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INTRODUCTION OF A PATIENT CENTRED CLINICAL PHARMACY TRAINING SCHEME IN A LARGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL PHARMACY
European Statement
Education and Research
Author(s)
E. Past, C. Hofer-Dueckelmann, U. Porsche, G. Fellhofer
Why was it done?
The increasing demand for clinical pharmacy services was combined with the will of the MI pharmacists to expand their roles and become advanced practitioners. There is no formal clinical pharmacy education in our country. Studying abroad is costly and often incompatible with private life. The head of our department promoted the introduction of the teaching bundle as a form of quality assurance for new clinical services.
What was done?
A clinical pharmacy training scheme was founded for and by pharmacists of the medicines information (MI) department. Over 1 year, four UK trained clinical pharmacists facilitated: 10 workshops on clinical topics focusing on pharmaceutical care planning; monthly discussions on patient cases collected in our hospital; and bedside teaching on two wards.
How was it done?
The main drivers were the pharmacists´ willpower to become more clinically orientated and the prospect of being able to offer new clinical services. The instructors incorporated the preparation of the educational activities into their routine workload. There were no monetary incentives. The workshops lasted 1 h with any further discussions held after work, a challenge for parents.
Instructors presented the newest insights of the respective clinical area, alternating with group activities. Continuous evaluation led to a stronger focus on real patient cases. This approach was continued during the monthly coffee break case studies. Incorporation of bedside teaching into the rota was a challenging task.
What has been achieved?
Two pharmacists set up a clinical service on an intensive care unit. Another pharmacist started to attend ward rounds on a neurosurgery ward. Medicines reconciliation will be introduced with pharmacy involvement in a pilot project.
What next?
This training scheme is transferable to any hospital setting. Prerequisites are idealistic and formally trained clinical pharmacists combined with highly motivated colleagues wishing to take on more responsibility and willing to learn from their peers. Workshops, a journal club and bedside teaching are ongoing.