Four major long-term care organizations jointly issued a document Tuesday that defines their respective roles and duties.

Administrators, directors of nursing, pharmacists and medical directors all are focal points in “Essential Core Functions,” a document posted on association Web sites for each of the professions. They are www.achca.org; www.nadona.org; www.ascsp.org; and www.amda.org.

“The next step will be a series of short guidance pieces on key areas that challenge professionals in the field and are key to providing quality care,” a statement from the council said Tuesday. “The Council advocates quality improvement through coordinated use of consistent systems and processes of clinical care.”