Integrating Performance Assessment, Maintenance of Competence, and Continuing Professional Development of Community Pharmacists

Although a number of regulatory authorities are developing programs intended to ensure that health professionals continue to practice in a safe and effective manner, the design and implementation of these programs has been challenging. For the pharmacy profession, a novel framework is proposed that is performance based, applies to all community pharmacists, recognizes the powerful influence of external factors on an individual pharmacist's ability to perform to his/her highest level of capability, and can be effectively integrated with CPD. The framework expands upon current best practices in health professions assessment, and in doing so identifies a number of research questions. First, the use of databases as a source of performance data is central to the proposed framework and the validity of using such indicators as measures of quality of pharmacy practice remains to be evaluated, as does the validity of using pharmacy-based measures to reflect the performance of individual pharmacists employed at these pharmacies. Second, further research is needed to gain a better understanding of the varied source and nature of determinants of quality community pharmacy practice. Third, the tools and formats to assess the impact of these determinants on the daily practice of community pharmacists must be developed or modified from those used by other health professions. Fourth, the most effective strategies to overcome specific barriers documented to impact quality community pharmacy practice require evaluation. Finally, as with any assessment program, the efficiency and outcomes of the program must be evaluated to determine the impact on the quality and safety of community pharmacists' practice.