New practitioners and the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative: Our opportunity to define the future

It is often said that the only constant in life is change. Arguably, many of us would suggest there is another universal constant regarding change: people’s reluctance to accept it. Despite this resistance, we must continually manage change in order to thrive. This is especially true in our own profession. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, coupled with ongoing dialogue regarding the future of our health care system, a unique opportunity exists for the pharmacy profession to reflect on its worth and develop a progressive health-system pharmacy practice model.1 However, we face many challenges as we try to advance pharmacy practice. External pressures, including changing demographics, work-force demands, and various social and economic influences, can be barriers to effectively leveraging our own professional acumen for the betterment of our patients.2,3 Fortunately, pharmacists continue to prove their value within health systems, serving patients throughout the continuum of care.4 Increased emphasis has been placed on postgraduate education, residency training, and credentialing. As such, new practitioners are uniquely positioned to help drive the profession forward. New practitioners must take ownership of the pharmacy profession, becoming educated about important issues, involved in crucial decisions, and dedicated to the development and implementation of innovative, evidence-based practice models.