Director's Forum Research Articles

Which hematology/oncology patients are high priority for ambulatory clinical pharmacist review? A three-round Delphi survey by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Prioritization and acuity tools have been leveraged to facilitate targeted and efficient clinical pharmacist interventions. However, there is a lack of established pharmacy-specific acuity factors in the ambulatory hematology/oncology setting. Therefore, National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Pharmacy Directors Forum conducted a survey to establish consensus on acuity factors associated with hematology/oncology patients that are high priority for ambulatory clinical pharmacist review. A three-round electronic Delphi survey was conducted. During the first round, respondents were asked an open-ended question to suggest acuity factors based on their expert opinion. Respondents were then asked in the second round to agree or disagree with the compiled acuity factors, in which those with ≥75% agreement were included in the third round. The final consensus was defined as a mean score ≥3.33 on a modified 4-point Likert scale (4 = strongly agree, 1 = strongly disagree) during the third round. A total of 124 hematology/oncology clinical pharmacists completed the first round of the Delphi survey (invitation response rate, 36.7%), of which 103 completed the second round (response rate, 83.1%) and 84 the third round (response rate, 67.7%). A final consensus was achieved for 18 acuity factors. Acuity factors were identified in the following themes: antineoplastic regimen characteristics, drug interactions, organ dysfunction, pharmacogenomics, recent discharge, laboratory parameters, and treatment-related toxicities. This Delphi panel of 124 clinical pharmacists achieved consensus on 18 acuity factors that would identify a hematology/oncology patient as a high priority for ambulatory clinical pharmacist review. The research team envisions incorporating these acuity factors into a pharmacy-specific electronic scoring tool.

Summary of the 2021 Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Burn Association

Organized by the Chinese Medical Association and the Chinese Burn Association, hosted by the Hainan Medical Association and Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, and co-sponsored by the Chinese Journal of Burns (Chinese Journal of Burns and Wounds), Chinese Journal of Injury Repair and Wound Healing (Electronic Edition), and Burns & Trauma, the 2021 Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Burn Association was held in beautiful Haikou from December 14 to 16, 2021. The conference continued to focus on the guiding principle of "One China, One Standard" and followed the tenet of "precise, homogeneous, and comfortable treatment" for burns. The conference received a total of 1 638 submissions, 296 electronic posters, 891 online and offline registered delegates, and nearly 750 offline attendees. The conference focused on the theme, adopting a variety of novel forms to discuss the key issues in burn field, including academician and committee director forum, doctor-nurse-rehabilitation therapist combined case competition, discipline development forum, and workshop, recording and broadcasting of surgical operations. The atmosphere was warm in the conference site.

HPM Fellowship Directors Forum: Training the Next Generation—Innovations and Multi-Generational Training in Fellowship (P05)

HPM Fellowship Directors Forum: Training the Next Generation—Innovations and Multi-Generational Training in Fellowship (P05)

HPM Fellowship Directors Forum: HPM Reporting Milestones and Combined HPM Fellowships—Partnering Among and Within Institutions (P06)

•Perform the critical steps to implementing the new HPM Reporting Milestones.•Construct a shared mental model around using the HPM Reporting Milestones.•Explain the beneficial outcomes and logistical challenges of forming a combined HPM fellowship program. The HPM Fellowship Directors Forum will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about innovative partnerships within the HPM fellowship community and continue to develop connections with other palliative care educators. This year’s forum will focus on how to integrate fellowship programs with community and institutional partners in order to build upon or start new robust programs. First, the ACGME Executive Director of Milestones Development will lead an interactive session on implementing the new HPM Reporting Milestones and how to create a shared mental model around using the Milestones. Next, a panel of fellowship and medical directors from integrated pediatric, geriatric, hospice, and community-based programs will describe the specifics related to their unique partnerships and provide learners with suggested processes and procedures to establishing similar successful programs. By the end of this forum, participants will have tools to help them build community and institutional partnerships and perform more accurate and comprehensive assessments.

2017 Meeting of the National Directors of Graduate Studies in Pharmacology and Physiology.

The National Directors of Graduate Studies biennial meeting is a forum for directors from pharmacology and physiology graduate programs to discuss challenges and best practices for programs that are preparing trainees to be successful in the biomedical workforce. The 2017 meeting was held on the campus of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY. Over the course of the 3-day event, several themes evolved, including graduate education training and curricula, diversity and career development, and scientific rigor and communication. Overall, presentations and discussions highlighted the challenges and opportunities for training PhD biomedical scientists and featured best practices from across the country.

Restructuring a Pharmacy Department: Leadership Strategies for Managing Organizational Change.

Background: The Director's Forum series is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health-systems. This article focuses on leadership strategies for managing organizational change within a pharmacy department. Objective: The goals of this article are to describe the foundations of pharmacy organizational structure changes and strategies to efficiently and effectively manage the associated change. Methods: This article will aim to (1) describe the organizational structure change process, (2) list known rules to follow when redesigning an organizational structure, (3) briefly describe the organizational change at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, and (4) describe leadership strategies to overcome potential challenges of organizational changes. Conclusion: The strategies discussed in this article and proposed sample template for organizational change process may be used by a pharmacy department in an effort to restructure their department.

2015 Meeting of the National Directors of Graduate Studies in Pharmacology and Physiology

Researchers trained in pharmacology and physiology must possess not only a comprehensive knowledge of chemistry and the nature of compounds but also a deep understanding of physiology and predict how these compounds function in a system or organism. However, graduate programs in pharmacology and physiology have increasingly begun to focus on more reductionist approaches to basic science, neglecting training in integrative/systems physiology. In response to a decline in the competency of recent pharmacology and physiology graduates, a biennial meeting, National Directors of Graduate Studies (NDOGS) in pharmacology and physiology, was conceived to address these concerns and improve the quality of graduate education. NDOGS functions as a forum for directors of pharmacology and physiology programs to exchange ideas and tackle the challenges facing graduate education. The 2015 meeting was held on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, and each day of the meeting was allocated for discussion of a broad topic. On Friday, talks were aimed at “enhancing the professional pipeline.” On Saturday, the theme of “fitting training to emerging needs” tackled ways that universities can respond to the emerging needs of a changing society. Sunday morning updated graduate program directors about changes to National Institutes of Health T32 Training Grant applications and provided a forum for program directors to share their experiences and concerns. Throughout the meeting, presentations and discussions highlighted challenges and opportunities that apply broadly to PhD training in the biomedical sciences and revealed best practices to improve training and career preparation of PhD trainees.

Social Media As a Leadership Tool for Pharmacists.

The profession of pharmacy is currently experiencing transformational change in health system practice models with pharmacists' provider status. Gaining buy-in and support of stakeholders in medicine, nursing, and other advocates for patient care is critical. To this end, building momentum to advance the profession will require experimentation with and utilization of more efficient ways to disseminate relevant information. Traditional methods to communicate can be inefficient and painstakingly slow. Health care providers are turning to social media to network, connect, engage, educate, and learn. Pharmacy leaders can use social media as an additional tool in the leadership toolkit. This article of the Director's Forum shows how social media can assist pharmacy leaders in further developing patient-centered pharmacy services.

What to look for in your first job.

The first job is very important in setting a trajectory for career development and progress. Although new pharmacy graduates will generally enjoy excellent job opportunities, they need to consider specific factors in choosing their first job. In addition, the increased number of pharmacy schools has produced more pharmacy graduates, leading to more competition for jobs. This tight job market may cause students or residents to make a hasty decision about their first job. The goal of this Director's Forum is to provide guidance to young pharmacists as they choose their first job after schooling or training. This article specifically addresses the importance of the first job on career and personal development, lists the specific considerations in finding and deciding on the first job, and presents some experiences from others that may highlight possible pitfalls in choosing the first job. We hope the information in this article will provide some guidance to young pharmacists in choosing a job that meets the goals of their life plan while helping them to develop a career focused on providing patient-centered pharmacy services.

Life in a fishbowl: accountability and integrity in pharmacy leadership.

The Director's Forum is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems by providing practical information on various leadership topics. Pharmacists are bound to practice in the best interest of the patient and are obligated to act with integrity and in an ethical manner. Pharmacy directors and their leadership staff are additionally bound to manage their department with integrity. Staff often scrutinize the pharmacy director's actions, giving the director a feeling of "life in a fishbowl." Every action of the leader is judged in the context of personal integrity or their individual commitment to moral, spiritual, and ethical values. The objective of this article is to describe how a pharmacy leader manages this responsibility. This article addresses the pharmacy leader's obligations to act with integrity, reviews key integrity concerns in pharmacy leadership, and provides guidance for leading and managing in the context of ethics and integrity. Pharmacy directors must always be aware that they are open to both department and public scrutiny if they do not conduct themselves in a professional manner. Being accountable for their actions and maintaining a high standard of integrity, leaders can keep the focus of their departments on the goal of patient-centered pharmacy services.

Pharmacy Leader's Role in Hospital Emergency Preparedness Planning.

The Director's Forum column is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. Environmental disasters and terrorist attacks demonstrate that it is imperative for both a hospital and community to have an emergency preparedness plan. The goal of this article is to provide health-system pharmacy leaders with a practical approach in developing an emergency operations plan (EOP) that can be activated in the event of a disaster. Pharmacy leaders should (1) review government and community disaster responses and understand the movement of drug supply for each response, (2) create a pharmacy disaster plan, (3) list the essential medications and determine their inventory levels, and (4) establish a staff training program to enhance understanding and implementation of the EOP. If successfully developed and executed, a hospital pharmacy department's EOP has a high rating of success in meeting patient-centered needs in the unforeseen event of a disaster.

Pharmacy Leader's Role in Hospital Emergency Preparedness Planning.

The Director's Forum column is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. Environmental disasters and terrorist attacks demonstrate that it is imperative for both a hospital and community to have an emergency preparedness plan. The goal of this article is to provide health-system pharmacy leaders with a practical approach in developing an emergency operations plan (EOP) that can be activated in the event of a disaster. Pharmacy leaders should (1) review government and community disaster responses and understand the movement of drug supply for each response, (2) create a pharmacy disaster plan, (3) list the essential medications and determine their inventory levels, and (4) establish a staff training program to enhance understanding and implementation of the EOP. If successfully developed and executed, a hospital pharmacy department's EOP has a high rating of success in meeting patient-centered needs in the unforeseen event of a disaster.

Issues facing pharmacy leaders in 2014: suggestions for pharmacy strategic planning.

In 2013, the Director's Forum published our assessment of issues facing pharmacy leaders to assist pharmacy directors in planning for the year ahead. The issues include health care reform and the Affordable Care Act, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative, the health care workforce, patients' perceptions of pharmacists, and the changing landscape of pharmacy education. Based on our environmental scan, the issues addressed in 2013 are pertinent to a department's plan for 2014. The goal of this article is to provide practical approaches to each of these issues to help pharmacy directors focus their department's goals for 2014 to support the development of patient-centered pharmacy services. This column will address (1) strategies to reduce medication costs and generate new pharmacy revenue streams, (2) innovative approaches to improving medication safety and quality, (3) steps to advance the clinical practice model, and (4) ways to create mutually beneficial student experiences.

Measuring Change in Health-System Pharmacy Over 50 Years: "Reflecting" on the Mirror, Part II.

The Director's Forum guides pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Mirror to Hospital Pharmacy, which was a comprehensive study of hospital pharmacy services in the United States. This iconic textbook was co-authored by Donald Francke, Clifton J. Latiolais, Gloria N. Francke, and Norman Ho. The Mirror's results profiled hospital pharmacy of the 1950s; these results established goals for the profession in 6 paradigms: (1) professional philosophy and ethics; (2) scientific and technical expansion of health-system pharmacy; (3) development of administrative and managerial acumen; (4) increased practice competence; (5) wage and salary commensurate with professional responsibilities; and (6) health-system pharmacy as a vehicle for advancing the profession as a whole. This article critically reviews our progress on the last of 3 goals. An understanding of the profession's progress on these goals since the seminal work of the Mirror provides directors of pharmacy a platform from which to develop strategies to enhance patient-centered pharmacy services.

Profiles in Leadership: Donald E. Francke, MSc, DSc (Hon)

The Director's Forum series is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. August 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Mirror to Hospital Pharmacy, the results of a federally funded comprehensive study of pharmacy services in the United States. The late Don E. Francke, MS, DSc, was the lead author of the Mirror and the principal investigator for the US Public Health Service grant W-45. To celebrate the anniversary of the Mirror, the Director's Forum is profiling the leadership styles of Drs. Latiolais and Francke. September's article highlighted Dr. Clifton J. Latiolais; this month's Director's Forum reviews Dr. Francke's biography and key career accomplishments, describes his leadership philosophy, and translates that philosophy to today's health care challenges. Don's influence on health system pharmacy serves as an example of effective leadership. This historical perspective provides directors of pharmacy a valuable leadership view as they develop strategies to enhance patient-centered pharmacy services.

Profiles in Leadership: Clifton J. Latiolais, MSc, DSc

The Director's Forum series is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. August 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Mirror to Hospital Pharmacy, which was a comprehensive study of pharmacy services in the United States. The late Clifton J. Latiolais, MS, DSc, served as the assistant program director for the study and was a co-author of the Mirror. The late Don E. Francke, MS, DSc, was the lead author of the Mirror and the principal investigator of the federally funded study that reviewed hospital pharmacy services across the United States. The next 2 articles in Director's Forum profile the leadership of Drs. Latiolais and Francke. This article highlights Dr. Latiolais ("Clif") by briefly reviewing his biography and key career accomplishments, describing his leadership philosophy, and translating that philosophy to today's health care challenges. Clif's influence on health system pharmacy serves as an example of effective leadership. This historical perspective on Clif's leadership, as seen through the eyes of those who knew him, provides directors of pharmacy a valuable leadership viewpoint as they develop strategies to enhance patient-centered pharmacy services.

Making the Most of a Professional Meeting

The Director's Forum series is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. During the early winter months, pharmacists will converge upon a major city and participate in the Midyear Clinical Meeting ("Midyear") of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. This meeting involves almost 21,000 students, residents, and new and seasoned professionals catching up with colleagues and classmates, networking for better practice solutions, and presenting their organization's successes. In this era of fiscal restraint, many hospitals are reducing travel expenses and limiting the participation of their staff in professional meetings. In the past, professional meetings may have been seen as a boondoggle, but they can benefit individuals at all stages of their career (student, mid-level, and late careers). Students can make vital career decisions through information received at professional meetings, mid-level career individuals will gain valuable ideas for practice model enhancement, and late career individuals can provide mentoring for younger and mid-level career professionals. If properly managed, attendance at a professional meeting can have very positive benefits on the career growth of pharmacy staff and help in the pharmacy department's development of effective patient-centered services.

Recommendations for Smooth Career Transitions in Pharmacy Leadership

The Director's Forum is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This article focuses on the process of preparing leaders for future career transitions. Both new and seasoned leaders are confronted with the tasks of overcoming environmental issues, ensuring alignment in all directions during the first 90 days, and implementing change. By gaining a thorough understanding of the expectations during the transition phase, the new pharmacy leader will ensure future successes that maximize department initiatives and support the rapidly changing health care environment.

Issues facing pharmacy leaders in 2013.

The Director's Forum provides directors of pharmacy practical ways to develop patient-centered pharmacy services. Pharmacy directors must understand the key issues facing their departments and incorporate strategies for these issues as part of their strategic planning process. Health care reform and the Affordable Care Act require that departments operate efficiently and closely monitor their drug expense. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative will serve as a valuable resource during 2013 to enhance the pharmacy practice model. By using their health care workforce, particularly pharmacy technicians, in an innovative way, pharmacy directors will allow the pharmacists to increase their clinical activity. By promoting the role of the hospital pharmacist to patients, directors will help to improve patients' understanding of their medications and increase their satisfaction with their care. Finally by changing the activities of pharmacy students in practice models, the patient care role of the pharmacist can be expanded. Through a greater understanding of the issues facing them and their effect on the operations of the pharmacy, pharmacy directors will learn effective ways to develop patient-centered pharmacy services.

Role of Pharmacy Education in Growing the Pharmacy Practice Model

The Director's Forum series is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This article focuses on pharmacy academia's (“Academy”) role in transforming an organization's pharmacy practice model. Pharmacy students can assume an integrated and accountable role in the practice model by having defined responsibilities for patient care. This role will produce students who are best trained to meet the challenges of pharmacy practice and health care reform. To make the students successful in this role, the pharmacy director must have a specific plan for integrating pharmacy students into the model and establishing relationships with Academy leadership, most importantly with the dean of the school or college of pharmacy. If successfully executed, the relationship between the Academy and the pharmacy department will enhance the mission of developing patient-centered pharmacy services.