FACULTY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Training Manual for Interdisciplinary Session
Facilitators
Heather Congdon, Pharm.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor and RHEP Field Faculty
WVU School of Pharmacy – Eastern Division
Department of Clinical Pharmacy
(304) 264-9202
Carla J. See, M.S., C.H.E.S.
Director of Experiential and External Education
WVU School of Pharmacy
Department of Clinical Pharmacy
(304) 293-1504
According to the American
Association of Colleges of Pharamcy (AACP), the role of the pharmacist can
be defined as follows:
While responsibilities vary among the different areas of pharmacy practice,
the bottom line is that pharmacists help patients get well. Pharmacist responsibilities
include a range of care for patients, from dispensing medications to monitoring
patient health and progress to maximize their response to the medication.
Pharmacists also educate consumers and patients on the use of prescriptions
and over-the-counter medications, and advise physicians, nurses, and other
health professionals on drug decisions. Pharmacists also provide expertise
about the composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and
physical properties and their manufacture and use. They ensure drug purity
and strength and make sure that drugs do not interact in a harmful way. Pharmacists
are drug experts ultimately concerned about their patients' health and wellness.
(Retrieved from www.aacp.org, September 13, 2004.)
Education
The West Virginia University School of Pharmacy Pharm.D. program is comprised of a four-year professional study, preceded by a minimum of two years of pre-pharmacy study. The curriculum provides students with an in-depth knowledge of disease states and drug applications for the treatment and prevention of disease. Graduates develop communication and computer skills and are prepared to be life-long learners. During the last year of study, all students complete rotations where they work in a variety of pharmacy settings including hospitals, community pharmacies, and special areas such as drug information, poison center and outpatient clinics.
More Information
For more information
about pharmacy and pharmacists, try the following links:
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
www.aacp.org
American College of Clinical Pharmacy www.accp.com
American Pharmacists Association www.aphanet.org
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
www.ashp.org
National Community Pharmacists Association
www.ncpanet.org
Pharm.D. Students and Interdisciplinary Experiences
Pharmacists work in a
variety of practice settings including but not limited to: hospitals, community
pharmacies, acute care, ambulatory care, and specialty areas such as compounding
and nuclear pharmacy. Some examples that might be applicable for IDS sessions
include:
Community Pharmacy Practice
o Students in an IDS session discuss a 7 year old patient with newly diagnosed
asthma. Pharmacy students learn from other disciplines the diagnostic and
monitoring criteria, while pharmacy students are able to explain the important
differences between long term control and quick relief medications. Additionally,
a pharmacy student would be able to provide an illustration of proper inhaler
and spacer use.
o Students in an IDS session discuss a case of a 60 year old patient with
cancer and subsequent chronic pain. While other health care disciplines provide
useful information on diagnosis and management of cancer, the pharmacy students
provide useful retail setting patient counseling information to alleviate/avoid
many of the side effects associated with the patient's pain medication regimen
(i.e. constipation, nausea and vomiting).
Institutional (Hospital) Pharmacy Practice
o Students at an IDS session discuss a patient in the hospital that has recently
suffered a stroke. Information regarding etiology of the stroke, treatment
and rehabilitation were discussed in detail. In addition to the treatment
of stroke, the pharmacy student discusses the hospitals pharmacy formulary
and how it will impact the patient's medication regimen, as the patient has
been on several medications that are not readily available at the hospital.
Acute Care (inpatient) Pharmacy Practice
o Students at an IDS session discuss the case of a 50 year old woman in the
ICU with a severe infection and concomitant renal insufficiency. Other health
care providers can detail the important blood work and life support issues
that would need to be addressed, while a pharmacy student would be able to
provide education on the need for renal adjustments in the patients medications,
specifically the antibiotics required to treat the severe infection.
o Students at an IDS session discuss the case of a 57 year old woman with
a recent total hip replacement. Several important issues to be discussed by
various disciplines include improving bone health and early ambulation after
the procedure. Pharmacy students present at the discussion could discuss two
additional issues in this patient: (1) was she taking any medications that
decrease bone mineral density and, (2) is she getting appropriate anticoagulation
after the procedure to prevent potential clots.
Ambulatory Care (outpatient) Pharmacy Practice
o The topic for an IDS
case discussion is diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in the outpatient setting.
Several topics were discussed by various disciplines including diagnosis,
proper meal planning, exercise, and foot/skin/dental care. Pharmacy students
would be able to educate the other students on the advantages and disadvantages
of each of the five oral antidiabetic drug classes, as well as insulin. Additionally,
a pharmacy student could demonstrate proper use of the various glucometers
that are currently available and educate other health care providers about
a pharmacist's role in diabetes education and management.
o A patient was seen recently by a family medicine practitioner for hypertension.
This patient is unemployed, obese, sedentary and watches TV all day. He was
prescribed 3 medications for his high BP about 2 months ago, but has not taken
them since he can't afford them. There are several obvious topics that can
be discussed by the different disciplines, including weight reduction and
proper dietary management. In addition, the pharmacy and social work students
could discuss facilitation of paperwork for the patient to access pharmacy
assistance programs in order to obtain free medications. Additionally, the
pharmacy student could help the physician choose low cost generic alternatives
rather than higher cost brand drugs.
For more help and advice…
If you are planning an Interdisciplinary Session and you're not sure if or how Pharm.D. students can be incorporated, the site coordinator can put you in touch with a Pharm.D. preceptor in your area or you can contact one of the following individuals:
Heather Congdon, Pharm.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor and RHEP Field Faculty
WVU School of Pharmacy - Eastern Division
Department of Clinical Pharmacy
(304) 264-9202 or (304) 535-6343, ext 244
hcongdon@hsc.wvu.edu
Carla J. See, MA, MS, CHES
Clinical Instructor and Director of Experiential and External Education
WVU School of Pharmacy
Department of Clinical Pharmacy
(304) 293-1504
csee@hsc.wvu.edu