Making student pharmacists indispensable: The added value of introductory pharmacy practice experience students to patient care

Effectiveness of a Medication Reconciliation Simulation in an Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Course

“…7,8 The ability of pharmacy students to obtain medication histories and identify and resolve medication discrepancies during site visits for introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences has been previously studied. [9][10][11][12] There is still limited information available about the type of training that will best prepare pharmacy students for their future roles in the medication reconciliation process. No studies have been published about the use of simulation to teach or assess pharmacy students' combined medication history taking and medication reconciliation skills.…”

Improved Organizational Outcomes Associated With Incorporation of Early Clinical Experiences for Second-Year Student Pharmacists at an Academic Medical Center

“…Prior studies have examined the impact of third and fourth professional year student pharmacists in the admission medication history acquisition process [12][13][14][15]19 ; however, a comprehensive literature search did not produce any literature assessing the feasibility or associated health system outcomes of immersing student pharmacists prior to the third professional year. This study suggests second professional year student pharmacists can assist pharmacy departments in the care of medically complex patients upon hospital admission, particularly in the optimization of medication use.…”

Report of the 2014-2015 Professional Affairs Standing Committee: Producing Practice-Ready Pharmacy Graduates in an Era of Value-Based Health Care

“…The actual overall cost avoidance calculated by the study for the "addition of a medication" intervention was averaged to $62.81. 28 The addition of a bowel regimen, as an example, compared to an oncologic agent is challenging to evaluate in these types of software systems.…”

“…A recent study by Walker, et al, provides insight as to the impact of an admission medication reconciliation process conducted by student pharmacists during an IPPE where medication discrepancies were found in 43.8% of patients. 28 In this study, prescribers responded to notification about potential discrepancies by correcting or clarifying 74.9% of all potential discrepancies and 77.2% of discrepancies with the potential to cause severe patient discomfort or clinical deterioration. 28 Recent literature has been attempting to tie specific intervention types that determine a monetary savings to the healthcare system, specific cost avoidance or cost savings provided by student pharmacists.…”

“…28 In this study, prescribers responded to notification about potential discrepancies by correcting or clarifying 74.9% of all potential discrepancies and 77.2% of discrepancies with the potential to cause severe patient discomfort or clinical deterioration. 28 Recent literature has been attempting to tie specific intervention types that determine a monetary savings to the healthcare system, specific cost avoidance or cost savings provided by student pharmacists. One study concluded that one year of APPE student pharmacists produced an estimated cost avoidance of $908,800 during the student pharmacists' required ambulatory care, community practice, general medication, and health system pharmacy practice experiences.…”