Innovations-Magazine-NovDec-2023 - 15

ASSOCIATION NEWS
* 12 boards reported having between one
and four full-time support staff members;
* 11 boards reported having between
five and 10 full-time support staff
members; and
* 9 boards reported having 11 or more
full-time staff members.
Eight boards indicated that at least one of
these support staff serves as an information
technology specialist.
Of the 33 responding boards, most
indicated that executive officers (32), board
administrative staff (32), and inspectors (32)
are eligible for some state employment benefits.
Benefits are most likely to include health
insurance for self and family, life insurance for
self and family, and a retirement plan with both
employee and state contributions. Disability
insurance is also common, and reimbursement
of traveling expenses is offered by nearly every
state. Twenty states indicated that inspectors
have access to a state car or receive a car
allowance to carry out inspections.
Of the 31 responding boards, four indicated
that board of pharmacy members receive
no compensation for their participation on
the board. Most states provide at least some
compensation to board members, most
commonly in the form of per diem or per
meeting payments and, in some cases, travel
or lodging reimbursement. Reported per diem
rates vary from about $35 to $720.
Inspectors and Inspections
The survey also sought details from
the boards of pharmacy regarding their
inspection functions. Of the 33 responding
boards, 32 reported having at least one fulltime
or full-time equivalent (FTE) inspector.
* 21.2% (7) reported having between one
and three full-time or FTE inspectors
supporting the board of pharmacy;
* 30.3% (10) reported having between
four and six; and
* 45.5% (15) reported having
seven or more.
Thirty-one boards reported that at least
some inspectors are employed directly by the
board of pharmacy, 23 boards indicated that
some inspectors are employed by an umbrella
agency, and 19 boards stated that some
Figure 3. Inspections: Non-Community Pharmacy Facilities
12
10
8
6
4
2
1-25
26-50
51-75
Institutional Pharmacies
Long-Term Care Facilities
Infusion or Home Care Pharmacies
Wholesale Distributors
Sterile Compounding Pharmacies
76-100
101-150
Number of Annual Inspections
were employed by another state agency. In
addition, 18 boards said they also contracted
with someone else to perform inspections.
Furthermore, nearly 44% of respondents
reported that they are legally required to hire
pharmacists as inspectors; 18 (56%) boards
were not. However, 26 of 31 responding
boards indicated that at least one inspector
was a pharmacist.
Reflecting continuing concerns
about compounding oversight, 31 of 32
responding boards indicated that their
inspectors have training in pharmaceutical
sterile compounding, and 29 reported their
inspectors have training in pharmaceutical
nonsterile compounding. Only 53.1%
(17) of respondents reported that their
inspectors have training in current Good
Manufacturing Practices. Five boards
reported that some or all their inspectors are
required to be commissioned peace officers.
Twenty-four boards, or 75% of
respondents, reported having procedures
in place to monitor the effectiveness of
their inspectors' field work; eight boards
(25%) do not. Monitoring methods
include review of inspection reports
and data, regular reports and/or quality
reviews, and performance reviews. Twentysix
boards provided details on the number
of inspections performed in a typical
year, though these numbers vary widely.
For example, boards report performing
from a low of one community pharmacy
inspection to a high of 2,244.
Reported numbers of institutional
pharmacy inspections ranged from zero to
166, long-term care pharmacy inspections
ranged from one to 124, and infusion or
home care pharmacy inspections ranged
from zero to 50. Boards reported that they
or their agency performed one to 130
inspections of wholesale distributors.
A comprehensive report of the survey
results will be provided to member boards of
pharmacy executive officers in fourth quarter
2023. Any questions may be directed to
NABP at ExecOffice@nabp.pharmacy.
NOV/DEC 2023 | 13
Over 150
Number of Boards
Innovations-Magazine-NovDec-2023

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