Pharmacy practice-based research networks: why, what, who, and how.
OBJECTIVE
To describe practice innovations that can lead to measurable advances in the safety and effectiveness of medication use and to recommend a course of action that is likely to lead to practicable improvements in the medication use system.


METHODS
Proceedings of a national conference; review of the medical literature.


RESULTS
Only those interventions that can be reliably implemented by typical practitioners in a wide range of practice settings can produce lasting benefits for considerable numbers of patients. Teamwork between and among disciplines is needed for new insights and novel approaches to delivering pharmaceutical products and services. Building on the experience of other health disciplines, a cross section of pharmacy practitioners, researchers, educators, and leaders were able to identify the key questions, strategies, and actions needed to form collaborations for devising and testing new ideas and transferring the findings into everyday practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacy practice research that leads to improvements in the medication use process is needed. Practice-based research networks provide a model for building a synergy among pharmacists and other stakeholders to devise improvements that provide sustainable and systemwide improvements in medication use.
Lipowski
Earlene E
EE
College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville.; Donald C. Brodie Academic Scholar in Residence, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Alexandria, Va.. Electronic address: lipowski@cop.ufl.edu.
D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration; D010604:Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012107:Research Design