Learn Today-Apply Tomorrow: The SMART Pharmacist Program.

Michael J Rouse,Arijana Meštrović

doi:10.3390/pharmacy8030139

Abstract

The SMART Pharmacist Program was initiated by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and Pharma Expert in 2014. It was designed to introduce a new continuing education model for pharmacists for the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association, and to support development of competencies for future practice. After successful implementation in Turkey, the Program spread to 16 additional countries. To assure quality, globally adopted and validated tools and best practices were used, respecting the national context. National competency frameworks and quality indicators for pharmaceutical care delivery were developed. Pharmacists’ learning portfolios were introduced and patient care modules created. Under the sub-title “Learn Today—Apply Tomorrow,” the changes in practice were introduced under the leadership of national host organizations. The Program showed an impact on the patient level in several countries, especially in areas of patient care in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Hypertension and Dyslipidemia, Diabetes, and the patient care process in general (e.g., identifying drug-related problems, improving patient safety, collaborating with medical doctors). Changes are visible at the individual (pharmacists) and organizational levels. Barriers and facilitators to the change-management process during Program implementation are identified. In some countries, the Program is recognized as one of the most important initiatives in pharmacy education and practice, with visible support of national medicines agencies, academia, government, and WHO regional offices.

Highlights

There have been many advances in the Pharmacy profession over the past several decades, mainly in the areas of education and practice. Innovative concepts such as clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, self-directed lifelong learning, and patient-centered care have been introduced in the profession
In 12 countries, the Program was introduced as a model by conducting a Master Class or SMART Workshop to present the principles of the Program, and explain the methodology and tools used
In Montenegro, the collaboration between pharmacist and pulmonologists was initiated by the Chamber of Pharmacists, which is the national pharmacy regulator, and results will be presented at national conferences by the end of 2020

Summary

Introduction

There have been many advances in the Pharmacy profession over the past several decades, mainly in the areas of education and practice. Innovative concepts such as clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, self-directed lifelong learning, and patient-centered care have been introduced in the profession. Good concepts, such as these, are essential to advancing a profession, but not sufficient. Classification) [1,2] resulting in “pockets of excellence,” but deep pervasive change, which requires strategic profession-wide collaboration and leadership, and buy in and implementation by the Early. The Introduction provides important context, describing developments—both successes and challenges—to explain how we have reached this point in the profession

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion