URAC and ACHC Pharmacy Accreditation Explained
Learn about URAC and ACHC accreditation standards for specialty and compounding pharmacies, and how technicians contribute to maintaining compliance.
Why Accreditation Matters
Accreditation demonstrates that a pharmacy meets recognized quality and safety standards. Many PBMs require accreditation before pharmacies can dispense specialty medications. Two major accrediting bodies are URAC and ACHC. This is valuable for PTCB exam preparation.
URAC Accreditation
URAC offers specialty pharmacy, mail service, and drug therapy management accreditations emphasizing:
- Patient management: Coordinated care plans and clinical assessments
- Quality management: Continuous improvement with measurable outcomes
- Operational processes: Standardized dispensing workflows
- Regulatory compliance: Adherence to pharmacy laws
ACHC Accreditation
ACHC accredits specialty, compounding, and home infusion pharmacies with requirements including staff competency assessments, patient outcome tracking, and adverse event reporting.
Accreditation Surveys
Reviewers visit every two to three years to examine documentation, observe workflows, interview staff, and verify compliance. Common areas reviewed include temperature logs, cleaning records, training documentation, and patient satisfaction data.
Technician Support
- Documentation: Maintain temperature logs, cleaning schedules, equipment calibration records
- Training: Complete required CE and competency assessments on time
- SOPs: Follow procedures exactly and report deviations
- Quality reporting: Track errors, near misses, and adverse events
- Patient communication: Document interactions per accreditation standards
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