How does the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative affect the profession and why are we are we involved in this movement?
“By describing patient care services and activities that support the safe and effective use of medications, corresponding models can be adopted that optimize the full potential of pharmacist, technician, and technology resources. The initiative and summit is important to inspire passion, commitment, and action among pharmacy leaders to implement and optimize the role of pharmacists as direct patient care providers.”
A full set of practice recommendations is summarized here.
For our purposes let’s focus on four major themes represented by these recommendations, which you can bring up in class, while on rotation, or on an interview:
• Move pharmacists closer to the patient
All patients should have a right to receive the care of a pharmacist.
• Ensure quality and safe use of medications
Hospital and health-system pharmacists must be responsible and accountable for patient’s medication related outcomes.
• Empower a well-developed technician workforce
Pharmacy technicians who have appropriate education, training and credentials should be used much more extensively to free pharmacists from drug distribution activities.
• Incorporate the wide-spread use of technology
Automation and technology must be leveraged to optimize medication delivery and allow pharmacists to practice at the “top of their license.”
If you’re reading this as a student, you can probably remember times these concepts came up during rotations. How were your rotation sites supporting, or not supporting, these concepts? Why or why not? These are important questions and great interview topics.
In coming blogs we’ll discuss why PPMI is important as a student, and PPMI questions to ask during residency interviews. Check out the following resources if you want to jump ahead: