PHPR 686 Hospital Externship I 

• Jane Henry, M.B.A., R.Ph.
  Director of Pharmacy
  St. Francis Health Center
  1700 W. 7th St.
  Topeka, KS 66606
• Phone: (785) 295-8053
• Fax: (785) 295-5530
• E-mail: jhenry@stfrancistopeka.org

Clerkship Description

Attendance:
The externship requirement is 40 hours / week at the site for a period of one calendar month.  Designated days defined by the School of Pharmacy in the Externship Manual are excused absences.  Externs are expected to be present 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday.  Weekends are only by prior approval and are generally reserved for make-up days, if needed.  In the event of illness or other unforeseen circumstance, the extern should notify the Pharmacy as soon as possible.

Goals

Within a clerkship experience, several general goals are aimed at developing and enhancing student's skills in implementing the philosophy of pharmaceutical care.  Through participation in an institutional clerkship, students should:

1.      Understand the steps in medication use process.

2.      Understand the basic operations of the in-patient pharmacy and be able to perform the assigned duties (i.e., IV admixture preparation, cart-fill, unit-dose packaging, order processing, etc.).

3.      Understand the inventory control process and formulary management.

4.      Provide drug information, recommendations and patient education, confidently and efficiently.

5.      Gain an appreciation and understanding of the concept of pharmaceutical care and its importance in the delivery of health care to an institutionalized patient.

6.      Develop the skills necessary to effectively and efficiently apply and integrate information from the basic pharmaceutical and medical sciences to direct patient care.

7.      Gain experience in prospectively solving medication-related problems.

8.      Develop the skills necessary to communicate effectively with patients and health care providers.

9.      Understand the benefits of professional association membership and involvement.

10.  Understand basic administrative responsibilities for a hospital pharmacy department.

11.  Understand the importance of patient safety in the medication use process.

12.  Understand the regulatory requirements for hospital pharmacies.

Objectives

Upon completion of the one-month hospital externship, the student should be able to:

1.      Describe the basic administrative functions required for a hospital pharmacy department.

2.      Describe the importance of safety and quality in the medication use process.

3.      Describe hospital pharmacy regulatory groups, what they do, and how they impact patient safety.

4.      Describe the reasons for maintaining a formulary.

5.      Describe the benefits of professional associations and the resources they offer for hospital pharmacists.

6.      Describe the relationship of Pharmacy to other departments in the hospital.

7.      Demonstrate competency and efficiency in evaluating and monitoring patient's pharmacotherapy regimen. 

8.      Utilize problem-solving skills effectively and efficiently in the patient care setting.

9.      Demonstrate competency and efficiency in formulating pharmacy-specific problem lists and a therapeutic management plans.

10.  Effectively and efficiently answer drug information questions using both written and verbal communication.

11.  Effectively communicate therapeutic problems and your recommendations to other health care professionals.

12.  Effectively communicate to patients and demonstrate competency in taking medication histories and conducting discharge counseling.

Student Responsibilities

The student is expected to:

1.      Complete the orientation materials prior to the first day and bring them with

           him/her on Day 1.

2.      Be on time.

3.      Conduct himself/herself in a professional manner at all times.

4.      Respect the confidentiality of the patients and their medical record.

5.      Attend the patient care meetings with the Clinical Coordinator or designated clinical pharmacist.

6.      Wear a clean, white, short-waisted, long-sleeved, neatly pressed lab coat and nametag at all times in patient care areas.

7.      Present a minimum of one new patient to the assigned clinical pharmacist or Clinical Coordinator daily.

8.      Follow his/her assigned patients, update the assigned clinical pharmacist or Clinical Coordinator on their progress daily and make recommendations as appropriate.

9.      Present one formal case presentation or in-service to the staff near the end of the rotation.

10.  Discuss topics as assigned with the Clinical Coordinator and/or the staff.

11.  Answer assigned drug information questions in a timely manner.

12.  Provide a written review of at least one assigned article for Journal Club.

13.  Complete all assigned projects and DI questions by the assigned deadlines.

Preparation/Recommended Readings

 On site.

Specific Site Requirements/Information

Directions to Site

 Provided upon request