LOCAL PHARMACIST ATTENDS PCCA NATIONAL SEMINAR

Steven Horst of Horst Pharmacy recently traveled to Houston to attend a 2 1/2 cay seminar on meeting patient needs through compounding.

Professional Compounding Centers of America, Inc. hosted more than 500 pharmacists and technicians at the seminar, which features the latest innovations in pharmacy compounding -- the traditional method of preparing medications to meet each prescriber and patient's unique needs. Participants received 2.0 American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE)-approved continuing educaiton credits or 20 contact hours.

Each year, more than 900 compounding pharmacists attend one of the PCCA's national and regional seminars, obtaining practical information, participating in workshops and networking. The seminars provide information on some of the major problem areas affecting pharmacy practice and how to deal with them, the latest compounding techniques, equipment and devices, effective methods of meeting the needs of physicians and other health care professionals, and administrative assistance in cleanroom and compounding area design.

Most mass-produced medications have limited strengths and dosage forms which do not always meet the needs of all patients. Compounding can fill a genuine need in overcoming these obstacles and allow the physician to adjust dosages to meet the particular needs of any patient Horst specializes in tailoring medicines for patients who are non-compliant with their current medications.

Houston-based PCCA supplies compounding pharmacists with traditional and contemporary chemicals and equipment. It is the only chemical company owned and operated by a network of pharmacists, which offers all of the equipment devices, chemicals, training and consulting assistance need to allow pharmacists the ability to compound unique dosage forms.