| Licensing of Pharmacists, Pharmacies, Distributors, and Manufacturers |
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The Board licenses approximately 1100 resident and 200 non-resident pharmacies, 6775 pharmacists, 465 distributors, and 42 manufacturers. The Board also reviews approximately 150 applications for the opening or closing of a pharmacy, distributorship, or manufacturing establishment each year. The Board Secretary reviews and approves each application for a new or modified business license.
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The Division of Drug Control conducts an annual inspection of each licensed pharmacy. Drug Control assists the Board and the Pharmacist Compliance Officer with investigations of potential infractions of Title 12 Pharmacists and Pharmacies. Board Members may participate in inspections or on site investigations of problem situations. Members of the Board may participate in this process one or two times per year.
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| Investigations and Disciplinary Actions |
The Board receives about one hundred written complaints and many times that number of phone inquiries annually. The Disciplinary Committee meets twice a month to triage complaints. Approximately thirty-five complaints annually require further Board intervention. Members of the Board must be available by telephone for consultation at most times. Approximately four to six times per year, the Board consults with the Executive Director, the Compliance Officer, Board Counsel, and an Administrative Prosecutor regarding the potential for Board action to emergency suspend a business or professional license in order to protect the public health. Additionally, each Board member must be available to participate in and, at times, conduct case resolution conferences with individuals or businesses charged with violations of Title 12. Under certain circumstances, members of the Board also work with staff and Board Counsel to obtain the voluntary surrender or a license in order to correct a situation that poses a danger to the public health.
In addition to serving on the Disciplinary Committee which meets two times per month, Board members may participate in at least one case resolution conference per year.
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| Promulgation and Review of State and Federal Statutes and Regulations |
The Board convenes Task Forces and Committees to research and consider policy changes relating to the practice of pharmacy from both a national and a State perspective. The Task Forces and Committees recommend changes in statute and regulations to ensure public safety and monitor professional practice. Board members serve as Chairpersons for the policy development groups.
Once policy direction is determined and recommended changes to statute are drafted, members of the Board brief legislators, lobbyists, and members of pharmacy and allied health professional associations about the proposed legislation. The Board was successful in promoting the passage of three bills in 1997 that completely revised the Pharmacy Practice Act. In 1998, the Board promulgated regulations for electronic transmission of prescriptions and established a pharmacist code of conduct. The Board also established Task Forces to study the use of pharmacy support staff, examine how to monitor the use of robotics in pharmacy practice, and is revising the pharmacy security regulations.
Meetings normally take place monthly with additional meetings during the months of October through December when briefings of legislators take place. The Legislative Session runs from January 15th through April 15th when the Board reviews and takes positions on bills relating to pharmacy and presents testimony in public hearings. This process includes continuous education of legislators, lobbyists, and others regarding safe and effective pharmacy practice.
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The Board provides technical assistance to a variety of agencies seeking advice on safe pharmacy practices. These groups include, but are not limited to, county prisons, local schools, home health care agencies, and Local Health Departments. Board members may participate in making oral presentations to various groups one time per year.
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| Pharmacy Program Development |
The Board continuously examines changing trends in pharmacy services and the use of pharmacy personnel and promotes the safe and effective delivery of pharmaceutical care. The Board is working with the Maryland Poison Information Center to develop a public service media campaign to promote the illness and accident prevention capabilities of the University of Maryland Poison Information Center and pharmacists working in Maryland who are represented by the Board.
Implementing cooperative public health programs requires a great deal of Board member time which is dedicated to planning, making public presentations about the program, and serving on committees to monitor its progress. Board members may meet as a member of an oversight committee to provide guidance on a program such as the media campaign six to eight times per year.
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| Committee and Task Force Activities |
The Board maintains Committees for the following areas: Executive Committee, Budget and Finance, Licensing, Disciplinary, and Pharmacy Practice. In 1995-1998, the Board had a statewide Task Force that examined how to implement disease state management agreements and pharmacist medication administration in Maryland. Additionally, the Board has initiated a Task Force to study how pharmacy support staff is utilized in the State and to examine the use of robotics in pharmacy practice. The Board also works with other health occupations boards as well as with other units in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop regulations for ensuring safe and effective patient care.
The Budget Committee meets at least quarterly, the Chair of the Licensing Committee currently also handles Continuing Education and Reciprocity. The Licensing Committee meets ten to twelve times per year. The Disciplinary Committee meets two times per month and is involved in other consultation on disciplinary matters each week. The Pharmacy Practice Committee meets monthly and holds additional meetings with other health professionals on an as needed basis. The Board President and Secretary and one elected at large member serve on the Executive Committee which holds conference calls at least weekly during the Legislative Session. The committees interact monthly to discuss matters referred by the Board. Other meetings include quarterly meetings with the Council of Health Occupations Boards and monthly meetings with the Pharmacist Education and Asssistance Committee.
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| Examination of New Professionals |
The Board holds licensing examinations in April, June, July, and October. Every year approximately 250 to 300 individuals take examinations administered by the Board. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has implemented computerized adaptive testing for the national clinical examination and the State and Federal Law Examination. The Board administers and scores a laboratory examination and all examinees must demonstrate oral English competency as assessed by an independent evaluator.
All members of the Board assist with administration of the examinations and members of the Licensing Committee participate in question development, application review, and examination scoring. These activities require approximately eight days per year.
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| Reciprocity of Pharmacists |
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Two hundred individuals reciprocate a pharmacist license from another State into Maryland each year. Maryland conducts reciprocity meetings monthly. The Chair of the Licensing Committee oversees this function each month.
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| Continuing Education Monitoring |
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Pharmacists are required to obtain thirty hours of continuing education over the course of two years during the period between renewal cycles and the Board monitors compliance with this standard. The Chair of the Licensing Committee and staff audit continuing education for renewing pharmacists each month effective January 1998. Continuing Education credits for individuals randomly selected by the audit will be reviewed prior to renewal of the pharmacists license to practice.
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| Budget, Contract Development, and Personnel Management |
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The Board reviews and approves the annual budget and monitors quarterly projections and contracts with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the Pharmacist Education and Assistance Committee, oral competecy vendors, and a consultant for the Poison Information Center / Pharmacist Media Campaign. Members of the Board assist staff by reviewing procurement documents prior to their publication and may serve on committees to interview and select prospective vendors.
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The Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month for a full day beginning at 8:30 A.M. and usually ending by 5:00 P.M. Board members must be available to attend the entire Board meeting each month.
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