ASHP and ISMP to Create Medication Safety Certificate Program
Online Continuing Education Prepares Practitioners to Advance Safety of Medication Use Process
PRESS RELEASE
8/29/2016
ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) are partnering to develop a Medication Safety Certificate Program that is scheduled to launch in spring 2017. This online continuing education program will be an addition to the ASHP Professional Certificate product line and ISMP’s Medication Safety Intensive program. The new program will provide pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with the essential skills for improving the safety of medication use in their respective practice settings.
ASHP Professional Certificate Programs are self-guided, online continuing education programs for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other healthcare personnel. Each program offers at least 15 hours of continuing education credit that can be earned upon completion of individual modules. Participants must complete all of the modules in a program as well as practice-based exercises to be eligible for an ASHP professional certificate.
“ASHP is pleased to partner with ISMP to develop a program that will serve as a vital tool for improving medication safety for patients,” said ASHP CEO Paul W. Abramowitz, Pharm.D., Sc.D. (Hon.), FASHP. “This joint venture with ISMP will help provide pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with the professional development opportunity to help them ensure that their patients are receiving the best care possible.”
The Medication Safety Certificate Program will feature modules designed to enhance the medication safety knowledge and baseline skills of individuals practicing in hospitals and health systems. The curriculum will cover the fundamental principles of the medication use process and medication safety culture. The course also will present strategies for identifying and implementing opportunities for medication safety improvements.
“Offering a medication safety certificate program to an interprofessional audience of healthcare professionals will help encourage a more safety-minded culture,” said ISMP President Michael R. Cohen, R.Ph., M.S., Sc.D. (Hon.), DPS (Hon.), FASHP. “ISMP is pleased to partner with ASHP in this effort to educate frontline clinicians about the system-based causes of errors and how to implement effective error-reduction strategies.”
All modules offer ACPE, ACCME, and ANCC continuing education credits. To earn the professional certificate, participants must complete a project that demonstrates understanding and application of knowledge obtained from the program.
For more information on the certificate program, visit
