One ASHP- endorsed document is new. The accreditation standards have been deleted to accommodate the growing number of other documents and because they are also published in ASHP s residency directories. Statements, Guidelines, and Technical Assistance Bulletins originate with an ASHP council or commission. Therapeutic Position Statements and Therapeutic Guidelines originate with the ASHP Commission on Therapeutics. There is a gradation in detail among Positions and the types of practice standards.
Positions are short pronouncements, intended to address professional practice.
Often, principles established in Positions are elaborated on in Statements and Guidelines. Statements express basic philosophy, Guidelines offer programmatic advice, and Technical Assistance Bulletins offer more detailed programmatic advice. Of the two types of therapeutic documents, Therapeutic Guidelines are thorough discussions of drug use and Therapeutic Position Statements are concise responses to specific therapeutic issues. These professional policies of ASHP represent a consensus of professional judgment, expert opinion, and documented evidence. They provide guidance and direction to ASHP members and pharmacy practitioners and to other audiences that affect pharmacy practice.