The Unites States Pharmacopoeia (USP) serves as a book of standards for the protection of the public and has been maintained since 1820 by physicians and pharmacists.
“The pharmacist must not only know well the standards of the U.S.P., but they must be skilled in the compounding and care of the hundreds of medicinal products they handle. Your Doctor relies on them when sickness comes. They are trained in college and by experience to be accurate, and to judge and appreciate high quality. Their professional services and the sacrifices they are often called upon to make in the public welfare entitle them to a large measure of the good will of the community they serve.” 1
While many of these statements ring true today, additional standards have evolved over the years — including those for patient safety, medication management, safe handling of hazardous drugs, and compounding, making the pharmacist’s job more complex. And despite an increase in regulations and enforcement, many pharmacies rely primarily on manual processes for everything from I.V. preparation to temperature checks to medication dispensing...
