Obtaining accreditation by the pharmacy compounding accreditation board, part 3: developing a program of qualtity assurance and continuous qualtiy improvement.

Before a compounding pharmacy can receive accreditation from the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board, the pharmacy must show evidence of both quality assurance activities and continuous quality improvement activities. Although quality assurance data gathering and monitoring can be integrated into pharmacy activities fairly easily, the coninuous quality improvement program may take a little more time and effort to implement . Before integrating these programs, compounding pharmacists must have a complete understanding of the differences between these two programs. Even if accreditation with the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board is not being considered, it is important that compounding pharmacies have these two programs implemented. In the long run, it will pay off in higher quality services, error prevention, and perhaps greater efficiency of pharmacy operations.