The individual's role in maintaining a positive climate.

INTRODUCTION: This commentary adds to the discussion about academic workload challenges raised in the Mothers in Academic Pharmacy article. Outlined here are strategies for individual faculty members to proactively engage in developing a positive climate for all faculty. PERSPECTIVE: Faculty play an important role in building and maintaining a positive culture. This article provides suggestions for individuals to consider their role and impact at their institution. These suggestions focus on communication, building communities, embracing flexibility, and recognizing burnout. IMPLICATIONS: Faculty retention is important for student support and financial efficiency. Faculty who are able to openly discuss their struggles in a positive climate are more likely to identify opportunities to be productive. This helps faculty meet their overall needs and maintain success in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Partnering with the Department of Insurance: Coordinating a clinical and regulatory review of formulary benefit designs.

This case report summarizes a partnership between Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Indiana Department of Insurance. The report outlines the review of qualified health plans sold on the marketplace. Details are provided on how the College responded to requests by the department to provide a more comprehensive review of marketplace formularies. This included the development of clinical appropriateness tools for multiple disease states. The aim of this partnership was to improve prescription coverage for Indiana residents and address formulary design discrimination.

Evaluation of two different poverty simulations with professional phase pharmacy students.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pharmacy students will interact with patients who struggle to receive the health care they need. Since attitudes can influence behavior, exposure to these struggles may positively improve patient care. This study evaluates a group of student responses to two different interventions approximately 9 months apart. The primary objectives of this study were to: (1) identify if SPENT, an online game, could alone improve students' attitudes towards those living in poverty, (2) determine if changes imparted by SPENT were retained for nine months, and (3) identify if CAPS, a live simulation, has an additional benefit. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Student participants completed both the SPENT online game and the CAPS simulation. Students were asked to complete the Undergraduate Perceptions of Poverty Tracking Survey (UPPTS) before and after each simulation FINDINGS: Ninety-nine first year and second year professional phase pharmacy students completed both interventions and all surveys. The average pre-survey and post survey "scores" for the SPENT game were 133.52 and 135.54, a statistically significant improvement (p=0.046). When comparing the SPENT post "score" and the pre-survey score of CAPS (136.45) there was no significant difference (p=0.423). The average pre-survey and post survey "scores" for CAPS were 136.45 and 139.18, a statistically significant improvement (p=0.001). An analysis of the overall change showed a statistically significant improvement of 5.6667 (p<0.001). DISCUSSION: Both the online SPENT game and CAPS live simulation interventions had positive effects on the students' empathy towards people living in poverty.

Use of an Online Game to Evaluate Health Professions Students' Attitudes toward People in Poverty.

Objective. To determine baseline attitudes of pharmacy, physician assistant studies, and communication science and disorders students toward people in poverty and to examine the effectiveness of using the online poverty simulation game SPENT to affect these attitudes. Methods. Students completed pre/postassessments using the validated Undergraduate Perceptions of Poverty Tracking Survey (UPPTS). Students played the online, open access, SPENT game alone and/or in pairs in a 50-minute class. Results. Significant improvements in scale scores were seen in students after playing SPENT. Quartile results by prescore indicated that students with the lowest attitudes towards patients in poverty improved the most. Results suggested that most students found the experience worthwhile for themselves and/or for their classmates. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest SPENT may improve perspectives of undergraduate pharmacy and other health professions students.

Treatment of infertility in women.

OBJECTIVES: To review causes and risk factors associated with infertility, relevant diagnostic procedures, and available pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options; to identify common dosing, administration, adverse effects, and key counseling points associated with infertility treatments; and to describe the role of the pharmacist in caring for patients with infertility. DATA SOURCES: Available clinical literature identified through searches of Medline and review of major textbooks in reproductive medicine. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were selected primarily to reflect current infertility treatment practices in the United States. The specific criteria evaluated included date of the study; date of publication; study population, including diagnosis, baseline characteristics, and nationality; and number of participants. DATA SYNTHESIS: Treatment of infertility often involves the use of both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapy. This article provides an overview of these pharmacologic treatments and provides two tables that outline the key administration and safety concerns with these products. Nonpharmacologic procedures associated with diagnosis and treatment also are outlined. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists are an excellent resource for patients suffering from infertility. First, pharmacists answer questions about administration and safety of these medications. Second, pharmacists discuss available treatment options and assist with referrals to specialists as needed. Third, pharmacists can provide emotional support for patients who may otherwise suffer in silence.