Some people like to roll the dice and place a wager on the outcome. This is all well and good when there are merely a few dollars on the line and the environment is right, but the idea of taking a gamble in the pharmacy is anathema. Gone are the days when a pharmacy director could estimate the level of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the pharmacy. Today’s clinical pharmacists and managers must gain access to clear metrics and precise data, and have no compunctions about taking initiative toward process improvement. Hospital pharmacy cannot gamble with CSP accuracy, nor can they “guesstimate” inventory on hand, or have a “give or take” mentality when attending to a stat medication order. No, pharmacists tend not to be gamblers; it is far better to build your foundation with the house.

As 2016 enters the final stretch, many in health system pharmacy see the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition in Las Vegas as an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues, share stories of success and unexpected challenges, and catch a glimpse of the novel and exciting technologies on the horizon. Of all the trade shows attended by staff of Pharmacy Purchasing & Products, the ASHP Midyear is our favorite. It is during this time that we hold our annual editorial advisory board meeting, which serves as fertile ground for hashing out ideas and forecasting the issues and challenges facing health system pharmacy in the New Year.

While we are convening in the gambling capital of the world, most of us will be focusing on what can be known and verified. There is a certain confidence to be gained when meeting with a colleague or vendor in person. At PP&P we value face-to-face interaction inasmuch as it allows us to make a connection and flesh out the issues most prominent in the minds of our readers. We hope you take a few minutes to stop by our booth (#1728) at this year’s show in Las Vegas. We would love to hear any stories of success as well as areas of pharmacy practice on which you would like guidance. We design our articles to address the most pressing needs of hospital pharmacy practice and we appreciate your assistance in helping to identify those needs. At PP&P we value your time, and we look forward to helping you make the best use of it moving forward.

All the best,

R. Mitchell Halvorsen
Publisher