ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) has joined various other national organizations in signing on to support post- acute/long-term care (PA/LTC) attending physician competencies developed by AMDA—Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine (AMDA). AMDA recently finalized these competencies, which are designed to provide attending physicians with an evidence-based framework for the unique set of knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate quality outcomes in this setting. ASCP has agreed to support AMDA's work with the competencies, including the development of an educational training curriculum.
The competencies address five areas: foundation (ethics, professionalism, and communication), medical care delivery process, systems, medical knowledge, and personal quality assurance and performance improvement. Development of competencies began in 2011 when AMDA convened a committee of 25 physicians who either practice exclusively in the nursing home setting or spend a significant portion of their time working in this setting. During the following year, the committee worked to finalize the list of competencies. The initial draft was finalized in March 2013 and evaluated via a survey distributed to over 5,000 AMDA members.
The survey feedback resulted in a second draft of the competencies, which was vetted by several stakeholder organizations: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Healthcare Administrators, American College of Physicians, American Geriatrics Society, American Health Care Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Leading Age, National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration, and Society of Hospital Medicine. Based on this feedback, the competencies were finalized.
To date, in addition to ASCP, several other organizations have signed on with formal support. These include: Advancing Excellence, American Academy of Family Physicians. American Academy of Home Care Physicians, American College of Healthcare Administrators, American Health Care Association, Consumer Voice, Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, Leading Age, and National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration.
ASCP – The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists 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.