Impact of community paramedicine program on APPE student skillsets

Abstract

Background and purpose: This article describes the clinical and educational impact resulting from interprofessional (IP) collaboration between fourth-year advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) pharmacy students and community paramedics within a community paramedicine (CP) program.

Educational activity and setting: The Manatee County, Florida CP program partnered with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy faculty to reduce 911 calls, emergency room visits, and hospital readmissions for underserved populations. The CP-pharmacist partnership optimized medication therapy, chronic disease management, and access to care through scheduled in-home visits with an IP team. With guidance from the pharmacist, APPE student responsibilities included comprehensive medication review, medication action plan development, communication with providers, and patient counseling to resolve medication issues.

Findings: Survey data demonstrated this approach to APPEs increased student confidence in optimizing care plans (100%), assessing vitals (76%), identifying medical emergencies (84%), and communicating with patients (96%). Student incorporation into a CP program augmented the pharmacist's ability to successfully correct medication use errors and improve nonadherence through patient counseling. Medication interventions were successful in 693 of 799 scenarios, for a success rate of 86.7%.

Summary: Results from this analysis reinforced prior research indicating pharmacy students can be successfully incorporated into a CP program, with resulting improvement in student clinical skills, communication strategies, and successful medication intervention outcomes.

Keywords: Advanced pharmacy practice experience; Communication skills; Community paramedicine; In-home care; Interprofessional; Student pharmacist.