Health-system Pharmacy 2015 is ASHP's landmark initiative to significantly improve the practice of pharmacy in health systems is off to a strong start. Officially launched in September 2003, this Initiative began with a member-developed vision statement that conceptualizes how pharmacy practice in hospitals and other components of health systems should look in the future.

The project, which includes six key goals and 31 objectives to be achieved by the year 2015, evolved from the "ASHP Vision Statement for Pharmacy Practice in Hospitals and Health Systems." The principal themes in the statement (and therefore in the goals and objectives) are that health-system pharmacists will help make medication use more effective, scientific, and safe and will contribute meaningfully to public health in their communities.

ASHP has prepared a cross walk [PDF] of the objectives in the 2015 initiative linking them to other national organizations.

A number of parties had input into the creation of the goals and objectives, including the ASHP Board of Directors, state society leaders, and members who commented on a draft posted on ASHP's Web site.

Target percentages, which were chosen based on member input, reflect substantial, realistically achievable improvements by the year 2015. "Progress in achieving the ASHP Health-System Pharmacy 2015 Initiative's goals and objectives will speak powerfully about our profession's commitment to high quality patient care and our collective, national resolve to improve medication use throughout health systems," noted former ASHP President Daniel M. Ashby, M.S., FASHP.