Course Introduction and Clinical Services Post-Session Slides_2024W

PHRM 251 Overview

• Instructors: Asal Taheri, B.Sc. (Pharm), ACPR, Pharm D; Kayla Fang, B.Sc. (Pharm), ACPR

• Date: January 15th, 2024

• Course Focus: Introduction to Institutional Practice Skills

Course Goals

• Enhance understanding of pharmacy practice in inpatient and Health Authority-based settings.

• Build knowledge and skills for experiential learning opportunities.

Schedule & Modality

• Class Days: Wednesdays, 8 – 10 am (every other week)

• Mode: In-person with some synchronous online sessions.

• Details available in syllabus and Canvas.

Course Topics

• Clinical Services

• Medication Coordination & Med Safety

• Navigating Patient Charts

• Completing Patient Work-ups

• Reporting Patient Work-ups

• Documentation

• Discharge Planning

• Preparing for PHRM 272

• Panel Discussions with Pharmacists from Inpatient and Health Authority settings

Medical Abbreviations Overview

• Importance of understanding medical abbreviations for patient safety.

• Familiarity with ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations to avoid medication errors.

  • Examples of Common Abbreviations:

    • AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

    • AAA: abdominal aortic aneurysm

    • AKI: acute kidney injury

    • AF: atrial fibrillation

    • ADR: adverse drug reaction

Assessment Overview

• Content Covered: Lectures 1 to 6 (Jan 15 – Feb 12) + Medical Abbreviations List

Lecture 1: Introduction to Institutional Practice Settings

Learning Objectives

• Describe various Health Authority-based settings for pharmacists.

• Compare private vs. public-funded settings, acute vs. long-term care, and tertiary vs. rural hospitals.

• Explain the organizational structure of Health Authorities in British Columbia and the roles of interdisciplinary teams.

• Outline pharmacists' roles in Health Authority practice settings.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Practice

• Inpatient: Overnight stay for treatment and monitoring.

• Outpatient: Medical care without hospitalization.

• Examples of facilities and funding sources:

  • Public Funding: Hospitals, long-term care, hospice.

  • Private Funding: Community pharmacies and independent clinics.

Types of Hospitals

• Tertiary/Teaching Hospitals:

  • Affiliated with medical schools, involved in training healthcare professionals.

  • Specialized patient areas, e.g., Vancouver General, Royal Jubilee.

• Community/Rural Hospitals:

  • Service local communities, fewer specialties, less integration of care.

Health Authority Structure

• Key Organizations:

  • Ministry of Health

  • Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA)

  • Regional Health Authorities

  • First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)

Regional Health Authorities Duties

• Oversee health services in geographic areas, identify population health needs, and manage funding and performance.

Interdisciplinary Team Roles

• Benefits: Improved patient care, cost reduction, and quality enhancement.

• Team Members Include: Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals.

Specific Team Roles

• Medical Team: Attending Physicians, Physicians in training (Residents, Fellows).

• Nursing Team: Care Management Leaders, Registered Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses.

Pharmacist Roles within BC Health Authorities

• Grade 1: Primarily dispensary duties, limited training.

• Grade 2: Clinical responsibilities, completion of residency.

• Grade 3: Clinical Pharmacy Specialists, extensive training.

• Grade 4/5: Supervisory roles, higher education qualifications.

Lecture 2: Clinical Pharmacy Services and Prioritizing Care

Learning Objectives

• Understand how clinical pharmacists prioritize care and improve patient outcomes.

• Recognize common medication complications that require pharmacist intervention.

• Describe the rationale for targeted pharmacy services.

Clinical Pharmacy Services in BC

• Role Definition: Promote safe and effective drug therapy; provide direct patient care.

• Benefits of Services: Reduction in mortality, hospital stays, admissions, medication errors, improved compliance.

Ideal Clinical Pharmacy Scenarios

• Comprehensive care that integrates discharge planning and counseling with regular assessments.

Factors Influencing Clinical Pharmacy Services

• Variability depending on hospital type, patient acuity, and resource constraints.

Strategies for Prioritizing Care

• Implementing timely responses to urgent requests and focusing on high priority tasks.

Automated Tools in Clinical Practice

• Use of reports such as targeted drugs reports and renal dosing guides.

Targeted Clinical Pharmacy Services

• Services focusing on high priority issues, e.g., Drug Measurement Service, Renal Dosing Service, and Antimicrobial Stewardship.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Importance

• Ensuring appropriate use of antibiotics to minimize resistance.

Opioid Stewardship Initiatives

• Managing opioid prescribing to maintain effective pain management.

Transitioning from IV to PO Medications

• Clinical considerations for switching from intravenous to oral medications, evaluating patient stability and drug efficacy.

Student Case Scenarios

• Engaging case studies to assess understanding of patient drug therapy management.