Student Pharmacists’ Clinical Interventions in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences at a Community Nonteaching Hospital

Abstract

Objective. To assess student pharmacists' clinical interventions in advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) at a community nonteaching hospital and evaluate completed interventions based on the type of documentation method used. Methods. Clinical interventions of 120 fourth-year (P4) student pharmacists in advanced institutional, medication safety, or internal medicine APPEs were collected over a 3½-year period. Clinical interventions were analyzed for cost savings, intervention type, and acceptance rates. A secondary analysis of paper-based vs electronic-based documentation of completed interventions was performed.Results. There were 2,170 clinical interventions attempted with an acceptance rate of 97%. The estimated cost savings was $280,297. A comparable number of interventions and cost savings per student was observed between paper-based and electronic-based documentation methods. Conclusion. Student pharmacists at a community nonteaching hospital have many opportunities for participation in patient-centered activities, and for interaction and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. They can significantly benefit patient care through clinical interventions, while also contributing to cost savings for the institution.

Clinical Interventions Undertaken by Final Year Student Pharmacists on Rounding Teams in Nigeria: A 3-Year Cross-Sectional Evaluation

“…The number of interventions for which students received assistance against those that were student-driven was not quantified. The performance and documentation of clinical interventions by students helps to contribute to their active learning process and preparation as future pharmacists [21].…”

“…It also furnishes them with the ability to identify and resolve drug-related problems through patient information retrieval and assessment. The several contributions of pharmacy students to patient care in the US have been mentioned to include the provision of patient education, optimization of pharmaceutical care for patients, and provision of information to other healthcare providers [21]. To optimize their contributions preparatory to their future role as pharmacists, the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) recommends that the nature and extent of students' interactions with patients and other healthcare professionals should be documented and assessed.…”

“…The impact of pharmacy students at clinical rotations in different practice settings has been evaluated in a number of studies [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. The studies measured the types and significance of the students' clinical interventions, and the cost-saving implications to the institution [21]. The primary purpose of our study was to assess student pharmacists' interventions during clinical ward rounds in a secondary and a tertiary hospital in Enugu State, Nigeria.…”

The Report of the 2016-2017 Professional Affairs Standing Committee: Formally Embracing and Engaging Preceptors in the Academy — The Time Has Come

“…Data suggests student pharmacist interventions across all care settings typically demonstrate an impressive cost avoidance. 9,11,19,20 The cost avoidance figures, however, are "soft" cost estimates and are usually drawn from the literature.…”

Evaluation of the Impact of a Student Pharmacist–Supported Program to Improve Hospital-Based Quality Measures

“…[1][2][3][4] Shogbon reports a 97% acceptance rate and $280,297 savings with clinical interventions from 120 fourth-year pharmacy students on advanced institutional, medication safety, or internal medicine rotations at a nonteaching hospital. 1 Pham reports a 92% acceptance rate of clinical interventions by fourth-year pharmacy students on an internal medicine clerkship. 2 Clinical interventions recorded include drug route conversion, providing drug information, recommending alternative agents, and dose evaluation, among others.…”