title: Implementation of a training program to improve pharmacy services for high-risk neonatal and maternal populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A training program aimed at increasing pharmacists' role in the care of high-risk maternal, neonatal, and pediatric patients is described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In preparation for the planned expansion of a large Ohio hospital's maternal and neonatal critical care services, the pharmacy department developed a training program to increase the knowledge and skill sets of staff pharmacists, especially those who lacked residency training. The program also supported the department's transition to an integrated patient-centered pharmacy practice model. Clinical practice guidelines, policy statements, and other sources were used to develop a series of 57 one-hour lectures on a wide range of topics in maternal-neonatal critical care. The lectures were delivered one morning each week, every other week, over 30 months, with additional case-based homework assigned; a passing score (80%) on all module examinations and homework assignments was required for continued course participation. Trainees who completed the voluntary program earned a certificate from the department head and continuing-education credit from the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, and they were eligible to engage in expanded rounding and patient counseling activities. The program appeared to have a positive impact on patient satisfaction and efforts to reduce medication misadventures in the neonatal intensive care unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of a training program to educate non-residency-trained pharmacists in selected areas of maternal, neonatal, and pediatric health care helped enable the expansion of pharmacy services to include admission, daily, and discharge counseling.
authors.affiliation: Neonatology, Maternal and Pediatric Medicine, Hillcrest Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, USA. mtemple@ccf.org
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jakubecz
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Link
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009820:Ohio; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D024382:Professional Role; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care