NABP Successfully Completes First National Administration of Disease State Management Exams
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), as part of the collaborative effort with the National Institute for Standards in Pharmacist Credentialing (NISPC), successfully completed the first national administration of its disease state management (DSM) examinations, held October 28 and 29, 1998. The state boards of pharmacy in Arkansas, Mississippi, and North Dakota notified NABP of their participation in time to administer the paper-and-pencil exams in anticoagulation, asthma, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
Currently, eight other boards of pharmacy plan to participate in the next national administration scheduled for February 24 and 25, 1999. It is anticipated that additional state boards will participate in future DSM exam administrations.
"NABP is thrilled with this positive response from its member boards of pharmacy," said Kevin E. Kinkade, NABP’s president and executive director of the Missouri Board of Pharmacy. "The Association has also heard much enthusiasm regarding the new DSM examinations from other state and national pharmacy organizations, as well as from practicing pharmacists."
In addition to the February testing dates, NABP has scheduled other national DSM exam administrations in 1999 for June 2 and 3, and September 8 and 9. The Association plans to make the examinations available quarterly, until they are computerized. Once fully computerized, the administrations will be continuous, or windowless.
The DSM exams, which assess pharmacists’ knowledge and judgement in a specific disease state, serve as the universally recognized "standardizing" credential for the national disease state management credentialing model. The NISPC, which was formed in June 1998, is the organization responsible for coordinating the development of standards for the DSM examination programs, and ensuring their appropriateness on a national scale.
All DSM exams are based on a similar objectives template developed by representatives of pharmacy professional organizations, pharmacists, academicians, manufacturers, payors, allied health care professionals, and consumers. The template will be used when developing standards for future disease-specific examinations. The national credentialing model also encourages pharmacists to participate in educational programs they feel best meet their individual needs.
The NISPC’s board of directors consists of the following member organizations: the American Pharmaceutical Association(APhA), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).
NABP is the independent and impartial Association that assists its member boards in developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform standards for the purpose of protecting the public health.