MPA | Committees

Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) has several standing Committees and special Task Forces to assist with conducting the business of the Association and advancing pharmacy practice in Michigan. Joining one of these groups allows you to make an impact on your profession, while networking and collaborating with peers.

 

 

MPA Committee and Task Force meetings are scheduled by each individual group. Each Committee and Task Force is also assigned charges to accomplish throughout the year. Committee members are appointed to a one-year term (January-December).

If you are interested in participating in a committee, please fill out the MPA Committee Interest Form and email it to MPA@MichiganPharmacists.org.

Click on the black bars below to learn more about each Committee or Task Force.

MPA Education Task Force

The Education Task Force assists in developing the educational programming for meetings. Members of the Task Force develop topics and identify speakers for the Annual Convention & Exposition, authors and topics for home study CE articles and brainstorm strategies to deliver education programs utilizing alternative presentation formats. View the Education Task Force Annual Report.

2020 MPA Education Task Force Charges

  1. Develop a list of speakers and topics for educational programming, including suggestions for the 2021 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition.
  2. Identify authors and topics for continuing education articles that meet ACPE accreditation criteria for publication in Michigan Pharmacist.
  3. Recommend webinar topics, speakers and target audiences for 2020-2021 programming.
  4. Identify a continuing education program(s) to illustrate successful and innovative practice, projects and services.
  5. Identify a continuing education program(s) that provide advanced training for pharmacists.

MPA/MSHP Membership Committee

The Membership Committee, a collaboration of MPA and MSHP members, works to increase and strengthen membership by developing activities for members. To encourage new members, the Committee also organizes a student luncheon annually. In addition, they evaluate member benefits and work on developing strategies to target special interest groups, including new practitioners and pharmacy technicians, for membership. View the Membership Committee Annual Report.

2020 MPA/MSHP Membership Committee Charges

  1. Member in the Spotlight: Review submissions and identify individuals for March 2020 – February 2021. Expand where member in the spotlight is posted, especially to increase use of social media.
  2. Evaluate and make recommendations for additional, unique/customized membership categories such as CE only membership, electronic only membership, all-inclusive membership, etc.
  3. Propose a revised membership dues structure, including evaluation of new practitioner to full active member conversion, to improve member retention.
  4. Provide staff a recommended list of personal and professional demographics/information to be captured in CRM (Membership Database).  This may include but is not limited to who is a preceptor, what regional society they belong to, how they are willing to serve and membership status.
  5. Review existing member benefits, consider benefits not currently offered and make recommendations to ensure these benefits provide an increased member value.
  6. Complete the video developed as part of an awareness campaign focusing on promotion of MPA’s Value, functions and accomplishments in accordance with the MPA Strategic Plan by June 1, 2020.

MPA New Practitioner Committee

The New Practitioner Committee is composed of new pharmacy practitioners who assist in providing feedback and suggestions regarding new programs, products and services that would benefit a new pharmacy professional. View the New Practitioner Committee Annual Report.

2020 MPA New Practitioner Committee Charges

  1. Plan New Practitioner event(s) for the 2020 and 2021 MPA Annual Convention and Exposition.
  2. Explore and evaluate the feasibility of engaging membership via quarterly podcasts.
  3. Continue to produce New Practitioner profiles for sharing on social media, e-news and/or other publications.
  4. Continue to identify, evaluate and offer recommendations related to member engagement opportunities using social media and/or other technologies.

MPA Professional Affairs Committee

The Professional Affairs Committee develops initiatives to enhance professional awareness to the members and serves as a resource to evaluate professional issues that impact the profession and pharmacy professionals. Committee members manage the annual NASPA-NMA Student Pharmacist Self-care Championship held during the Annual Convention & Exposition; evaluate patient safety tools; and educate members on health information exchange and involvement in regional health information organizations. View the Professional Affairs Committee Annual Report.
 

2020 MPA Professional Affairs Committee Charges

  1. Manage all aspects of the NASPA-NMA Student Pharmacist Self-care Championship to ensure participation by each college of pharmacy and revise the competition procedure manual, as necessary.
  2. Evaluate and maintain up-to-date pharmacy career information and resources within the Michigan Health Council Career Center.
  3. Solicit authors and topics focused on patient safety for the April, July and October 2020 and January 2021 issues of Michigan Pharmacist journal.
  4. Review and update MPA’s online patient safety resources and work to promote the utilization of the resources available on the MPA website.
  5. Send letter/e-mail to new recipients of the Dean’s Professionalism Award to inform them of Committee responsibilities and solicit their interest in serving on the Committee.

 

MPA/MSHP Public Affairs Committee

The Public Affairs Committee, a collaboration of MPA and MSHP members, aims to increase public awareness of the pharmacist’s role in patient care. Committee members develop tools for pharmacists and technicians to use in their campaigns to promote Michigan Pharmacy Week, increase patient compliance and encourage dialogue between pharmacists and their patients, as well as provide support to public relations initiatives, including the That's My Pharmacist campaign. View the Public Affairs Committee Annual Report.

2020 MPA/MSHP Public Affairs Committee Charges

  1. Identify various Michigan health organizations which have sections or committees that a pharmacist could participate in or join.  Disseminate this information to the membership, with the intent of finding pharmacists who are interested in filling those roles.
  2. Develop a series of stories for the public that highlight the impact of Michigan pharmacists on patient outcomes – to be highlighted through various internal and external communications channels. Ensure that stories reach a broader audience than just pharmacists.
  3. Choose 1-2 areas of the pharmacists as providers section of the website and create a video spotlighting a pharmacist who practices in that area.
  4. Review and critique the pharmacy technician video and make recommendations to the Board for how to best use the video to promote the role of pharmacy technicians by June 1, 2020.

 

MPA Third Party Committee

The Third Party Committee monitors third party issues and communicates important information to members. Committee members evaluate policy changes of third party insurers and provide input to those insurers when appropriate. They also monitor issues regarding mail order, audits, electronic prescribing, reimbursement models and others. View the Third Party Committee Annual Report.

2020 MPA Third Party Committee Charges

  1. Explore communication options to educate MPA members on third party related topics and make recommendations for action.
  2. Continue to establish and enhance relationships with third-party payers and government officials to promote the value of pharmacy services and develop a partnership for the payment of professional services.
  3. Determine how pharmacists are paid and what future considerations need to be addressed when pharmacists receive prescriptive authority within each of the following areas: contraceptives, immunizations and smoking cessation.
  4. Promote and Enhance MTM opportunities with Michigan Medicaid to our members.
  5. Develop a payment model for pharmacists provided medication assisted treatment (MAT) in substance use disorders.

 

Testimonials from Involved Members

"It is important that MPA members involve themselves in professional Committees and Task Forces because of the valuable experience they bring from their field of practice. This experience translates to a passion for the subject, and MPA offers many opportunities to turn this passion into meaningful outcomes. Whether you’re a new practitioner that has an idea for how to attract new members, or a community pharmacist helping to ensure the profession is not taken advantage of by third-parties, you have an opportunity to contribute. This opportunity doesn’t require much time; it just requires your experience. And a Committee composed of a diverse group of members, with a variety of experiences, means better outcomes, greater credibility of the groups’ decisions and more steps forward in advancing the profession. As a bonus, at the end of your term, you can step back and say ‘I helped make this possible.’”

−Mike Crowe, past Speaker of the House of Delegates, MPA Executive Board member and Local Association Development Committee member

“I feel it’s important to be involved because attending MSHP Committee Day inspires me to be a better pharmacist. I leave each discussion with ideas to improve my relationship with patients, and educate the public on the integral role that pharmacists play in health care.”

–Lisa Sutton, past chair, MPA/MSHP Public Affairs Committee