Incorporation of a community pharmacy–based heart failure assessment tool by advanced pharmacy practice experience students

Abstract

ObjectivesTo incorporate a published clinical tool related to heart failure (HF) assessment into advanced pharmacy practice experiences in the community pharmacy setting to provide a meaningful and innovative learning experience for students. SettingSixteen independent and chain community pharmacies that served as advanced pharmacy practice experience locations. Practice descriptionSixteen community pharmacy locations served as rotation sites and participated in data collection (8 chain and 8 independent). Practice innovationThis was the first study in which pharmacy students used The One-Minute Clinic for Heart Failure (TOM-C HF) tool to assess HF within the community pharmacy setting. InterventionsTrained student pharmacists identified patients who may have heart failure by evaluating medication dispensing records, interviewed the patient using the TOM-C HF tool, and made interventions as clinically appropriate. EvaluationThe number of students using the TOM-C HF tool, the number and types of interventions made, and student perceptions about the educational and professional value of the patient interaction. ResultsThirty-three of 83 (40%) students completed 63 patient assessments. Thirty-five percent of patients (22/63) were candidates for an intervention. Interventions were performed in 9 of 22 patients (41%). More than 65% of students found the patient interaction to have educational and professional value. ConclusionStudents were able to assess HF patients and make interventions in a community pharmacy setting. The majority of students also perceived some value in these assessments. The incorporation of a clinical tool in the community setting driven by fourth-year pharmacy students has been shown to be feasible and to provide both a novel advanced practice experience. In addition, it may be expandable to the services offered at community pharmacies.