The Report of the 2018-2019 Professional Affairs Standing Committee: The Role of Educators in Pharmacy Practice Transformation

Abstract

The 2018-2019 Professional Affairs Committee examined the potential roles and needs of clinical educators (faculty and preceptors) in leading transformation in pharmacy practice. The committee was charged to (1) discuss the potential roles and responsibilities of faculty and preceptors leading transformation and enhanced patient care services in pharmacy practice; (2) describe factors, including clinician well-being and resilience, which may influence faculty and preceptor involvement in practice transformation and the enhancement of patient care services; and (3) recommend how the efforts and successes of faculty and preceptors involved in pharmacy practice transformation can be replicated and recognized as well as identify the types of continuing professional development (CPD) that should be available to enable the influence and implementation of patient care services. This report provides a framework for addressing the committee charges by examining the roles of advocacy, collaboration, continuing professional development, and clinician resilience and well-being. The committee provides a revision to a current AACP policy regarding continuing professional development as well as several recommendations to AACP and suggestions to colleges and schools of pharmacy pertaining to the committee charges.

Patients’ perception of the outpatient pharmaceutical service quality in hospital pharmacies with auditable pharmaceutical transactions and services in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…As the final link between medication and patients, pharmacists should provide appropriate, understandable and relevant information to patients about their medication. 27 However, based on our results, hospitals with APTS in Tigray have not done enough in this area. Maybe this is also the reason of low perception of ‘pharmacist spending enough time with patient’ (P3) in responsiveness.…”

“… 26 However, on the one hand, pharmacists in Ethiopia focused primarily on dispensing medicines, and they were unable to deliver pharmaceutical service possibly due to lack of competency 20 ; on the other hand, Ethiopia has one of the lowest primary school enrolment rates and one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world, limited literacy of patients impeded understanding of proper medication use. 27 Both two factors may lead to patients’ low perception of medication therapy. Moreover, to provide quality pharmaceutical care, pharmacists should play a more active role in healthcare, working together with doctors, and even patients, to recommend and manage treatment.…”

“…Moreover, to provide quality pharmaceutical care, pharmacists should play a more active role in healthcare, working together with doctors, and even patients, to recommend and manage treatment. 28 Low patients' perception of 'pharmacist works together with doctor' may also lead to a low perception of the results of the medication therapy. However, APTS may still contribute to significant improvements.…”

A Student Pharmacist Quality Engagement Team to Support Initial Implementation of Comprehensive Medication Management within Independent Community Pharmacies

“…Utilizing a team of student pharmacists as a component of an implementation approach proved incredibly valuable to the network. It also provided a meaningful learning experience for the students who participated [ 28 ]. This structure kept PPCN pharmacists engaged, demonstrated desirable outcomes to the payor, and ultimately supported the provision of CMM by PPCN pharmacists to patients.…”

Characteristics of Individuals Who Chose to Participate in a Preceptor Continuing Professional Development Program

“…Pharmacists utilizing CPD have been shown to develop formal learning plans, set specific learning objectives, and achieve their learning objectives more often than colleagues not trained in the CPD process [ 2 , 3 ]. In fact, pharmacists are specifically encouraged by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy to utilize CPD to foster continued clinical and professional growth [ 4 ]. Additionally, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) recognizes the value of CPD for pharmacy preceptors by requiring schools of pharmacy to “foster the professional development of [their] preceptors” [ 5 ] in Standard 20.3.…”