicrobials.

 

The Certificate Program, available at www.ProCE.com/SIDP-LTC, is a certified pharmacy education (CPE) activity, with CPE jointly provided by ProCE, ASCP, and SIDP. ProCE and ASCP are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a providers of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is eligible for ACPE credit; for questions or more information, please contact ProCE at info@proce.com.

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is the only international professional society devoted to optimal medication management and improved health outcomes for all older persons. ASCP's members manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and home and community-based care. Learn more at www.ascp.com.

The Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) is an association of pharmacists and other allied health care professionals committed to promoting the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents and supporting practice, teaching and research in infectious diseases. Learn more at www.sidp.org.