The natural (or perhaps wholly unnatural) instinct that grips many of us this time of year is to start fresh and make self-improvement resolutions, but invariably, we struggle to follow those resolutions even in the near term. It can be fun to challenge ourselves, but when it comes to things like losing a few pounds or vowing against a bad habit, our success or failure likely has little effect on anyone other than ourselves. However, the importance of sound, progressive work habits in pharmacy practice does not revolve around the Gregorian calendar and there are rarely chances to totally start over or begin anew on a regular basis. Rather, aspiring to the safest possible patient management and best practices is perpetual.

So, as we begin 2012, consider focusing on ideas that have been around for a long time—ideas such as striving to maximize your skill set, pushing best practices initiatives, and working to the top of your license. As directors and managers, you also should seek to foster and instill these qualities within your colleagues and coworkers. It is practically impossible for you to work to the top of your license until you first provide the leadership and support for your team members to work to the top of their abilities, and this must start with your technicians and purchasers and continue throughout your staff to your managers and associate directors.

You have all put forth a tremendous amount of effort to reach this point in your careers and have devoted yourselves to the proven tenets of aptitude, intelligence, and sound judgment. It truly is a waste to limit the scope of your abilities and in fact, maximizing your potential delivers the greatest satisfaction of all.

At our core, we all want to be the best we can be at whatever vocation we choose. At PP&P, we want to do the same in supporting and illuminating your best efforts to improve pharmacy practice, care for your patients, and realize your potential. It is our professional resolution to continue doing so this year and beyond.

All the best,

R. Mitchell Halvorsen
Publisher

P.S. Pharmacy Purchasing & Products would like to congratulate the winner of our most recent survey of pharmacy directors, Denise Kidd! Denise, a pharmacy buyer at Hemphill County Hospital in Canadian, Texas, was the randomly selected winner from among all completed submissions to PP&P’s Going Green survey. She will receive a 32GB iPod Touch as her grand prize! Thank you, Denise and everyone else who submitted to this valuable survey. Keep an eye out for our next survey and you could be the next big winner!