ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To implement a 5-week advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in community engagement and assess the impact of the APPE on students' confidence and ability to provide community-based services. DESIGN: Working with community partners, students provided medication reconciliation, attended interprofessional healthcare meetings, developed health-promotion activities, and conducted medication-therapy reviews. ASSESSMENT: Responses to pre- and post-APPE 10-item surveys, preceptor and practice-experience evaluations, and the documented number of pharmacy student recommendations were determined. CONCLUSION: This APPE provides students opportunities in nontraditional community settings to increase their confidence and enhance their skills in health-promotion activities, medication-therapy management, and interprofessional care of patients, all of which are essential to the practice of pharmacy.
Subject(s)
Community Pharmacy Services/organization & administration , Education, Pharmacy/methods , Students, Pharmacy/psychology , Clinical Competence , Competency-Based Education , Curriculum , Educational Measurement , Health Promotion/methods , Humans , Medication Therapy Management/education , Patient Care/methodsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the fracture risk of long-term care residents with multiple sclerosis (MS) using ultrasound heel-scan technology and identification of risk factors and areas where intervention by a pharmacist might affect patient outcomes. DESIGN: Bilateral-heel scans were performed on all patients who consented to take part in the study. A retrospective review of each subject's medical records was performed to identify known risk factors for osteoporosis. SETTING: A long-term care facility in Omaha, Nebraska. PARTICIPANTS: All patients with a primary diagnosis of MS residing at the facility were eligible for participation. Of 11 patients identified, 10 consented to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: T-scores of the right and left heel as determined by ultrasound-heel scan were used to determine if study participants met criteria for osteopenia or osteoporosis as set forth by the World Health Organization. CONCLUSION: Patients in our population who have MS are at high risk for fracture. There are several areas in which pharmacists can intervene to prevent fracture and improve patient outcomes, including administration of heel scans for persons believed to be at risk, recommendation of over-the-counter supplements, and education of both patients and health care practitioners.
