The Mission of the PQA is to:
Improve health care quality and patient safety through a collaborative process in which key stakeholders agree on a strategy for measuring performance at the pharmacy and pharmacist-levels; collecting data in the least burdensome way; and reporting meaningful information to consumers, pharmacists, employers, health insurance plans, and other healthcare decision-makers to help make informed choices, improve outcomes and stimulate the development of new payment models.
Guiding Principles and Governance of the PQA
The PQA, a pharmacy quality alliance, is a collaborative initiative involving all interested organizations and stakeholders that are committed to the mission of the PQA.
The PQA will be guided by a Steering Committee committed to improving health care quality and patient safety and pharmacy practice, and appointed to a three-year term of service, whose members are listed below:
Steven Anderson, President and CEO, National Association of Chain Drug Stores
Judith Cahill, Executive Director, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
John Feather, Executive Director & CEO, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
John L. Fish, Vice President, Channel Management & Pharmacy Solutions, GlaxoSmithKline
John Gans, PharmD, Executive Vice President and CEO, American Pharmacists Association
Karen Ignagni, President and CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans
Jeffrey Kelman, MD, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Jack Mahoney, MD, Corporate Medical Director, Pitney Bowes
David Marshall, Vice President, Commercial Operations, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA
Mark McClellan, MD, Visiting Senior Fellow, AEI Brookings Joint Center
Bruce Roberts, RPh, Executive Vice President and CEO, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
N. Lee Rucker, MSPH, Strategic Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute, AARP
Rebecca Snead, RPh, Executive Vice President and CEO, National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations
Edmond Weisbart, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Express Scripts, Inc.
The Workgroups
All related work of the PQA will be done in four key workgroups: Communications & Education, Quality Metrics, Data Aggregation & Reporting, and Research Coordinating Council. Each workgroup will be chaired by an appointed member of one of the steering organizations.
Communications & Education Workgroup
This workgroup is responsible for the development of educational programming for pharmacists about quality measurement and quality improvement, and the impact it will have on them as frontline practitioners in their practice settings. The workgroup will be comprised of representatives from all PQA members. Smaller subgroups will focus on specific communication or education needs of a particular pharmacy segment.
This workgroup will also be responsible for developing a plan for increasing awareness of PQA initiatives amongst healthcare decision-makers, clinicians and the public.Co-Chairs:
David Domann, MS, RPh, Senior Director, Healthcare Quality Management
Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
Karen Farris, RPh, PhD, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics
University of Iowa, College of PharmacyQuality Metrics Workgroup
The Quality Metrics Workgroup will be responsible for identifying the areas of measurement development and work with organizations who have a demonstrated expertise in the design and specifications of performance measures.
Co-Chairs:
Lawrence M. Brown, PharmD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Science Administration
The University of Tennessee, College of Pharmacy
Appointed by: American Pharmacists Association
Brad Tice, PharmD, PMP, Chief Clinical Officer
PharmMD Solutions, LLCData Aggregation & Reporting Workgroup
The Workgroup on Data Aggregation & Reporting will recommend principles and methods for reporting meaningful information to consumers, pharmacists, health insurance plans, purchasers and other interested stakeholders.
Co-Chairs:
John Coster, PhD, RPh, Vice President, Federal Affairs and Public Policy
Rite Aid Corporation
William K. Fleming, PharmD, Vice President, Pharmacy and Clinical Integration
Humana, Inc.
Appointed by: Academy of Managed Care PharmacyResearch Coordinating Council
This workgroup will be comprised of 12-15 members and will include researchers, community pharmacists, and personnel from drug plans and potential data aggregators. The group will develop plans for demonstration projects that can be initiated in 2008, and will also serve as a coordinating/oversight body for the demonstration projects.
Co-Chairs:
Eleanor M. Perfetto, PhD, MS, Senior Director, Evidence Based Strategies
Pfizer, Inc
Eugene Reeder, RPh, PhD
Xcenda
Membership in the PQA
Membership applications for the PQA are available on this website. A dues structure for membership is found on page two of the membership application. Dues are not pro-rated and the first year's dues are for May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007. When an organization's membership dues are received, this will entitle an organization to name up to four individuals to participate in the two workgroups within the PQA. Click here to download the PQA membership application.
Operations of the PQA
The day-to-day operations of the PQA will be directed and coordinated by Laura Cranston, RPh, who serves as the Executive Director of the PQA. She can be reached at 703-690-1987 or by email at info@PQAalliance.org.
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