Overcoming barriers to interprofessional practice/education through legislative reform: A University of Colorado case study

Abstract

Pharmacy students are required to be licensed (intern-pharmacists). Colorado statute required a licensed pharmacist to supervise students while engaging in Interprofessional clinical experiences. Allow pharmacy students to participate in patient care activities when led by other interprofessional team members. Between 2010 and 2012 we engaged collaborators (other pharmacy/health professions schools, state board of pharmacy, Colorado Pharmacists Society, practitioners, and the public) to establish the need to change Colorado statutes. The law changed in 2012 and rules were drawn in 2013 allowing students to be supervised by non-pharmacists practitioners. Students now complete interprofessional practice experiences through retail pharmacy – community health center partnerships, community based primary care clinics, and early interprofessional practice experiences. All students (160) complete one interprofessional experience with roughly 50 students completing additional experiences. Students engage in collaborative patient visits, conduct medication reconciliation, and provide counseling and drug information services. Changing law allowed more pharmacy students to contribute to interprofessional patient care practices.