Georgia Pharmaceutical Association Inc

TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE PROFESSION OF PHARMACY AND THE PRACTICE STANDARDS OF ITS PRACTITIONERS. FURTHER, THE ASSOCIATION SHALL ENDEAVOR TO HEIGHTEN THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE PROFESSION OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACISTS, AND TO PROMOTE THE VALUE OF PHARMACY SERVICES TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

REGIONS AND ACADEMY OPERATIONS: (1) THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY IN THIS CATEGORY IS OUR ACADEMY OF INDEPENDENT PHARMACY (AIP), WHICH WAS CREATED TO PROMOTE THE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES. TO THIS END, AIP NEGOTIATES WITH ABOUT 40 "PARTNERS AND 5 WHOLESALERS WHO PROVIDE GOODS AND SERVICES TO INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES AT DISCOUNTED PRICES. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 400 PHARMACIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF AIP. IN ADDITION, AIP EMPLOYS 3 MEMBER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES (MSRS) WHO CALL ON INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE MSRS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE PHARMACIES UP TO DATE ON NEW PARTNERS, PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES, AND OTHER ISSUES OF INTEREST TO THE PHARMACIES. (2) WE ALSO HAVE OTHER, SMALLER ACADEMIES THAT HANDLE ACTIVITIES FOR SPECIAL GROUPS WITHIN OUR MEMBERSHIP. THIS INCLUDES ACADEMIES FOR CLINICAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM PHARMACISTS (492), EMPLOYEE PHARMACISTS (392), AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS (418). (3) IN ADDITION TO OUR ACADEMIES, WE HAVE 12 REGIONS IN GEORGIA THAT HAVE MEETINGS TWICE A YEAR. THE PURPOSE OF OUR REGIONS IS TO GATHER PHARMACISTS ACROSS THE STATE FOR NETWORKING, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY INFORMATION.

MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES: OUR ANNUAL CONVENTION IS THE LARGEST OF THESE ACTIVITIES. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS TO CONNECT, OBTAIN CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND LEARN ABOUT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM PHARMACY VENDORS. THERE WERE 293 ATTENDEES, WHICH INCLUDED PHARMACISTS, PHARMACY TECHNICIANS, AND PHARMACY STUDENTS. WE OFFERED APPROXIMATELY 26 CONTINUING EDUCATION SESSIONS THAT PROVIDED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 30.75 CE HOURS. IN ADDITION, WE HONOR THOSE PHARMACISTS WHO HAVE DONE EXTRAORDINARY WORK TO ADVANCE THE PROFESSION BY GIVING OUT OVER 14 AWARDS, INCLUDING THE BOWL OF HYGEIA, 50 YEAR PHARMACIST RECOGNITION AND PRESIDENT'S MATE AWARD.

MEMBER SERVICES: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS BY WHICH WE PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE PROFESSION OF PHARMACY AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE VALUE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES. WE CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATE WITH OUR MEMBERS TO KEEP THEM APPRISED OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF PHARMACY. (1) ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE A COPY OF THE JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION (4 ISSUES/YEAR), WHICH HELPS KEEP THEM UPDATED. (2) WE SEND OUT PRESS RELEASES PROMOTING PHARMACY AND PHARMACISTS. (3) WE EDUCATE OUR STATE LEGISLATORS ON WHAT PHARMACISTS DO AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO WORK TOWARDS INCREASING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF GEORGIA PHARMACISTS. (4) WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENT PHARMACISTS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO LATER BECOME ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND THUS SERVE THE PROFESSION. (5) WE MAINTAIN AN UPDATED WEBSITE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR PROFESSION. (6) WE PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH INSURANCE BENEFITS AND PURCHASE DISCOUNTS. (7) WE SEND OUT A DAILY NEWSLETTER, THE BUZZ, TO OVER 3,789 RECIPIENTS.