Potential cost avoidance of pharmacy students' patient care activities during advanced pharmacy practice experiences

To evaluate the potential cost avoidance of student interventions documented by fourth-year (P4) student pharmacists during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) in outpatient and inpatient settings.

The school-wide Web-based intervention database was retrospectively analyzed to review characteristics of interventions documented during the 2011-2012 APPE cycle. Potential cost avoidance for interventions was derived from a comprehensive literature review and adjusted to 2011 dollars based on the consumer price index for medical care.

Eighty-seven students (71% of the graduating class) documented 5,775 interventions over 36 weeks, with an estimated potential total cost avoidance of $908,800. The intervention categories associated with the greatest cost avoidance were prevention of adverse drug events, provider education, and patient education.

Fourth-year student pharmacists and their preceptors had a positive impact, contributing to potential cost avoidance in both the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy settings.