ACCP clinical pharmacist competencies: Advocating alignment between student, resident, and practitioner competencies

Abstract

Competency standards in pharmacy education and training have been formulated by different organizations to focus on various stages in the development of students, residents, and clinical pharmacists. This commentary advocates a deliberate alignment of educational outcomes, goals, and competencies across the developmental continuum of students, residents, and pharmacy practitioners. Consistent use of terminology and appropriate sequencing of expectations will help develop pharmacists who can meet the demands of the profession in the changing health care landscape.Progressive development is needed for the pharmacist's abilities, from student to resident to new practitioner to experienced professional. Consistency will ensure that educational and training programs optimally prepare individuals for board certification and professional roles. Specific recommendations include developing a common taxonomy that aligns within the pharmacy profession and across health care professions. K E Y W O R D Sclinical pharmacist, pharmacist competency, pharmacy education

Postgraduate year two ambulatory care residency program evaluation with a tool for assessing ambulatory care pharmacist practice

“…In addition, the authors believe consistency will ensure that educational and training programs optimally prepare individuals for board certification and professional roles. 13 The results of this study reflect opportunity and demonstrate the need for alignment, standardization, and advancement in learning experiences among PGY-2 ambulatory care residency programs. Two residency programs reported to be functioning narrowly in their delivery of direct patient care within the required rotation experience.…”

“…A recent commentary by ACCP advocating for the alignment between student, resident, and practitioner competencies highlights the need to build a cohesive, well-structured framework with a consistent process in pharmacy training. 13 Other health care professionals have redesigned and aligned learning experiences and competency expectations to respond to the changes in the health care landscape. 14 A deliberate alignment of educational outcomes, goals, and competencies, and consistent use of terminology, will ensure pharmacy residents meet the demands of the evolving profession, especially as roles and responsibilities grow with the increased involvement in interprofessional care and comprehensive medication management (CMM).…”

Forces driving change in pharmacy education: Opportunities to take academic, social, technological, economic, and political into the future

“…In addition, there is very little intentional connection between professional education and the postgraduate training unlike that seen with postgraduate medical training. The 2018 American College of Clinical Pharmacy Educational Affairs Committee advocated for deliberate alignment of educational outcomes, goals, and competencies across the continuum of students, residents, and pharmacy practitioners 60 . The report of the 2019 to 2020 Argus Committee also asked bold questions related to this need for better alignment 61 .…”

Advancing Our Pharmacy Reformation - Accelerating Education and Practice Transformation: Report of the 2019-2020 Argus Commission

“…Engle and colleagues recently demonstrated that competencies of clinical pharmacists, residency programs and PharmD degree programs require consistent terminology and better alignment. 17 This has led to questions about the efficiency of both programs, including: Addressing the Well-being and Resilience of Students, Faculty and Practitioners Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Argus Commission acknowledged that this is a time of significant change in both education and practice. Strategic Priority 3 in the current AACP strategic plan even calls for the acceleration of change in both practice and education.…”