Bev Wilt, NJSHP State Treasurer
Working twenty-six years at the same hospital and still going strong! How's that as a testament to loving the pharmacy profession. Beverly Wilt, Kennedy Hospital Manager of Pharmacy and NJSHP State Treasurer, credits her steady career path to her ability to continue to grow in her position. She's been a first hand witness to the greater evolving role pharmacy continues to play in overall patient care. She's described the role of pharmacy in the past as limited to the routine and mechanical filling of drugs. But today, it now involves so much more interaction with patients and hospital staff.

At Kennedy, Bev was hugely involved in a major patient safety project. She and her team implemented a code cart exchange across all three hospitals in her system. She devised the standard code carts, same drawer, same contents, which eventually allowed staff to run codes. All medications and equipment were identical across the system. Bev was also involved with implementing drug boxes for anesthesia. This system provided double locked anesthesia drug boxes with pre-determined medications that the doctors and nurses could carry with them. This system required security and ease of documentation for the involved users.

Part of Bev's regular responsibilities is daily patient rounding with the critical care team. This is one of the aspects of her job she enjoys most. She gets involved first hand on clinical issues and loves the respect from the physicians and nurses as she gets to present her recommendations. Bev has seen first hand, at least at her institution, the ever-growing role pharmacists can play in overall clinical issues. Because of her Kennedy experience, she is highly encouraged that pharmacists will become more active and valued in the entire clinical process.

Bev's humble beginnings in developing a career in pharmacy began as a child when her aunt who was a nurse often took Bev to the hospital for visits.
She credits her preceptor Aaron Silnutzer as her biggest inspiration. Mr. Silnutzer's progressive vision of pharmacy in the 1970's represented today's ever increasing role for pharmacists. As a member of the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy, he was a leader in the patient profile system and was majorly involved in making these records a mandate. Bev worked her way through Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at Silnutzer's Garden State Pharmacy.

Pharmacy has given Bev much satisfaction and she has been active in giving back and helping others to benefit with her knowledge and expertise. For a period of three years, Bev was an Adjunct Professor in Pharmacology at Gloucester College in the Nursing Department. Bev was excited about this post because she felt that patients would benefit more if nurses had a greater understanding about medications.

She has devoted much of her tim e too to NJSHP. She was the Southern Chapter's Treasurer for six years and then moved on to a greater role as the State Chapter Treasurer for the last four years. Bev comments, "NJSHP has been a wonderful networking experience - I am able to see how others have handled situations that are new to me." She gives special advice to get involved with pharmacy as much as possible to really affect a positive change. She has seen pharmacy evolve slowly but surely and credits the tireless work and aspirations, particularly from so many NJSHP leaders. She also humbly comments that she can only aspire to have the same vision as some of her NJSHP board members and counterparts.

Bev enjoys relaxing with her husband of 13 years with whom she shares a unique wedding anniversary, Halloween. Both she and her husband travel to the Caribbean twice a year to sail and snorkel. They lavish a lot of their attention on their three dogs, Buddy, Freeway and Max. And if you can't find her at her Turnersville, NJ home, she is probably taking a quiet respite from her all of her duties at Kennedy Health System at her beach house on Long Beach Island. This is her place of retirement for the future, - a future that is still full, far and way down the road.
  New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists
760 Alexander Road, P.O. Box 1
Princeton, NJ 08543-0001
    Change of Address: Please notify
NJSHP at once to ensure uninterrupted
membership service
NJSHP WELCOMES ARTICLES AND COMMENTS ON ANY ISSUE AFFECTING HEALTH SYSTEM PHARMACY AND ENCOURAGES MEMBERS TO SPREAD THE NEWS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INNOVATIONS BY SUBMITTING TYPE-WRITTEN RELEASES FOR PUBLICATION IN FUTURE ISSUES OF THE BULLETIN.
PLEASE E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS TO STELLA WILLIAMS AT SWILLIAM@NJHA.COM
COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT OF THE
U.S. DRUG SAFETY SYSTEM


On July 19, 2005, ASHP presented comments to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Assessment of the U.S. Drug Safety System.

In the form of an introduction, ASHP remains committed to maintaining the public's confidence in the integrity of the drug supply and to protecting the public through appropriate drug approval and monitoring services.

Here are ASHP's recommendations:

1.
Increase FDA authority and funding for post-marketing safety and efficacy studies and mandatory registration and disclosure of trials in a national registry.
2.
Explore new models of public-private partnership for post-marketing
surveillance.
3.
Better utilize pharmacists and other health care professionals in adverse drug reaction reporting and drug safety.
4.
Increase public understanding of the inherent risks of prescription and nonprescription medications.
   
5.
Consider an intermediate category of drugs for products being assessed for over-the-counter sale.

The complete statement may be obtaining by visiting www.ashp.org.

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ASHP

Urges CMS to Provide
Information about Medication
Therapy Management Programs


ASHP, as part of the Pharmacist Provider Coalition, urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to include details about medication therapy management programs in future informational materials to beneficiaries and providers, Also, this information can serve as an update to the Prescription Drug Plan Finder, which is a tool intended to guide beneficiaries in choosing the drug plan that best meets their needs.

Legislation to Extend
340B Pricing Introduced in Senate


Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the Safety Net Inpatient Drug Affordability Act, S. 1840. This bipartisan
bipartisan legislation is a companion to H.R. 3547, introduced in July of this year by Representatives Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Bobby Rush (D-IL). The Safety Net Inpatient Drug Affordability Act would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 340B discounts to inpatient pharmaceuticals. It would also add critical access hospitals to those facilities eligible to participate in the 340B program.

ASHP Urges Funding for Health
Information Technology


ASHP, along with several other health care associations, showed its ongoing support this month for congressional appropriation in the fiscal year 2006 Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations bill to fully fund President Bush's request of $125 million for health information technology. This also includes $75 million for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) and the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) [Transforming Healthcare Quality Through Information] grants. The House-passed Labor HHS appropriations bill already provides funding at a level equivalent to the President's request.
The Society will be accepting nominations for state-level offices from now until January 15, 2006. Several positions will be opening that may be of interest to you or one of your colleagues.

Opening positions include:

President-Elect
This leadership position offers an individual the opportunity to direct our organization with the NJSHP President. Term of president-elect is for one year, after which this position assumes the presidency.

Secretary
This position records the minutes of the Board's monthly meeting. Additional functions are secondary to the secretary's participation in other NJSHP related affairs. Term of office is two years.

Director of Organizational Affairs
This position is responsible for the
recruitment and retention of
 
NJSHP members. Term of office is two years.

Director of Legal and Public Affairs

This position is responsible for reporting, following, and implementing policies, procedures, and regulatory acts from state and federal levels of government. Term of office is two years.

All available positions allow an individual, with the right motivation, to have an impact on the course of the profession of pharmacy practice.

If you have questions or want to submit your name or nominate someone from your Chapter, please contact Stella Williams (Telephone (609) 936-2205, Fax (609) 936-2176, or email swilliam@njha.com) before the January 15th deadline.

After we compile the list of candidates into a ballot, the ballot will go out to all NJSHP members. Therefore, we need your help in obtaining nominations before January 15, 2006.
 

SPOTLIGHT
on YOU!

Celebrate your hard work and dedication in your pharmacy career! Share your accomplishments with NJSHP. Our newsletter is an excellent opportunity to provide education and information about your contributions to the practice of pharmacy. Your story can be an inspiration to others! So don't be shy. To submit your contribution, please contact
Stella Williams at 609-936-2205;
swilliams@njha.com.

We'd love to hear from you!

 
No Pharmacist is an Island.
Daniel T. Abazia, Pharm.D.
In his Meditation XVII, John Donne writes, ".No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind." Donne's manuscript describes the renaissance-era debate of isolation vs. interconnectedness.

Donne's metaphor can be used to accurately describe the essence of the pharmacy profession. It can also inspire my fellow new practitioners (as well as veterans) into greater professional involvement.

The transition from student to pharmacist occurs abruptly. We find ourselves leaving the friendly confines of academia and entering a vast, complex profession. Often, our interests lie in various practice settings and we arrive at our ideal job position in a complex maze of trial and error. Only later in our careers do we see the need to network and become more involved in professional organizations such as the New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
In terms of joining a professional organizationlike ours, it's typical to hear these common responses that I have even uttered in the past. "I just graduated and I'm not sure what I want to do.I have loans to pay off.I finally have time for a personal life." Do I have a rebuttal to these reasons not to become more involved? Yes. However, if you look closely at each of the above arguments, they all begin with "I". We have all heard the cliché, "There is no I in team." If we remove the word "team" and substitute the word "pharmacy", would you agree that the statement still works?

Let's take it one step further. There is an "I" in pharmacist, and, there is an "I" in involvement. Pharmacists are individuals and should be allowed to express their individuality. Nonetheless, our hard work in attaining the title of pharmacist was an effort to involve ourselves in the profession of pharmacy.

Involvement doesn't have to mean sacrificing one's personal life or committing to a specific career path.
It is an obligation to give back to a profession that has given us so much (and not just free pens!). Every single pharmacist is a piece of the profession. And, each pharmacist who does not recognize this only weakens the profession, slowing its progression.

It is more important that each day we go to work, we don't lose sight of the fact that we are all interconnected. Involvement not only reaps individual rewards, but also ultimately contributes to the profession of pharmacy. So, use the "I", consider leaving the island by getting involved. Help out your fellow pharmacy practitioners advance the practice of Pharmacy.

Dan Abazia is currently a pharmacy-practice resident at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy - Rutgers University in May 2005 and is a past president of the NJSHP Student Chapter. Dan's practice interests include management/administration and oncology. Dan plans on making a career within health-system pharmacy.


Need to bolster your
recruiting efforts?

Consider placing your classified ads on NJSHP's website, www.njshp.org. Target your ad directly to NJSHP members. Here are the rates for this very affordable option:*

Display Ad Size
1 Month Rate
3 Month Rate
6 Month Rate
150 words or less
$150.00
$200.00
$250.00
151-300 words
$200.00
$250.00
$300.00
301-450 words
$250.00
$300.00
$350.00

*Full payment made payable to the New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists must accompany all submitted advertisement. NJSHP reserves the right to discontinue any advertising schedule for which payments are not made at the time of submission. NJSHP reserves the right to hold the advertiser liable for the amount due and payable to NJSHP if funds are insufficient. All prices listed are for computer-ready art work, except where noted. Additional fees may be incurred if NJSHP provides design of any artwork or layout. To place an ad, call Stella Williams at 609-936-2205.
 
 
Pharmacy Technician Certification
2006 Exam Schedule

The 2006 schedule examinations for pharmacy technicians seeking certification through the Pharmacy Technician certification Board (PTCB) will be held on March 11th, July 22nd, and November 18th.

Individuals who meet all eligibility requirements and successfully pass the examination may use the initials "CPhT" after their names. Certification is valid for two years.

The next New Jersey exam will be administered at Rutgers University - Busch Campus, Science Engineering Resource Center, Room 111, Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ. For directions, visit www.rutgers.edu.

Application receipt deadlines are January 13th, May 26th, and September 14th. The application fee is $120. For more information, call PTCB at (800) 363-8012 or visit their new website at www.ptcb.org. To obtain registration materials, call the NJSHP headquarters at (609) 936-2205.
-


Annual NJSHP/ASHP Clinical
Skills Competition

Twenty-six students were in top form at this annual competition where the rewards were big!

On October 24, 13 teams of two students each competed against each other by presenting a detailed ASHP-prepared case. Students had just two hours to assess a patient's most clinically significant problems, as well as numerous problems of major and minor significance. Students were allowed to use published references to assess patients and develop their pharmacotherapy plan.

After all 13 teams presented, Judges Drs. Kuper, Olin and Siu, one resident and three clinical education consultants from Pfizer selected three top teams. These teams get just five minutes to present their cases.

And the winners were 4th year professional students, Mary Barna and Pat Bridgeman. The lucky winners received free airfare, hotel accommodations, and registration to the ASHP Midyear in Las Vegas. All of these prizes were made possible by a grant from the NJSHP State Chapter. The Barna/Bridgeman team, representing Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy/Rutgers University, will compete in the national competition. NJSHP wishes you continued success in your next competition!

The Student Chapter also wishes to acknowledge Pfizer, an annual supporter, for sponsoring the food, prizes and giveaways at this popular event. Additionally, many thanks are offered to Walgreens for contributing prizes for all participants.
 
Annual Halloween Visit Lifts
Little Hearts

Kind-hearted and costumed, 11 Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy/Rutgers University students visited sick children at the St. Peter's Children's Hospital in New Brunswick on Halloween. On this not-to-miss annual event, these students paid personal visits to 15 sick children in the pediatric unit and PICU. Students lifted little hearts and distributed stuffed animals, cards, activity books and mini pumpkins.

As expected, the children were delighted and happy to receive their goodies and special visits!

Special thanks to Mrs. Martha Silady, Student President Rob Jenco's sister, who graciously donated the stuffed animals and cards for these deserving children.




Preventing Controlled Substance Diversion

Check out Mitch Sobel's article "A Comprehensive Guide to Preventing Controlled Substance Diversion - An Interdisciplinary and Technological Approach" which appeared recently in Pharmacy Purchasing and Products.

In the article, Mitch focuses on a variety of approaches that can prevent this diversion. A responsible culture within an organization, the use of automated dispensing machines, targeted purchasing and inventory-management systems and critical documentation are key components of a systemic approach that can decrease diversion and increase patient safety. He also offers warning signs, schemes and patterns that diverters often follow as well as anti-diversion roles at Mitch's hospital, Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

Mitch completely impressed his audience at the November 1 Pyxis Customer Seminar at the Glen Pointe Marriott. Our hats off to Mitch for a job well done!

Visit www.njshp.org - Calendar of Events for the original article.

 
For over 50 years, The New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists has been dedicated to the highest standards in institutional pharmaceutical service. NJSHP is a leader in providing pharmacy ed- ucation to help its 1200 members keep abreast of changes in medica- tion therapy, improve pharmacy services, and enhance their careers. As strong as this Society remains, it continuously needs additional support from dedicated and enthusiastic professionals willing to promote the profession of pharmacy. If you know of anyone who's in- volved in the pharmacy profession, please encourage him/her to join this dynamic organization.

An NJSHP Membership offers these benefits:
*
Continuing Education Opportunities - quality programs cover- ing current and relevant topics.
   
*
Professional Advocacy - representation of pharmacy practice is- sues with our legislators.
   
*
Networking Opportunities - meet dedicated professionals to en- hance career opportunities.
   
*
The NJSHP Newsletter and Hospital Pharmacist Report - keep up current events.
   
*
Interactive Website - log onto www.njshp.org
 
Special Notes:

1)
Pharmacists in New Jersey are now required to have 10 "live" con- tinuing education credits. NJSHP chapter and annual meetings are acceptable forums for live continuing education credits. In addition to relevant clinical topics, a pleasant dinner is provided with the lecture.
2)
A two-year renewal option is available in most categories. This will save you some time and money and reduce administrative expenses.
3)
You can now renew your membership with a credit card. Visit www.njshp.org and click on Join/Renew Membership.

If you would like to get involved in the operations of the Society on either the state or chapter level, or if you have some suggestions on how we can better serve you, please contact us at (609) 936-2205.

With your help and support, NJSHP will have another great year ad- vancing the profession of Health-System Pharmacy.

Thank you,

Mitch G. Sobel, R.Ph. President Elect
and Director, Organizational Affairs
New Jersey Society Health-System Pharmacists
 
 
NJSHP STATE PINORDER FORM
New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists
760 Alexander Road, PO Box 1, Princeton, NJ 08543-0001
Telephone: (609) 936-2205 Facsimile: (609) 936-2176

Name___________________________________

Mailing Address __________________________


QUANTITY PRICE EACH ($10) TOTAL AMOUNT
     

Please allow 7-10 business days for delivery.

For Society Use Only

Received on: _____________________________

By: ______________________________________

Check #:_________________________________

Dated: ___________________________________

Amount: $ _______________________________
 

 

Without its members, NJSHP would cease to exist. Have you ever wondered about its demographics? Well, NJSHP monitors its demographics and has even termed it a very fancy word, organizational affairs. The attached chart shows how NJSHP's members are organized. Pharmacists lead as the highest category comprising 58 percent of membership with 687 pharmacists on board in this group. Technicians place second with 189 participants. Retired pharmacists lead slightly over students by just 1 percent. There are 118 retired pharmacists and 107 students. The smallest categories are honorary, supporting and joint members ranging in size from 4 to 52 members. NJSHP even tracks members by region. The North Chapter has the most members (346) with the Central Chapter coming into a close second (325). Throughout the last 8 months, NJSHP has maintained 1200 members and membership in the North Chapter has risen above 350 members for the first time in 3 years.

 
 
 
 
NJSHP Acknowledges These
2005 Corporate Sponsors:
     
PLATINUM
GOLD
Amgen USA
Terry Robinson
Trobin01@amgen.com
973-723-1378
Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
Barbara Burck
Barbara_burck@fujisawa.com
908-887-2154
NJHA Corporate Services
George Hartpence
Ghartpence@njha.com
609-936-2197
Baxter Healthcare Inc.
Barry Gleitman
Barry_gleitman@baxter.com
908-286-7275
Ortho Biotech
Claudia Stivale
cstivale@obius.jnj.com
1-800-588-4616 ext. 8983
MGI Pharma, Inc.
James (Jim) Pitt
jpitt@mgipharma.com
1-800-562-0679 ext. 4102
If your organization is interested in learning more about the benefits an NJSHP Corporate Sponsorship offers, please contact Stella Williams today at 609-936-2205 or visit our website at www.njshp.org


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