An advanced pharmacy practice experience in inpatient medication education.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a unique advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in which pharmacy students provided medication education to hospitalized patients.


METHODS
Students were trained to independently assess patients' needs for education and identify drug-related problems. Students then provided medication education and performed medication therapy management under the supervision of clinical staff pharmacists. To assess the impact of the APPE, the number of hospitalized patients assessed and educated during the 3-month time period prior to student involvement was compared to the first 3 months of the APPE.


RESULTS
Student participation increased the number of patients receiving medication education and medication therapy management from the hospital pharmacy. At the end of the APPE, students reported that the experience positively affected their ability to impact patients' care and to critique their own learning and skills.


CONCLUSIONS
The inpatient medication education APPE provided students the opportunity to be responsible and accountable for the provision of direct patient care. In addition, the APPE benefitted the hospital, the school of pharmacy, and, most importantly, the patients.
Donihi
Amy Calabrese
AC
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. calabresea@upmc.edu
Weber
Robert J
RJ
Sirio
Carl A
CA
Mark
Scott M
SM
Meyer
Susan M
SM
D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy