PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS European Society of Clinical Pharmacy Annemieke Floor-Schreudering Furopean Society of Clinical Pharmacy, Leiden, The Netherlands Yechiel Hekster University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands INTRODUCTION Tn the 20th century, a conviction developed within the pharmacy profession that the professional knowledge of pharmacists was not use! to its full potential. Activiti, assure the safe and appropriate use of drugs became a new target, leading to activities in the direction of more pa- ticnt-related aspects of drug therapy. This perception was present at about the same time on both sides of the Atlantic, It was logically named “Clinical Pharmacy.” meaning a pharmacy activity directed to and in contact, ‘with the patient, The leaders of this new approach wanted {0 reinforce their message by founding professional or- ganizations preoccupied with the teaching and practical development of Clinical Pharmacy. In 1979, the birth of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) took place simultaneously.) WHAT IS ESCP? ‘The European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) is an international society founded by clinical practitioners, researchers, and educators from various countries. in Europe, which constantly looks for new areas of pro- fessional practice. Since the formation of the Socicty, there has been a gradual and sustained growth of clinical pharmacy in many European countries. ‘Overall Aim ‘The overall aim of the Society is to develop and promote the rational and appropriate use of medicines (medicinal products and devices) by the individual and by society Goal ‘Tho goal of ESCP is to encourage the development and education of clinical pharmacists in Europe. ‘The Society tries to achieve this goal by. 1, Membership activities: + Providing a forum for the communication of new knowledge and developments in clinical pharmacy Developing links with national and interna tional organizations of pharmacists, twachers, and students interested in the development of clinical pharmacy 2. Euemat relations ‘+ Promoting the value of clinical pharmacy services among other health care profession- als, among scientific societies that share the same interest, organizations. such as WHO (World Health Organization) and EMEA (Eu- ropean Agency for the Evaluation of Medici- nal Products), and generally within the health 3. Educational activity ‘© Enforcing the formation of activities in the field of clinical pharmacy and pharmacotherapy through conventions and specific courses, + Promoting the inclusion of clinical pharmacy teaching at pre- and postgraduate levels. 4. Training: + Providing accrediting centers, where clinical pharmacy activities are carried out and which are prepared 10 host visiting pharmacists. or pharmacy students in each European country. Encylopedia of Clinical Pharmacy ‘DOF 1O.08WE FCP 120006005 (Copssight © 2003 by Mee! Dekker. In. All ighs reserveEuropean Society of Clinical Pharmacy 5. Research: + Promoting multicenter research in all areas of clinical pharmacy. + Promoting the participation of pharmacists in clinical tials and pharmacoeconomic studies. 6. Publications ‘© Producing a number of publications on clinical pharmacy, ‘+ Promoting a more widespread use of existing clinical pharmacy publications. CLINICAL PHARMACY Clinical pharmacy is a health specialty, which describes the activities and services of the clinical pharmacist to develop and promote the rational and appropriate use of ‘medicinal products and devices. Clinical pharmacy includes all the services performed by pharmacists practicing in hospitals, community phar- ‘macies, nursing homes, home-based care services, clinics, and any other setting where medicines are prescribed and used." “Activities of the clinical pharmacist are consulting, se- lecting drugs, providing drug information, formulating and preparing medicinal products and devices, conducting rug use studies/pharmacoepidemiology/outcome re- search/pharmacovigilance and vigilance in medical de- vies, studying pharmacokinetics/therapeutic drug_mo- nitoring, conducting clinical tials, being aware of the pharmacoeconomy, dispensing and administrating medi- inal products and devices, and providing pre- and post- ‘graduated teaching and training activities to provide train- ing and education programs for pharmacists and other health care practitioners.) ACTIVITIES OF ESCP ‘To obtain the goals and objectives, ESCP organizes dif- ferent types of activities Conferences and Symposia Every year in autumn, the Society's European Sympo- sium on Clinical Pharmacy is held, ESCP also organizes Spring Conferences, focused on specific themes to pro- vide professional education, During these conferences, workshops play an important role. as Education and Research On the day prior to the Annual Symposium, ESCP or- ganizes a one-day full immersion course, “Masterclass in Search of Exeellence,”” on specific topics of interest. ESCP and EPSA (European Pharmaceutical Students’ Organization) jointly organize a Students’ Symposium, \which aims to bring the clinical pharmacists and phar- macy students together to leam from each other's per- spectives and experiences. Different educational and research programs have been developed and are planned for the coming years (see ESCP Calendar of Events mentioned below and at www. cesepaal), Several collaborative studies, particularly in the field of drug utilization review and drug evaluation, among ‘member countries have been or are still in progress ESCP offers awards to individual researchers in cli- nical pharmacy fields in collaboration with sponsors. A number of accredited centers have been established to enable European clinical pharmacists to gain experi- ence in a range of clinical pharmacy specialties, ESCP has produced a database of clinical pharmacy courses in Europe. Moreover, a long distance Pharma- cotherapy Self-Assessment Program (PSAP) published by ACCP is available at ESCP. Publications ‘The editing and issuing of publications and journals is an important task undertaken by ESCP and comprises the publication of the Proceedings of the Annual Symposium in Pharmacy World and Science (PWS). The Society has adopted a scientific journal Pharmacy World and Science, ‘where rescarch papers are published and are retrievable. ESCP Newslereer is a bimonthly publication, serving as a link between the Society and their members, with news about the activities of ESCP and of the members. In addition, ESCP selects existing clinical pharmacy publications for promotion among ESCP members. Related Organizations To promote the value of clinical pharmacy services among other health care professionals and scientific so- cieties, ESCP has established a relationship with societies that share the same interests: American College of Cli- nical Pharmacy (ACCP), American Society for Health Care Systems (ASHP), European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP), European Pharmaceutical Students”M6 Association (EPSA), Royal Dutch Association for the Advancement of Pharmacy (KNMP), and the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA). ESCP has been recognized by the Efficacy Working Party of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Med- jcinal Products (EMEA) as contributor in the consulting process. Within the European Forum of Pharmaceutical ‘Associations and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (EuroPharm Forum), ESCP is recog- nized as an observer organization, ORGANIZATION OF ESCP ‘The European Society of Clinical Pharmacy Intemational Office is located at Theda Mansholtstraat Sb, 2331 JE Leiden, The Netherlands (Phone: +31 (0}71 5722430; Fax: +31 (0)71 5722431; E-mail: office @escp.n}; Inter- net: www esep al) ‘Table 1 General committee members 2001-2002 European Society of Clinial Pharmacy General Committee ‘The Society is conducted by a General Committee con- sisting of 12 members. They represent individual coun- tries or, where appropriate, groups of countries, General Committee members are elected by the membership. The General Committee meets twice a year, before the An- ‘nual Symposium and Spring Conference. (See Table 1 for more information about the General Committee.) Executive Committee ‘The General Committee elects the Executive Committee, which implements the resolutions passed by the General Committee and by the General Assembly. The Executive Committee, composed of the President, Past-President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Chair of the Research and Education Committee is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of ESCP activities, Professor M. Alos Almiiana Hospital General Castellon, Avda. Benicessim sin, 12004 Castellon, Spain Ms CM. Clark Brandlesholme, 9 Sulthouse Close, BL8 1HD Bury, United Kingdom Ms. F. Faleao Hospital de Sao Francisco Xavier, Sevicos Farmaceuticas, Dr. J. Grassin Estrada do Forte do Alto Duque, 1495 Lisbon, Portugal ‘Trousseau Hospital, Pharmacy Logipole, Route de Loches, 37170 Chambray les Tours, France Dr. E. Grim Batig Sonnhaldenweg 28, 4450 Sissach, Switzerland Professor Dr: Y.A. Hekater University Medical Centre, Clinical Pharmacy Department, KF 533, P.O, Box 9101, 6500 HB Nujmegen, The Netherlands Me. ¥. Huon University Hospital Sart Tilman, Pharmacy Department B 35, 4000 Liege, Belgium Ms. H. Kreckel University Hospital Justs-Liebig, Pharmacy Department, Schubertsrasse 89-99, Mr. K. Linnet 22 Giessen, Germany Reykjavik Hospital, Pharmacy Deparment, Fossvogi, 108 Reykjavik, Iolsnd Rikshospitslet, Pharmacy, Relis Sor, Holbergs Terrasse, 0027 Oslo, Dr. F. Venturini vorway Pharmacy Intera, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy Dr. J. Vlcek ‘Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovskeho 1203, $0005 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic"European Society of Clinieal Pharmacy Research and Education Committee ‘The Research and Education Committee is in charge of the coordination of educational activities, stimulates and initiates research project, and takes care of the Scientific level of these activities. Special Interest Groups ‘The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of ESCP are intended to help ESCP meet the evolving needs of its members and fulfill a growing need for providing targeted services to ESCP members with similar interests ‘The goal is 10 provide a focal point to gather ESCP members with common interests and needs in practice, research, and education, to create a network for + Professional interaction. Problem solving and discussion of professional issues. Continuing education Research, Publications. ‘The following SIGs are currently active: Cancer Care Drug Information, Education and Training, Geriatrics, Infectious Diseases, Integrated Primary Care, Nutritional Support, Pediatrics, Pharmacoeconomies, Pharmacoepi- demiology, and Pharmacokinetics International Office ‘The Society has an International Office which coordinates the total operations of the Society, administers the ac- Livities of the Society, and implements new policies and strategies. The staf of the International Office consists of 4 director, who is a pharmacist, and Qvo secretaries. The director of the ESCP International Office is Annemieke Floor-Schreudering, MT ‘Members ESCP has about 850 members from 48 countries, ‘Members practice in hospitals, clinies, universities, com- munity pharmacies, governmental settings, drug infor- ‘mation centers, pharmaceutical industry, and any other places where clinical pharmacists are employed. The So- ciety has four different classes of members: ordinary members are individuals who are actively involved in pursuing the objectives of the Society: honorary members are those who have distinguished themselves in a par- ticularly honorable way toward the Society; patrons and sponsors are individuals or corporate bodies, who have expressed their willingness to support the Society finan- cially; and student members are individual students or ‘educational institutions. During its Annual Symposium, ESCP holds a General Assembly for all members and patrons of the Society. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sst Bropsin Symposion erence aly (Clinical Phamcy May 2008 Por Sth Spring Conference on tinea Pharmacy REFERENCES 1. Zeger, Gi; Serovearo, Gs Hokster, ¥.A.; Floor Sehrew- dering, 8, Inoxvetion to the proceedings. Pharmaceutical care, hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy—wha is the clference? Pharm. World Sei, 1999. 21 (3), 1A, A2-A3. ‘Scroccaro, G.; Als Almifuna, M.: Floor Sehreudering, A. Hekster, ¥.A.s Huon, Y. The need for clinical pharmacy Pharm. World Sei. 2000, 22 (1), 27-29. 3. ESCP website, www.esepal