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Civilian pharmacy involvement in Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training
Objectives:
Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) is a United States military exercise that provides training for military personnel while providing services for communities. The objective of this paper was to describe civilian pharmacy services provided during an IRT, Operation Empower Health.
Setting:
Operation Empower Health took place on May 10 to 18, 2018, in Savannah and Garden City, Georgia. Pharmacy operations included a limited formulary of medications. Civilian pharmacy volunteers were paired with military persons at 2 of 4 locations.
Practice Description:
Student pharmacists, residents, preceptors, and faculty provided disease state education to patients during triage. After receiving medical or dental services, patients were provided prescription and over-the-counter medications at the dispensing and counseling station. Civilian pharmacy personnel worked with military personnel to dispense and counsel on medications. Many patients required additional health services or postclinic care. University of Georgia College of Pharmacy faculty members were able to meet with patients for follow-up. An in-service to military personnel was provided by the pharmacists regarding common medication errors.
Evaluation:
Within Operation Empower Health, 7942 patients were provided health care services at no cost. A total of 11 students, 5 residents, 2 University of Georgia College of Pharmacy faculty, and 1 preceptor provided pharmacy services during the event. Civilian pharmacy personnel were able to educate 566 patients for a total of 2700 minutes. In addition to medications, patients were counseled on lifestyle interventions.
Conclusion:
Overall, IRT builds mutually beneficial civilian-military partnerships between communities and the Department of Defense. Civilian pharmacy personnel were able to offer medication and lifestyle counseling in addition to managing medication dispensing. Student pharmacists, in particular, were given a unique interprofessional learning opportunity in addition to having a culturally competent experience.
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