Pharmacy Commission Information

Name and term expiration date of members

Commission staff

Pharmacy Commission Email

Main number: 360-236-4946

Fax number: 360-236-2260

Mission statement

The mission of the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission is to promote public health and safety by establishing the highest standards in the practice of pharmacy and to advocate for patient safety through effective communication with the public, profession, Department of Health, governor, and the legislature.

Vision statement

The Pharmacy Commission leads in creating a climate for the patient-focused practice of pharmacy as an integral part of an accessible, quality-based health system.

As a result, the citizens of Washington State:

• Are well informed about their medication therapy;
• Take responsibility and actively participate in their health outcomes;
• Utilize pharmacists and other healthcare providers appropriately; and
• Experience the highest level of health and wellness.

Description

The mandate of the Pharmacy Commission is to protect the public's health and safety and to promote the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of professional healthcare providers under its jurisdiction. The commission accomplishes this through a variety of activities working with the Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance division.

Commission duties include:

• Regulating pharmaceutical care by licensing personnel and firms, set standards of practice, and follow up on complaints or violations by pharmacists, interns, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, pharmacies, and other pharmaceutical firms.
• Regulating the competency and quality of professional healthcare providers under its jurisdiction by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing qualifications for licensure.
• Establishing and monitoring compliance with continuing education requirements.
• Ensuring consistent standards of practice.
• Developing continuing competency mechanisms.
• Assessing, investigating, and making recommendations related to complaints against healthcare providers under its jurisdiction and pharmaceutical firms which may range from a Notice of Correction to a revocation of license/credentials.
• Serving as reviewing members on disciplinary cases and serve on disciplinary hearing panels.
• Serving as members of standing committees, when appointed.
• Developing rules, adopt policy and interpretive statements, guidance documents and procedures that promote the delivery of quality healthcare to state residents.

Qualifications

The commission is made up of 10 pharmacists, a pharmacy technician, and four public members appointed by the governor. Pharmacist members shall be representative of the areas of pharmacy practice and geographically representative of the state of Washington. Pharmacist members must have been licensed to practice pharmacy in Washington for at least the past five years.

All members must be U.S. citizens and must be residents of Washington.

Public member representatives shall be appointed from the public at large but shall not be affiliated with any aspect of pharmacy.

Commission participation expectation guidelines

The following expectation guidelines are intended to serve as a reference for current members and for prospective appointees of the Pharmacy Commission:

• Attend regular commission meetings, scheduled for one to two days during business hours on Thursday and Friday about every eight weeks. The Pharmacy Commission establishes its meeting schedule one year in advance. The typical time commitment ranges between 24 to 36 days per year which also includes annual commission workshops, and the Department of Health one-day board, commission, committee conferences.
• Prepare for all meetings by reading materials in advance of the scheduled meeting date. The packets take an average of four to six hours to read prior to each business meeting. An additional four to 10 hours are spent reviewing complaint files prior to each meeting.
• Participate on disciplinary panels that may meet by telephone or in person 20 to 25 times per year for 60 to 90 minutes. The panel meeting typically requires two to three hours preparation. Sometimes panels meet with little advanced notice in order to respond to emergent situation to protect the public.
• Members receive $250 per day compensation for participation in commission activities per RCW 43.03.240.
• Travel expenses related to authorized commission activities are reimbursed in compliance with agency policies and SAAM / Office of Financial Management.

Total annual time commitment

• Meeting/conferences*: 24 to 36 days per year
• Meeting preparation: 96 to 144 hours per year
• Case presentation and authorization calls**: 20 to 25 per year
• Complaint file review: 36 to 120 hours per year

*Commission business meeting and disciplinary hearings are scheduled about every eight weeks.

** A panel of at least three commissioners participate in conference calls each week for 1 to 1 ½ hours to authorize investigations, consider applications, and discuss case investigation files for potential charges.

Performance guidelines for newly appointed commission members

Attend an initial orientation about Pharmacy Commission and the Department of Health (DOH) presented by DOH staff. This is about a day in length. Initial orientation outlines:

• The legal authority of the commission
• Open Public Meetings Act
• Roles and responsibilities of commission members
• Ethics
• Confidentiality
• The legal liability of commission members and the Department of Health
• The organizational structure of the Department of Health
• Roles and responsibilities of Department of Health staff
• Roles and responsibilities of staff attorneys and assistant attorneys general (AAGs)
• Disciplinary processes
• Rule making
• Other issues

If you're interested in applying to be on the Pharmacy Commission, see the Boards and Commissions webpage.