A Progress Report on the State of Pharmacy Informatics Education in US Pharmacy Schools and Colleges.

To characterize informatics education opportunities in US colleges and schools of pharmacy curricula. Informatics curricular information online was catalogued via publicly available websites. Website content was searched via domain-specific keywords.

Incorporating Health Information Technology and Pharmacy Informatics in a Pharmacy Professional Didactic Curriculum -with a Team-based Learning Approach.

Objective. To incorporate a pharmacy informatics program in the didactic curriculum of a team-based learning institution and to assess students' knowledge of and confidence with health informatics during the course. Design.

A retrospective descriptive analysis of patient adherence to dabigatran at a large academic medical center.

Background: Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of dabigatran followed a very strict protocol, which included close monitoring and follow-up. Patients followed in this controlled environment had an average medication possession ratio (MPR) greater than 0.95.

Pharmacy students teaching prescribers strategies to lower prescription drug costs for underserved patients.

Background: The rising costs of health care and, in particular, prescription drugs remains a challenge. Health professionals' ability to promote cost-effective prescription drug use is critical, yet this subject is not included consistently in the curriculum of most health professional schools. As experts in prescription drug selection, use, and cost, pharmacists are in a unique position to help manage prescription drug regimens for the best therapeutic outcome, while also helping to keep patients' out-of-pocket (OOP) prescription drug costs low.

Promoting interprofessional collaboration: pharmacy students teaching current and future prescribers about Medicare Part D.

Background: Nearly all health professional students and prescribers, regardless of specialty, will care for older adults who are enrolled in or eligible for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. Given the growing numbers of older adults, the increased burden of chronic disease, and the escalating costs of health care, health professional students and prescribers across disciplines should learn strategies to promote cost-effective prescribing and collaborate with pharmacists who are experts in medication use and costs.

Objective: To describe and evaluate the impact of a statewide peer education program in which selected students at 7 California schools of pharmacy delivered a clinically relevant lecture on Part D to a multidisciplinary audience of health professional students and prescribers.

Promoting access and reducing expected out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries: a pharmacist-directed model.

Background: The Medicare Part D benefit is complicated and may be costly, especially for vulnerable low-income populations where lack of resources and limited English proficiency may be barriers to optimal plan selection.

Objectives: To identify vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries and lower their expected annual out-of-pocket (OOP) prescription drug costs through one-on-one prescription drug plan counseling by pharmacists and trained pharmacy students.

Research Design: Between October 2008 and January 2010, a cross-sectional study was performed throughout California.

Peer-to-peer interprofessional health policy education for Medicare part D.

Objectives: To determine whether a peer-to-peer education program was an expedient and effective approach to improve knowledge and promote interprofessional communication and collaboration.

Design: Trained pharmacy students taught nursing students, medical students, and medical residents about the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit (Part D), in 1- to 2-hour lectures.

Assessment: Learners completed a survey instrument to assess the effectiveness of the presentation and their attitudes toward the peer-to-peer instructional format.

Cost minimization of medicare part D prescription drug plan expenditures.

Objective: To minimize out-of-pocket prescription drug plan (PDP) expenditures by Medicare beneficiaries.

Study Design: Cost-minimization analysis.

Methods: Trained student pharmacists from 6 California pharmacy schools provided expert guidance on Medicare Part D PDPs to beneficiaries through interventions at statewide outreach events.

Medicare part D community outreach train-the-trainer program for pharmacy faculty.

Objectives: To assess the train-the-trainer component of an initiative (Partners in D) to train pharmacy students to facilitate patient enrollment in the best Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (Part D).

Methods: Faculty members from 6 California colleges or schools of pharmacy were taught how to train pharmacy students about Medicare Part D and how to conduct outreach events targeting underserved patient populations. A preintervention and postintervention survey instrument was administered to determine participants' (1) knowledge of the Part D program; (2) skill using the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool; and (3) confidence in their ability to train pharmacy students.

Problem-based learning using the online Medicare Part D Plan Finder tool.

Objectives: To implement didactic and problem-based learning curricular innovations aimed at increasing students' knowledge of Medicare Part D, improving their ability to apply the online Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool to a patient case, and improving their attitudes toward patient advocacy for Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods: A survey instrument and a case-based online Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool exercise were administered to a single group (n = 120) of second-year pharmacy graduate students prior to and following completion of a course on health policy. Three domains (knowledge, skill mastery and attitudes) were measured before and after two 90-minute lectures on Medicare Part D.

Evaluation of the relationship between a chronic disease care management program and california pay-for-performance diabetes care cholesterol measures in one medical group.

Background: Pay for performance (P4P) is a business model in which health plans pay provider organizations (medical groups) financial incentives based on attainment of clinical quality, patient experience, and use of information technology. The California P4P program is the largest P4P program in the united states and represents a potential revenue source for all participating medical groups. The clinical specifications for the California P4P program are based on the national Committee for Quality assurance (NCQA), Health Plan Employer Data, and information set (HEDIS), and each clinical measure has its own benchmark.