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Veterinary pharmacy is an often unknown and therefore, underrepresented career path for pharmacists. Uniquely, pharmacists-even untrained in veterinary medicine-are the only health professionals legally allowed to provide care for human and nonhuman patients. The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a peculiar situation that, not only highlights veterinary pharmacy as a career path, but stresses the role veterinary pharmacists, trained in both human and veterinary medicine, can play in zoonotic diseases. Specialized training in veterinary medicine allows the pharmacist to serve as a resource for both physicians as well as veterinarians during zoonotic events by helping to ascertain feasibility of therapeutic options given the species. In addition, veterinary pharmacists involved in translational research would be vital for the drug development process as they would be aware of biologic nuances between the species and how they may affect the ultimate therapeutic outcome., (Copyright © 2020 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe (1) key factors affecting the implementation and scalability of collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) and (2) CPA implementation strategies that have been used by chain community pharmacy organizations., Design: Qualitative analysis using a work system approach., Setting: Eight chain community pharmacy organizations with at least one pharmacy location in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia from August 2014 to March 2015., Participants: Ten clinical pharmacist managers and 9 practicing community pharmacists., Intervention: Semistructured interviews with study participants. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) 2.0 model of work system and patient safety., Main Outcome Measures: Clinical pharmacist managers' and community pharmacists' perceptions of key factors and strategies for implementing and scaling CPAs, tools, and resources that could facilitate the implementation of CPAs., Results: Seven themes emerged as key factors for the implementation and scalability of CPAs within the person, organization, external environment, and task domains of the SEIPS model, which include the need for building relationships with physicians and other health care providers, optimizing pharmacists' education and training, addressing patient perceptions, ensuring consistent operations, developing a sustainable business model, advocating for permissive state and federal legislation, and structuring time and workload. Examples of specific strategies included using existing physician relationships, identifying pharmacy- and regional-level champions, and allocating staffing based on prescription volume and clinical services., Conclusion: A number of key factors were identified that, when addressed, can facilitate the implementation and scalability of patient care services and CPAs. Chain community pharmacies should use the specific strategies for addressing each key factor that match the needs of their organization., (Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To describe the development and implementation of the Discussions on Taking Medications (DOTx.MED) Diabetes Pilot Program and to report the impact on adherence to diabetes therapy, improvement in communication of pharmacists, and satisfaction of patients, pharmacists, and health care providers., Participants: 10 community pharmacy residency sites across the United States enrolled 216 patients with diabetes to participate in the pilot project., Intervention: Pharmacists delivered behavioral interventions using motivational interviewing techniques and increased personal communication with patients during routine visits to the pharmacy during a 6-month period., Results: During the initial 6-month pilot program, modest improvements in medication adherence were documented. Patients in the intervention group showed a 6.55% increase in proportion of days covered (PDC) compared with the previous 180 days preintervention and a 2.8% increase in PDC compared with the control group. Based on survey results, overall reports of satisfaction from patients, pharmacists, and health care providers were favorable., Conclusion: Access to educational programs, tools, and resources provided through the DOTx.MED Diabetes Pilot Program improved pharmacist knowledge of diabetes care and increased the amount of time spent communicating with patients. The program demonstrated that small, focused interactions addressing issues of concern to patients can improve patient adherence to medication therapy.

Objective: To describe the nature of the collaborations between academia and practitioners in two community pharmacy practice-based research networks (PBRNs)., Setting: Community pharmacy practice sites owned by two pharmacy chain corporations that have cooperated with two pharmacy schools for up to 10 years in research efforts., Practice Description: A PBRN is a group of community pharmacy practice sites that are affiliated with an academic institution(s) that investigate questions related to community practice., Practice Innovation: A model of collaboration between academia and community pharmacy practice to enhance PBRNs. Collaborators in academia include practice and science faculty. Collaborators in community pharmacy practice include practitioners and practice-site decision makers., Main Outcome Measures: The role of each collaborator in the PBRN, suggestions for developing and maintaining collaborations among PBRN members, strategies to identify collaborators and to expand a PBRN, and the value to each collaborator of participating in a PBRN., Results: Academically based pharmacy faculty members connect with practice sites and listen to the needs of practitioners in an effort to design research that will solve practice problems. Practitioners and practice-site decision makers need to understand the role of research in solving projects, propose problems to be addressed and methods to address them, and become committed to completing the research. Building partnerships among collaborators is an important step in developing and maintaining the pharmacy-based PBRN. For faculty members, the value is connecting with community practice, helping to solve problems, and sharing results with the pharmacy community. For practitioners, the value of collaboration centers on improving practice and expanding their professional role., Conclusion: The involvement of community pharmacy sites with PBRNs has the potential to be a driving force in practice innovation, improving patient care and professional satisfaction.

Objectives: To determine pharmacist awareness of medication therapy management (MTM), confidence in and intentions to provide MTM, related training needs, and barriers to MTM provision; and to assess pharmacist and practice site characteristics that are related to confidence in providing MTM., Design: Nonexperimental cross-sectional study., Setting: May 2006 in Texas., Participants: 1,833 Texas community pharmacists who were affiliated with the Texas Pharmacy Association., Intervention: an anonymous, self-administered online survey was e-mailed to participants., Main Outcome Measures: Awareness of MTM legislation, confidence in providing MTM, intentions to provide MTM, and barriers to MTM provision. Pharmacist and practice site characteristics were also collected., Results: The response rate was 11.8% (n = 157). Overall, pharmacists (>75%) were aware of the three criteria for targeted beneficiaries. They were confident in providing medication therapy review (MTR), creating a personal medication record (PMR), and performing intervention and referral but were only somewhat confident in creating a medication action plan. Pharmacists disagreed or were neutral about having adequate documentation systems for MTM. The majority of respondents intend to become MTM providers (74%) and were interested in additional training (78%). Independent pharmacists, those with adequate documentation systems, and those who had previously provided patient care services were more confident regarding MTM provision., Conclusion: Pharmacist intentions to provide MTM indicate that they are eager to expand their roles as patient care providers. Pharmacist confidence in providing MTR, creating a PMR, and performing the intervention and referral suggest that pharmacists already have many of the skills necessary to provide MTM; however, more education about creating action plans and using documentation systems may help pharmacists become successful MTM providers.

Objective: To present a model to preceptors in a community setting for a structured and quality advanced community pharmacy practice experience (ACPPE)., Design: Experiential report., Setting: Chain pharmacy., Participants: Not applicable., Intervention: Development and use of a student pharmacist manual in a structured, organized ACPPE., Main Outcome Measures: Not applicable., Results: The manual, in addition to introductory materials and competencies for the ACCPE, contains five modules that focus on dispensing, management and law, nonprescription medications, consultation, and patient care. The student pharmacist is also provided with a schedule and calendar showing how goals and objectives for the rotation are distributed throughout the modules and activities of the ACCPE. Activities and assignments during the ACCPE include topic discussions, physical assessment skills review, "living with diabetes for the weekend," developing patient handouts, implementing a new pharmacy patient care service, patient consultations, and presentations. Evaluations conducted during the ACCPE help student pharmacists monitor their progress and identify strengths and weaknesses., Conclusion: Efforts to enhance a community practice experience can be rewarding and beneficial to both the student pharmacists and the pharmacy. A structured ACPPE gives student pharmacists an opportunity to develop skills to improve patient care in the community.