Showcasing Real World Model Practices

Carla Cobb, Pharm.D., BCPP
Professional Affairs Task Force Facilitator

In January 2018 the CPNP Board of Directors created the Professional Affairs Task Force (PATF) in response to increasing interest in model practices from those outside of the profession. Legislators, payers, and government agencies are often unaware of psychiatric and neurologic pharmacists’ patient care services. But when described, they invariably agree that pharmacists’ services are a logical part of the solution to resolving medication-related problems. As they learn more about the role of psychiatric pharmacists as part of a team approach to care, they have requested real world examples of model practices. In addition, more new practitioners are seeking resources as they establish new clinical practices.

Although there are numerous websites that host clinical pharmacy resources, it is often time-consuming to find precise or practical information in a user-friendly format. Many of them are not focused on the opportunities and challenges faced by psychiatric pharmacists in innovative settings. Ideally these resources would exist under one umbrella and be quick and easy to find. These are the challenges that led to formation of this task force.

The PATF has two main goals.

1. To develop recommendations for a standard format for showcasing model practices.
2. To propose additional strategies designed to advance the practice of psychiatric pharmacy. This goal could include resources targeting a range of audiences such as students, residents and new practitioners, other healthcare professionals and patient care advocates, and decision makers outside of the practice – all an essential part of advancing the role of psychiatric pharmacists. Informational modules could provide education, support practice transformation, and deliver clinical tools. Given the variety of target audiences traditional and modern communication methods including websites, videos, and social media, need to be considered.

The PATF has held initial conference calls and will continue to meet over the next few months to develop a proposal for the CPNP Board. If you have ideas about the types of resources that you would like to have at your fingertips to use or share with others, please contact Carla Cobb at carla@capitahealthconsulting.com or Brenda Schimenti, CPNP Executive Director, at bschimenti@cpnp.org .

Members of the task force include Jolene Bostwick, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, University of Michigan, Benjamin Chavez, PharmD, BCPP, BCACP, University of Colorado, Lisa Goldstone, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCPP, University of Southern California, Jessica Ho, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, Kaiser Permanente, Kelly Lee, PharmD, BCPP, FCCP, University of California, San Diego, Tera Moore, PharmD, BCACP, BCPS, Veterans Affairs, Carol Ott, PharmD, BCPP, Purdue University, and Rick Silvia, PharmD, BCPP, MCPHS University.