Workshop 4 – Hospital pharmacist: learn to think global and act local

Linked to EAHP Statements

Section 1 – Introductory Statements and Governance: Statements 1.3, 1.7
Section 2 – Selection, Procurement and Distribution: Statements 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6
Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy Services: Statements 4.3, 4.5
Section 5 – Patient Safety and Quality Assurance: Statements 5.3, 5.7 

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-22-024-L04-P. An application-based activity.

Abstract

Hospital pharmacists support health systems in multiple aspects from a clinical, scientific, leadership and managerial perspective. This role requires excellent communication skills, special experience based on hospital practice and advanced managerial competency. 

“Think global, act local” is a concept originally used to urge people to consider the global environmental conditions and take action within their own communities. Nowadays, it expresses the broader message of considering the health of the entire planet and to take action locally.  

This workshop equips hospital pharmacists to consider their alignment with global priorities including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, WHO Medication Without Harm Global Patient Safety Challenge and the FIP/WHO Good Pharmacy Practice guidance.

“Global thinking” and “local acting” can help hospital pharmacists deliver effective and efficient services, aligned with global policy and contributing to global knowledge and action against shared challenges.  “Global Health” is the key-point for the future prosperity of mankind. The Covid-19 pandemic has given many examples of the concept “Think global, act local” and how its implementation can save human and essential material resources. In a parallel way, hospital pharmacists adapt global Good Pharmacy Practices (GPP), to their everyday practice. 

This workshop is a training session to help pharmacists consider the global challenges affecting us all, drawing on UN, FIP and WHO resources. The workshop will use examples where hospital pharmacists and teams have implemented initiatives in line with these global priorities. Workshop participants will share their experiences implementing initiatives where they have responded locally to a global challenge. Crisis management also comprises an important application of the “think global, act local” concept. We will also discuss how pharmacists can embed initiatives into standard work and accreditation, e.g. by integrating Good Pharmacy Practices into Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and to the internal or external accreditation programmes of their hospitals, to improve effectiveness of hospital pharmacy services and patient outcomes.

Learning objectives

After the workshop, participants should be able to:

• Categorize most critical procedures in hospital pharmacy practice and prepare simple yet detailed algorithms of action in crisis 
• Categorise the global priorities where hospital pharmacy practice can have an impact
• Detect GPPs most relevant to their everyday practice
• Design and perform the transfer of a global GPP to their hospital pharmacy
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to address global priorities locally, in a common work environment, as members of multi-disciplinary teams

Educational need addressed

All hospital pharmacists and managers, especially those employed or interested in quality improvement and quality assurance.

Keywords: global priorities, crisis management, local adaptation, good pharmacy practice, SOP, accreditation, quality improvement