Redesigned Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) Assessments Reduce Grade Inflation in the Experiential Setting.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of redesigning an entrustable professional activities (EPAs) assessment tool on the accuracy of student performance assessment within pharmacy education.

Methods: The study used retrospective programmatic data for students on clinical rotations over a 3-year period and compared entrustment levels assigned by preceptors with suggested entrustment levels. This tool was redesigned to separate formative EPA feedback from final grade determination.

Preceptor perceptions of a redesigned entrustable professional activity (EPA) assessment tool in pharmacy practice experiences.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine pharmacy preceptor perceptions of an entrustable professional activity (EPA) evaluation tool redesigned in 2019 and launched for use in May 2020.

Methods: Participants received an optional survey in June 2021 regarding their perceptions of the redesigned EPA assessment tool. The survey used a combination of open- and closed-ended questions regarding preceptor perceptions of the revised form, including perceptions of accuracy, usability, ease of use, grading, EPAs, and form layout.

An Exploration of Preceptor-Provided Written Feedback on Entrustable Professional Activities During Early Practice Experiences.

To explore and evaluate open-ended feedback on entrustable professional activities (EPAs) provided by preceptors to Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students completing their first practice experience. A retrospective review was conducted of qualitative data collected from preceptor evaluations of student pharmacists who had completed a two-month practice experience in either community or health-system pharmacy at the end of their first professional year. Preceptors had used a validated EPA framework to assess students.

Advancing Pharmacy Practice through an Innovative Ambulatory Care Transitions Program at an Academic Medical Center.

Hospital readmissions are common and often preventable, leading to unnecessary burden on patients, families, and the health care system. The purpose of this descriptive communication is to share the impact of an interdisciplinary, outpatient clinic-based care transition intervention on clinical, organizational, and financial outcomes. Compared to usual care, the care transition intervention decreased the median time to Internal Medicine Clinic (IMC) or any clinic follow-up visit by 5 and 4 days, respectively.

Impact of an innovative partnership in patient care between an academic medical center department of pharmacy and a school of pharmacy.

Purpose: Pharmacy departments and schools of pharmacy have long held professional affiliations. However, the success of each entity is often not interdependent and aligned. In 2010, our institutions found ourselves in a position where the complementary motivations of each aligned to support a more meaningful and committed engagement, leading to the development of the Partnership in Patient Care.

Implementation of the flipped residency research model to enhance residency research training.

Purpose: The attainment of fundamental research skills to create and disseminate new knowledge is imperative for the advancement of pharmacy practice. Research training is an important component of postgraduate residency training; however, the traditional model of performing residency research has several limitations that have hindered the ability of residents to complete high-quality research projects. Therefore, our institution developed and implemented the flipped residency research model with the 2013-2014 pharmacy practice residency class.

Exploratory Analysis of Entrustable Professional Activities as a Performance Measure During Early Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

To examine entrustable professional activities (EPAs) as an assessment tool for student pharmacists completing early practice experiences. Students completed a 2-month practice experience upon conclusion of their first year. Student performance on EPAs was assessed by preceptors and students at the midpoint and conclusion of the experience using a scale that ranged from dependent (1.

Patient engagement in first cycle comprehensive chemotherapy consultation pharmacist services and impact on patient activation.

Background: Healthcare systems and policy makers worldwide are demonstrating interest in shared decision making, which requires patient activation. Patient activation can be measured using a validated tool called the patient activation measure-10. First cycle comprehensive chemotherapy consultation services (3CS) is provided by an oncology pharmacy team member during a patient encounter at the beginning of the patient's treatment for cancer.

The Importance of Authentic Leadership to all Generations Represented within Academic Pharmacy.

Academic pharmacy spans several generations including traditionalists, baby boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y, commonly referred to as millennials. It has been suggested that leadership styles must change to accommodate these generational differences in academic pharmacy, yet there are no data of which we are aware, that support this assertion. We contend that leadership styles are derived from one's authentic self and are based on core beliefs and values; therefore, leadership styles must not change to accommodate a specific generation or other subset of academic pharmacy.

Educational outcomes associated with early immersion of second-year student pharmacists into direct patient care roles in health-system practice.

Background And Purpose: To assess the educational impact of engaging second professional year student pharmacists in active, direct patient care experiences in health system practice.

Educational Activity And Setting: Student pharmacists in their second professional year completed a redesigned, skill-based four-week introductory pharmacy practice experience in health system practice. The immersion consisted of experiences in both operational and clinical pharmacy environments.

Intentional Interprofessional Experiential Education.

The experiential component of a doctor of pharmacy curricula is an ideal, yet underutilized vehicle to advance interprofessional education (IPE) initiatives. To date, most experiential-based IPE initiatives occur in a naturally occurring, non-deliberate fashion. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Experiential Education Section formed the Task Force on Intentional Interprofessional Education in Experiential Education in academic year 2015-2016 to explore the issue.

Identifying the Presence of Cognitive Apprenticeship in the Layered Learning Practice Model.

To identify the presence of cognitive apprenticeship themes in the layered learning practice model (LLPM). Attending pharmacists who had implemented an LLPM completed an individual 90-minute face-to-face semi-structured interview. Three researchers independently reviewed transcripts to identify cognitive apprenticeship themes according to the framework's dimensions and sub-dimensions.

Post-Hospital Discharge Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study Exploring the Value of Pharmacist-Enhanced Care and Describing Medication-Related Problems.

Medication-related problems occur at high rates during care transitions. Evidence suggests that pharmacists are well-suited to identify and resolve medication-related problems during hospital admission and at discharge. Additional evidence is needed to understand the impact of face-to-face pharmacist visits in primary care after discharge.

Student pharmacist experiences as inpatient psychiatry medication education group leaders during an early immersion program.

Background And Purpose: While research suggests that pharmacists generally hold positive attitudes toward consumers of psychiatric medications, they often feel less comfortable talking about these medications and providing services for patients with mental illness. The purpose of this program was to train second and third year student pharmacists as psychiatry medication education groups leaders and to examine resulting student self-efficacy and mental health stigma.

Educational Activity And Setting: In partnership with the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the inpatient psychiatry service at UNC Medical Center expanded weekly medication education groups with the help of trained student pharmacists.

Continuous Care Provided Through Comprehensive Medication Management in an Acute Care Practice Model.

Background: Pharmacy practice models that foster pharmacists' accountability for medication-related outcomes are imperative for the profession. Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is an opportunity to advance patient care.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a CMM practice model in the acute care setting on organizational, patient, and financial outcomes.

Exploring the Requisite Skills and Competencies of Pharmacists Needed for Success in an Evolving Health Care Environment.

To identify and describe the core competencies and skills considered essential for success of pharmacists in today's rapidly evolving health care environment. Six breakout groups of 15-20 preceptors, pharmacists, and partners engaged in a facilitated discussion about the qualities and characteristics relevant to the success of a pharmacy graduate. Data were analyzed using qualitative methods.

Accountable Care in Transitions (ACTion): A Team-Based Approach to Reducing Hospital Utilization in a Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Background: There is limited data describing the role of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) in successful transitions programs and more information is needed to determine the transition points where pharmacist involvement is most impactful.

Methods: A family medicine center developed a multidisciplinary outpatient-based transitions program focused on reducing emergency department (ED) and hospital use in medically complex patients. Key team members were a medical provider, clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP), and care manager.

Organizational readiness for change: Preceptor perceptions regarding early immersion of student pharmacists in health-system practice.

Purpose: To examine preceptors' perceptions regarding readiness for change pre- and post-implementation of a pilot early immersion program engaging student pharmacists in direct patient care.

Methods: Student pharmacists enrolled in the second professional year of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree program completed a four-week health-system introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) which was modified to include direct patient care roles in operational (drug preparation and dispensing) and clinical (comprehensive medication management) pharmacy environments. Pharmacy preceptors with direct oversight for program implementation completed a pre/post Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) survey and a 50-min interview or focus group post-experience.

The layered learning practice model: Lessons learned from implementation.

Purpose: Pharmacists' views about the implementation, benefits, and attributes of a layered learning practice model (LLPM) were examined.

Methods: Eligible and willing attending pharmacists at the same institution that had implemented an LLPM completed an individual, 90-minute, face-to-face interview using a structured interview guide developed by the interdisciplinary study team. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim without personal identifiers.

The Arab American experience with diabetes: Perceptions, myths and implications for culturally-specific interventions.

Aims: Culturally-specific lifestyle diabetes prevention programs require an assessment of population disease perceptions and cultural influences on health beliefs and behaviors. The primary objectives were to assess Arab Americans' knowledge and perceptions of diabetes and their preferences for a lifestyle intervention.

Methods: Sixty-nine self-identified Arab or Arab Americans ≥30 years of age and without diabetes participated in 8 focus groups.

A Study of Layered Learning in Oncology.

Objective. To explore use of pharmacy learners as a means to expand pharmacy services in a layered learning practice model (LLPM), to examine whether an LLPM environment precludes achievement of knowledge-based learning objectives, and to explore learner perception of the experience. Design.

Early Clinical Experiences for Second-Year Student Pharmacists at an Academic Medical Center.

Objective: To examine student outcomes associated with the Student Medication and Reconciliation Team (SMART) program, which was designed to provide second-year student pharmacists at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy direct patient care experience at UNC Medical Center.

Design: Twenty-two second-year student pharmacists were randomly selected from volunteers, given program training, and scheduled for three 5-hour evening shifts in 2013-2014. Pre/post surveys and reflection statements were collected from 19 students.

Improved Organizational Outcomes Associated With Incorporation of Early Clinical Experiences for Second-Year Student Pharmacists at an Academic Medical Center.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of engaging second professional year student pharmacists in the medication reconciliation process on hospital and health system pharmacy practice outcomes.

Methods: Student pharmacists in their second professional year in the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program at our institution were randomly selected from volunteers to participate. Each participant completed training prior to completing three 5-hour evening shifts.

Impact of Pharmacy Residency Research Training on Residents' Actual Versus Perceived Ability and Interest to Identify and Solve Practice-Related Problems.

Purpose: The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) requires that accredited residency programs provide pharmacy residents the opportunity to perform a practice-based project. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacy residency research training on residents' actual versus perceived ability to solve practice-related problems in their professional careers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy practice residents who completed training at a large academic medical center between 2007 and 2013.

Pharmacist managed diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction clinic in kidney transplant recipients: bridging the gap in care transition.

The purpose was to assess the feasibility of a care transition intervention for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with diabetes. Results document improved quality indicators and reduced resource utilization. These findings imply that a care transition intervention for KTRs with diabetes is feasible and associated with improved patient outcomes.