Recommendations for Meeting the Pediatric Patient's Need for a Clinical Pharmacist: A Joint Opinion of the Pediatrics Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group

Abstract

Children warrant access to care from clinical pharmacists trained in pediatrics. The American College of Clinical Pharmacy Pediatrics Practice and Research Network (ACCP Pediatrics PRN) released an opinion paper in 2005 with recommendations for improving the quality and quantity of pediatric pharmacy education in colleges of pharmacy, residency programs, and fellowships. Although progress has been made in increasing the availability of pediatric residencies, there is still much to be done to meet the direct care needs of pediatric patients. The purpose of this joint opinion paper is to outline strategies and recommendations for expanding the quality and capacity of pediatric clinical pharmacy practitioners by elevating the minimum expectations for pharmacists entering pediatric practice, standardizing pediatric pharmacy education, expanding the current number of pediatric clinical pharmacists, and creating an infrastructure for development of pediatric clinical pharmacists and clinical scientists. These recommendations may be used to provide both a conceptual framework and action items for schools of pharmacy, health care systems, and policymakers to work together to increase the quality and quantity of pediatric training, practice, and research initiatives.

Pharmaceutical Care in Children: Self-reported knowledge, attitudes and competency of final-year pharmacy students in Jordan

“…Clinical and Basic Research | e469 C hildren represent a significant proportion of the population requiring pharmacy services in a variety of hospital and community settings; as such, pharmacists play an essential role in paediatric care. [1][2][3][4] Due to advances in paediatric medicine, the increasing complexity of childhood diseases and unique dosing and pharmacokinetic challenges, there is growing need to educate pharmacists in basic paediatric competencies. Furthermore, it is estimated that the use of prescription medications among paediatric patients is substantial; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14-20% of patients under 19 years old surveyed in 2008 reported having used at least one prescription drug in the preceding month.…”

“…5,6 As a result, pharmacy curricula should emphasise a minimum level of paediatric pharmacotherapy competence; this could potentially help to lower the rate of paediatric medication errors. 1,7 The provision of pharmaceutical care to children can be challenging, especially with regards to the appropriate drug, dosage and route of administration. Because of their relative lack of chronic ailments, children usually require fewer medications compared to adults; this, compounded with the various ethical and logistical barriers to studying the effects of medications among children, means that there are very few medications licensed for use among children.…”

Practice‐Readiness of U.S. Pharmacy Graduates to Provide Direct Patient Care

“…It is my opinion, and the opinion of others, that graduating pharmacy students will be best prepared to provide DPC by doing a residency. For some DPC positions there is also the need for specialized residency training and/or graduate work to have a rapid and most effective impact on the care of patients .…”

“…For some DPC positions there is also the need for specialized residency training and/or graduate work to have a rapid and most effective impact on the care of patients . As example of the latter, a recent joint opinion of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group and the Pediatrics Practice and Research Network of ACCP stated that to be considered a pediatric staff pharmacist, completion of a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) residency at a pediatric hospital or completing multiple pediatric rotations in a PGY1 residency in a health system that includes a children's hospital is necessary . To be a pediatric clinical pharmacist, the group recommended completing a PGY2 residency or a PGY1 and a minimum of 3–4 years of pediatric clinical experiences.…”

Relação entre o uso seguro de medicamentos e serviços de farmácia clínica em Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos

“…To detect medication adverse reactions and to avoid preventable drug-related problems (DRPs), many accredited hospitals4 - 7 have been putting efforts to implement Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS). Since the last decade, the multifaceted collaboration between Pediatricians, Critical Care Physicians and Clinical Pharmacists was endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics,5 American College of Clinical Pharmacy and many studies in the field 5…”