Pharmacy Merit Badge

[cdenison]

Does anyone know if there has ever been an attempt at a Pharmacy Merit Badge?
It's the last of the major health-care fields without one (since Dentistry, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine all have MBs)

I'm thinking of the following requirements, any suggestions as to applicability, additions or deletions?

1. Discuss with your counselor the history of pharmacy, including why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was formed and what the FDAs role is today.

2. Do the following:

a. Discuss with your counselor the history of drug regulation in pharmacy.

b. Explain the purpose of 3 of the following laws
i. 1914 Harrison Tax Act
ii. 1938 Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
iii. 1951 Durham-Humphrey Amendment
iv. 1962 Kefauver-Harris Amendment
v. 1970 Poison Prevention Packaging Act
vi. 1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
vii. 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

3. Discuss the role of the following in the practice of pharmacy
i. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
ii. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
iii. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
iv. United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
v. Center for Devices & Radiological Health
vi. Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
vii. State Board of Pharmacy

4. Explain where medications come from, how they are approved and how they are named.

a. What information is required to be on the stock bottle and the dispensing bottle?

b. Choose a class of medication and give its history of discovery, what the mechanism of action is and how many different medications are available in that class and what dosage forms they are available in.

5. Describe the role and educational requirements of a pharmacist, a pharmacy technician and a pharmacy clerk.

6. Explain what compounding is and how it differs from manufacturing.

a. Explain what laws regulate compounding in your state, including and restrictions or training required.

b. If possible, visit a pharmacy that offers compounding and discuss with the pharmacist why they compound medications.

7. Explain the role of a pharmacist and pharmacy technician, including any additional training needed, in each of the following pharmacies.
a. Hospital
b. Community
c. Mail Order
d. Long-Term Care
e. Home Infusion
f. Nuclear

8. What is meant by medication therapy management (MTM), what is the role of the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) and what is the difference between a specialty and a non-specialty certification?

a. Choose one of the following certifications to discuss with your counselor, include how the certification changes the role or responsibility of the pharmacist, any special training, requirements or restrictions involved in a pharmaceutical specialty.
i. Certified Diabetes Educator
ii. Certified Geriatric Pharmacist
iii. Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider
iv. Immunization Provider
v. BPS - Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
vi. BPS – Nuclear Pharmacy
vii. BPS – Nutrition Support Pharmacy
viii. BPS – Oncology Pharmacy
ix. BPS – Pharmacotherapy
x. BPS – Psychiatric Pharmacy

9. What is the role of a Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) in the practice of pharmacy?

10. Give a presentation to a group on the dangers of misusing prescription medications.

[smtroop168]

Welcome to the Forum!

I do not know if Pharmacy has ever been proposed as a MB but a quick call to National could answer your question. A gentleman named Frank Ramirez used to honcho MBs but since they've done some reorg, I'm not sure if he's still in charge of this.

There is a long process to getting a new MB approved that you need to follow but the big thing is to get all the Pharmacy bigwigs to throw their support behind it.

[RMM]

I would be for this MB. I would also ask to be a MBC for it.
Just sign me a practicing California Pharmacist

[Fred Johnson]

Years ago, we had some scouts work on that yet to be created badge. I forget if they were picked up at camp by their parents or the local authorities.

[ccjj]

A bit late getting on this thread, but as a Pharmacy Technician, I would be all for this Merit Badge.

[ThunderingWind]

Years ago, we had some scouts work on that yet to be created badge. I forget if they were picked up at camp by their parents or the local authorities.

I take it they were trying for "a better life through better chemistry"

[Billiken]

I'd very much be in favor of this MB.

Parents are RPhs
Sister and husband are RPhs
Two uncles and one aunt are Rphs

[smtroop168]

I'd very much be in favor of this MB.

Parents are RPhs
Sister and husband are RPhs
Two uncles and one aunt are Rphs

Family reunion to write the requirements?