New Digital Badge Recognizes Age-Friendly Pharmacists Committed to Improving Care for Older Adults and Lives of Caregivers

Offered by the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists in partnership with the Lamy Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 18, 2025 /(March 17, 2025 - Alexandria, VA) The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and The Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging (Lamy Center) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy now offer a digital badge to pharmacists who have demonstrated an understanding and application of the elements of the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement. The "Age-Friendly Pharmacist" digital badge recognizes pharmacists who have completed training modules on the Age-Friendly 4Ms Framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility) and made a commitment to improving the health and well-being of older adults.

"Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care practitioners, and they are perfectly positioned to help older adults gain the most benefit from Age-Friendly care," said Lamy Center Executive Director Nicole J. Brandt, PharmD, MBA. "Our program leverages the role pharmacists play in healthy aging and transforming long-term care settings into Age-Friendly Health Systems." An initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Age-Friendly Health Systems is a movement to help spread the reliable delivery of health care that addresses the unique needs of older adults and enables them to enjoy a better quality of life.

"We believe the ‘Age-Friendly Pharmacist ' digital badge will validate the skills and elevate the profile of pharmacists practicing the 4Ms of age-friendly care," said ASCP Chief Executive Chad Worz, PharmD. "The digital badge identifies the pharmacist as a healthy aging expert, serves as proof of competence, and rewards skills development and lifelong learning." To be awarded a digital badge, pharmacists must complete three steps consisting of education and training on becoming age-friendly pharmacists, understanding/implementing the 4Ms Framework, and advancing age-friendly care. After completing a final survey, eligible pharmacists will earn a digital badge and can showcase their skills and achievement with the digital badge through social media pages and online profiles.

The badge is verified through the Credly digital credentialling platform and offered through the "Leveraging Pharmacists as Age-Friendly 4Ms Champions" program funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation. To learn more about the "Age-Friendly Pharmacist" digital badge and this pharmacist-led initiative, visit Age-Friendly Pharmacists. (www.ascp.com/page/agefriendly, #Pharmacist4Ms)

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ABOUT US

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is the only international professional society devoted to optimal medication management and improved health outcomes for all older people. ASCP 's members manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and home and community-based care environments. (https://www.ascp.com/page/about)

The Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging (Lamy Center) is dedicated to improving drug therapy for aging adults through innovative research, education, and clinical initiatives. The Lamy Center 's mission is to improve the lives of older adults by optimizing medication safety and use. (https://www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/centers/lamy/)

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy was established in 1841 and is ranked 15th out of more than 140 schools of pharmacy by U.S. News & World Report. The School is a thriving center for professional and graduate education, pharmaceutical care, research, and community service. Its faculty create the future of pharmacy by pioneering new roles for pharmacists in advanced clinical practice and conducting cutting-edge research in drug discovery and development, comparative effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes, and disease management. (https://www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/about/)

ASCP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 1982. The mission of the ASCP Foundation is to carry out the charitable - including scientific, literary, and educational - purposes of ASCP. (https://www.ascp.com/page/foundation)

ABOUT AGE-FRIENDLY HEALTH SYSTEMS

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. (https://www.ihi.org/agefriendly)

SOURCE: ASCP

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