title: Optimizing resident physician use of clinical pharmacy services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical pharmacists provide pharmacy services in family medicine residency programs across the nation. Currently, clinical pharmacy services are not optimally used by most residents. The objective of this study was to design strategies to educate family medicine resident physicians on optimal use of clinical pharmacy services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2009 and May 2010, surveys and focus groups were conducted to develop educational strategies tailored to physician residents' needs. Strategies included visual reminders and one-on-one time between pharmacists and residents. Data on pharmacy services use was collected before and after implementing the educational strategies and analyzed to assess the effectiveness of the strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical pharmacy services use by resident physicians increased after the intervention (51.5% to 57.2%). Reasons providers used pharmacy services changed after the intervention, with increases in drug information (66.2% to 69.4%) and patient education services (2.5% to 7.2%) and a decrease in patient care services (31.2% to 23.3%). Pharmacists saw fewer uncomplicated patients (59.1% to 53.9%) and more complicated patients (19.7% to 38.5%) after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educating resident physicians on optimal use of pharmacy services required clarification of the pharmacist's role on the care team and in the educational process. The educational strategies defined the pharmacist role to include that of a preceptor and not just patient care provider, a distinction that is congruent with the medical teaching model. These strategies could be applied at other training sites to optimize use of clinical pharmacy services in physician residency training programs.
authors: University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. loun0015@umn.edu
authors: Jody L
authors: JL
authors: Lounsbery
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Moon
authors: Alanna
authors: A
authors: Humphrey
authors: Shailendra
authors: S
authors: Prasad
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008910:Minnesota; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010595:Pharmacists; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024382:Professional Role; D017010:Reminder Systems