title: The value of pharmacy services on a short-term medical mission trip: description of services and assessment of team satisfaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacists should be key members of a medical mission trip by providing assistance with medication knowledge and therapeutics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the value of a pharmacist as a member of a medical mission team through (1) pharmacy interventions on 2 medical teams and 1 women's health team and (2) team satisfaction with the pharmacy services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacy interventions were documented by 2 medical teams and 1 women's health team and included, but were not limited to, dosing recommendations, medication selection, and therapeutic substitution. Team satisfaction was determined from a 10-question survey administered on the last clinical day to all team members except pharmacists, pharmacy students, and physical therapists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pharmacy service dispensed 2119 prescriptions, with an average number of prescriptions of 1.84 per patient. A total of 2340 interventions were provided by the pharmacy service, averaging 2.04 interventions per patient and 1.1 interventions per prescription. The survey indicated that a pharmacist serves an integral role for the multidisciplinary medical team.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists play an important role in a short-term medical mission trip by serving as sources for medication knowledge and ensuring appropriate medication therapy management as part of the interdisciplinary team.
authors: Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, USA. jcrist2@su.edu
authors: Jennifer N
authors: JN
authors: Clements
authors: Michelle L
authors: ML
authors: Rager
authors: Emily M
authors: EM
authors: Vescovi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D057915:Drug Substitution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008493:Medical Missions; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D010595:Pharmacists; D059825:Physical Therapists; D010823:Physician Assistants; D014932:Women's Health Services; D055815:Young Adult