Accreditation 101

The formal definition of accreditation, from the "ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies," is: "the act of granting approval to a postgraduate residency program after the program has met set requirements and has been reviewed and evaluated through an official process (document review, site survey, review and evaluation by the Commission on Credentialing). An approved program is in an "ASHP-accredited" status."

Accreditation protects the public by setting standards. Being accredited lets the public know that a program meets professional standards, thereby assuring quality. Accreditation allows a profession to engage in self-regulation. While it is a voluntary process, many organizations consider it essential to the integrity of their reputation. The accreditation process upholds standards and quality and may also encourage progressive practice when standards address such practices. In pharmacy, accreditation standards have been shown to have a positive impact on the practice of pharmacy as a whole. In addition, residency programs that are eligible for CMS medicare pass-through dollars must be ASHP-accredited.

 

 

 

return to top | previous page | next page