Training staff pharmacists for clinical positions

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Establishing and maintaining clinical competency in hospital pharmacists is crucial for expanding patient care services.
• A structured training program is essential for equipping pharmacists with the necessary skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a comprehensive five-phase education and training program for hospital pharmacists.
• To detail the methods used to establish and maintain clinical competency.
• To highlight the program's role in developing clinical pharmacy services.

Main Methods:

• A five-phase program including self-study, clinical instruction, patient care experience, and drug information center rotation.
• Phase 1: Textbook and journal study (15 sections, 20-30 hours each).
• Phase 2: Clinical routine instruction and problem-solving (2 months).
• Phase 3: Clinical pharmacist duties in patient-care areas (2 months).
• Phase 4: Drug information center experience (2 months).
• Phase 5: Continuous education (rounds, meetings, conferences).

Main Results:

• Pharmacists completing Phases 1-4 provide clinical services for 8-10 months annually.
• Rotation to pharmacy distribution occurs during the remaining 2-4 months.
• The program facilitates the development and expansion of clinical pharmacy services.

Conclusions:

• The described five-phase program effectively establishes and maintains clinical competency in hospital pharmacists.
• This comprehensive training model is vital for the growth of clinical pharmacy services in hospitals.
• The program ensures pharmacists are well-prepared for advanced clinical roles.