6ER-027\u2005Clinical pharmacy applications from the duquesne university clinical certificate programme: from training to today

Abstract

Background Clinical pharmacy in Italy is in the early stages of development. While pharmacists are interested in enhancing clinical practice, there is a need for training to ensure preparation for this endeavour. While many programmes provide educational materials, shadowing and active participation in clinical pharmacy ensure pharmacists have the skills to be successful in enhancing practice. Purpose This descriptive report is to identify changes in clinical practice within multiple Italian institutions as a result of a hands-on training programme within the United States. Material and methods Five Italian hospital pharmacists completed a clinical pharmacy certificate programme 4 years’ ago at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The goals of the programme were to illustrate the role of the clinical pharmacist, to observe the impact of direct pharmacist involvement on the medical team and to demonstrate how clinical pharmacist activities can positively impact patient health outcomes, optimise services and reduce costs. Results The certificate programme provided training for those involved to integrate knowledge, skills and behaviours to carry out specific clinical activities. Protocols and initiatives resulted from this programme at several Italian institutions. These included: an antibiotic stewardship programme, protocols to improve pain management after surgical procedures and neuropathic pain, a protocol for oral therapy for dysphagic patients and provision of education on the use of smart infusion systems. In 2017, an intervention was developed for the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents in critically-ill patients. This intervention demonstrated a reduction in the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents within 24\u2009hours’ post-admission by 5% in the first 5 months. Another pharmacist’s intervention to monitor for the following of evidence-based practice led to a reduction in the variability of the use of medical devices from 59% to 42.2%. Conclusion Learning the practice of American clinical pharmacy represented a moment of change for the Italian pharmacists. Skills learned were applied despite the important differences between various institutions. Improving the patient’s health outcomes is a chance for the clinical pharmacist to practice regardless of the context in which one operates. It is believed that greater attention to the training of pre-graduate trainees and young colleagues towards a clinical path will impact clinical pharmacy in Italy. References and/or acknowledgements http://salute.regione.emilia-romagna.it/documentazione/rapporti/raccomandazione-4-corretta-gestione-forme-farmaceutiche-orali-2015/view No conflict of interest.