Contemporary Pharmacy Topics Prepare you for the Interview-

The contemporary pharmacy topics prepares you for the interview:
- Pharmaceutical Care [http://www.aphanet.org] Select Pharmacy Practice, then choose Principles of Practice for Pharmaceutical Care and Medication Therapy Management in Community Pharmacy Practice.
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) [http://www.pharmacist.com/hipaa.cfm]. Choose the articles (June & July 2003): Interactions with individuals other than the patient, part I & II.

Those are ONLY two topics that you need to be EDUCATED for the interview. However, if you think there is still more, please ADD.

I studied the first pharmacy module last week: Pharmacy Practice I. I was introduced to a new pharmacy setting- Pharmaceutical Care that will be implemented on Jan. 2006 (next year). I wish I knew it so I have something to discuss during the interview. At my interview with Auburn, they demonstrated a model of clinic settings of its new pharmacy building and I thought it was a joke!

I list the sites here if you couldn't follow the guide above.
- Principles of Practice for Pharmaceutical Care:[ http://www.aphanet.org/AM/Template....&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2906]
- Medication Therapy Management in Community Pharmacy Practice-Core Elements of an MTM Service [http://www.aphanet.org/AM/Template....mplate=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=3303]
- June 2003 - Interactions with individuals other than the patient, Part 1:
Notice of Privacy Practices and medication counseling [http://www.pharmacist.com/articles/h_hi_0012.cfm]
- July 2003 - Interactions with individuals other than the patient, Part 2:
Caregivers, personal representatives, and minors [http://www.pharmacist.com/articles/h_hi_0013.cfm]

When the Pharmaceutical Care is implemented in Jan. 2006, the pharmacists will take an active role in the drug therapy management for its patients. There are two main obstacles: reimbursement for their service and their lack of advanced practice skills. The pharmacists haven't been recognized as a health care providers by Medicare and other third-party payers. The second obstacle could be achieved. The author Randal P. McDonough said "For most pharmacists, the common fear that their knowledge is inadequate to provide pharmaceutical care is usually groundless. Often, they need only to be instructed in how to use and communicate the knowledge they have already gained. Many existing drug therapy problems do not require sophisticated therapeutic solutions. As pharmacists' drug assessment skills improve, they need to expand their therapeutic knowledge, which may be accomplished through programs offered by colleges of pharmacy, accredited continuing education providers, and state and national organizations."

There are two different definitions of the Pharmaceutical Care by the APhA. Both clarify a new role of pharmacists.

1) Pharmaceutical Care is a patient-centered, outcomes oriented pharmacy practice that requires the pharmacist to work in concert with the patient and the patient's other healthcare providers to promote health, to prevent disease, and to assess, monitor, initiate, and modify medication use to assure that drug therapy regimens are safe and effective.

Or 2) Pharmaceutical care is a process of drug therapy management that requires a change in the orientation of traditional professional attitudes and re-engineering of the traditional pharmacy environment. Certain elements of structure must be in place to provide quality pharmaceutical care. Some of these elements are: (1) knowledge, skill, and function of personnel, (2) systems for data collection, documentation, and transfer of information, (3) efficient work flow processes, (4) references, resources and equipment, (5) communication skills, and (6) commitment to quality improvement and assessment procedures.

In my first post, I added "[ ]" to the links, so you couldn't get the sites directly. Now, I quote it again here.

- Principles of Practice for Pharmaceutical Care: http://www.aphanet.org/AM/Template....s&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2906

- Medication Therapy Management in Community Pharmacy Practice-Core Elements of an MTM Service
http://www.aphanet.org/AM/Template....emplate=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=3303

- June 2003 - Interactions with individuals other than the patient, Part 1:
Notice of Privacy Practices and medication counseling
http://www.pharmacist.com/articles/h_hi_0012.cfm

- July 2003 - Interactions with individuals other than the patient, Part 2:
Caregivers, personal representatives, and minors
http://www.pharmacist.com/articles/h_hi_0013.cfm