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(continued) The
Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy (CCGP), an independent
credentialing organization was founded by the American Society of
Consultant Pharmacists
(ASCP). It administers the CGP program and oversees all aspects
of program operations, exam administration, and issuance of the
credentials. The first exam was administered in November 1997.
The goals for the first three years of the CGP program seem tame in relation to the size and accelerated growth of the problems coming to pharmacists in all practice settings. "We prepared for 2,000 pharmacists to qualify for and pass the written examination by the end of 1999," says Michael C. Martin, CCGP Executive Director. "The 7,000 members of ASCP indicated a very high interest in this credential when we were in the research and development phase," he says. "Remember there are about 170,000 pharmacists who could be eligible for the CGP," he says. "Many of these pharmacists are in direct contact daily with elderly patient populations and it's hard to imagine any pharmaceutical situation that is not directly affected by this silent epidemic called medication-related problems," says Martin. The economic cost of these problems rivals that of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and other major diseases and conditions commonly affecting the elderly population. As large as this problem is today, it will be far worse for future generations if we don't do everything possible to educate the public and pharmacists in the next few years. "The most exciting aspect of the CGP is that it addresses a population, not a disease state or practice setting," says Martin. "To the people at the Health Care Financing Administration, to businesses rapidly growing because of the demand for assisted living facilities, and to many others seeing an increase in elderly customers, the CGP will have clout. That is a good reason to make a commitment now, if you are not yet certified," says Martin. |
