A Dentist, Pilot, and Pastry Chef Walk into a Bar…Why Teaching PPCP is Not Enough

Abstract

For both education and practice, the dissemination of the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioner's Patient Care Process for Pharmacists has heightened attention to the need for a defined care process for pharmacists. Yet, when one compares this framework with those described in other disciplines, what makes it specific to pharmacy? Graduates must establish their unique role in patient care management among the health care team. Therefore, it is essential that pharmacy educators prepare students to contribute uniquely and communicate articulately about those contributions. This involves intentionally teaching an explicit clinical assessment process and a recognized taxonomy for communicating medication-related needs. In addition, educators must: ensure integration of patient care frameworks unique to pharmacists in curricula, commit to critical evaluation of care process instruction, and partner with external stakeholders to establish the distinct contributions of pharmacists to team-based care.