Pharmacies Encouraged to Apply for PCAB(TM) Accreditation
PCAB's initial application phase was very successful. Over seventy pharmacies applied for accreditation by June 2006. All compounding pharmacies are invited to join the rapidly expanding number of pharmacies seeking to earn their designation as a "PCAB Accredited(TM) compounding pharmacy." To apply for accreditation, click on the Apply Button to the left. The application will take only about 10 minutes to complete. You will be directed through the application process and will set your Username and Password for future visits. Click here to review a sample of  the on-line application with explanation.

After entering a Username and Password, you will need to finish the informational part of the application. This includes information concerning the pharmacy's "scope of compounding practice" and an estimate of the number of prescriptions compounded each day in each area. Fees can be paid on-line by credit card or by mailing a check.

The annual fee must be paid for the application to be marked complete, allowing the pharmacy to begin the submission process. The next step is to submit a self-analysis of the pharmacy. In this step the pharmacy becomes the first to determine that the PCAB Standards are met. The self-analysis form is on-line and allows for all documentation to be uploaded and sent with the completed self-analysis form. See a for a sample of the on-line self analysis and upload procedure with instructions. Once this step is complete, PCAB will review the documentation to determine that the pharmacy meets the Standards on paper.   It is estimated the review will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

Once the review has agreed with the pharmacy's self-assessment (self-analysis), it is time for the in-pharmacy survey. The pharmacy will receive a call to set up an appointment. A final review of all material may take from two to four weeks.

Pharmacies that earn their accreditation will be able to list the designation:  PCAB Accredited(TM) compounding pharmacy in all advertisements and on its Web pages linked to its Report Summary. The pharmacy will also be able to use the PCAB Accredited Seal. Both the designation and the Seal are protected by copyright

PCAB(TM)  Rules & Terms; Principles and Ethics
All applying pharmacies should read the PCAB Rules and Terms and the Principles of Compounding.   The Rules and Terms set forth how the organization and the accreditation process will work. They cover such items as how the PCAB(TM) Accreditation Seal can be displayed and right of appeal from a negative decision. Every pharmacy, prior to being accepted for accreditation, must read and agree to abide by the Rules and Terms.

The Board spent much time on a definition of compounding and agreed to adopt a set of Principles of Compounding. This is an important statement for the profession. Every pharmacy seeking accreditation must signify acceptances of these Principles.

Equally important, the Board felt, was a statement of ethics. The APhA Code of Ethics has been adopted by most pharmacy association in the country. PCAB(TM) added its voice to this declaration of pharmacist ethics.   Every pharmacist involved in compounding is urged to read and agreed to these documents.

Patient & Prescriber Web Site - www.pcab.org
PCAB(TM) has launched www.pcab.org, its website for patients, prescribers, and others who use compounding pharmacy services. This second website contains a database allowing patients and prescribers to find accredited pharmacies. As pharmacies are accredited a PCAB Accreditation Report Summary will be posted. Patients, physicians, veterinarians and others will be able to print and view each pharmacy's successful Report Summary.

Law & Notes Section
Pharmacy is a profession seemingly dominated by laws and regulations. For information in this important area PCAB(TM) includes a Law & Notes Section.  Items posted there may be of interest to those practicing compounding pharmacy. The items selected for that Section tend to be the items not published elsewhere.

PCAB Founding Organization & Board of Directors

American College of Apothecaries
American Pharmacists Association
International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
National Community Pharmacists Association
National Council of State Pharmacy Association Executives
National Home Infusion Association
United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP)