We want to share with you an update on the activities and success of the Research Institute. Thank you for supporting the ACCP Research Institute.

Join the ACCP PBRN

The ACCP PBRN is a group of clinical pharmacy members from across the United States delivering clinical pharmacy services at a variety of academic, inpatient, outpatient, and other practice settings. Together, this group forms a nationwide network of pharmacists interested in answering research questions. To join the ACCP PBRN, please visit our Web site (www.accpri.org) and complete the online registry form. Once you join the registry, you will need to complete a portfolio with PBRNConnect so that you can participate in any PBRN project (www.accpri.org/pbrnconnect).

The ACCP PBRN continues to grow since its launch in February 2009. We have more than 800 members to date, including members who belong to existing PRNs and whose data are shown below. We encourage each of you to join!

How do I join the ACCP PBRN?

The ACCP PBRN has created a one-stop resource for all PBRN-related materials called PBRNConnect. Located at www.accpri.org/pbrnconnect, this resource allows ACCP PBRN members to view, print, and download all research and PBRN-related documents. In addition, PBRNConnect will serve as a repository for all PBRN-related training. Each ACCP PBRN member will need to upload his or her own portfolio documents within the secure PBRNConnect site to be eligible to participate in ACCP PBRN studies. ACCP PBRN members can access this site using their usual ACCP log-in. Join the more than 200 PBRN members who already have profiles on PBRNConnect.

Calling All Researchers!

Do you have a bright idea for the next ACCP PBRN project? Partner with the ACCP PBRN to complete your project. The ACCP PBRN is committed to supporting the research efforts of its members. We welcome proposals from ACCP PBRN members and other external investigators looking to collaborate with the ACCP PBRN to facilitate practice-based clinical pharmacy research. To learn more about how to collaborate with the ACCP PBRN, please visit www.accpri.org/pbrn/partner.aspx.

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy Practice-Based Research Network (ACCP PBRN) is pleased to announce the publication of its first research paper in the March 2013 issue of Pharmacotherapy. The study, titled “Drug Errors and Related Interventions Reported by United States Clinical Pharmacists: The American College of Clinical Pharmacy Practice-Based Research Network Medication Error Detection, Amelioration, and Prevention (MEDAP) Study,” was written by Drs. Grace Kuo (University of California, San Diego), Daniel Touchette (University of Illinois at Chicago), and Jacqueline Marinac (formerly, Director of the ACCP Research Institute) and was supported by the ACCP Frontiers Fund.

The study’s objective was to describe and evaluate drug errors and the corresponding clinical pharmacist interventions. The study involved 62 inpatient and outpatient clinical pharmacists who reported 779 medication errors during a 2-week period, amounting to more than one medication error identified per pharmacist per day. Anti-infective, hematologic, and cardiovascular drugs were most frequently associated with drug errors.

Prescribing errors were the most common type, resulting in 53% of all medication errors identified. Most (89%) pharmacist recommendations in managing medication errors were accepted by prescribers. Although most of the drug errors did not result in harm, early detection of the error by a clinical pharmacist may have prevented unnecessary morbidity.

This study highlights the potential for clinical pharmacists and the PBRN to identify opportunities for documenting and improving the impact of clinical pharmacists on patient care. The full study report is available at http://www.accp.com/docs/positions/research/MEDAP_Drug_Errors.pdf. Two follow-up reports, one describing the feasibility of conducting research within the PBRN and the other evaluating the economic impact of the medication errors, are nearing completion.

The ACCP PBRN would like to thank the 62 clinical pharmacists who participated in the MEDAP Study. A list of the participants can be found at http://www.accpri.org/pbrn/researchProjects.aspx. If you are interested in participating in future studies but are not currently a PBRN member, contact the PBRN at [email protected]. For more information about the PBRN, please visit its Web site at http://www.accpri.org/pbrn.

The ACCP² Study is a mixed methods study with the goal of developing an infrastructure within the ACCP Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) to conduct research evaluating the impact of clinical pharmacist activities. This study’s objective is to describe clinical pharmacist cognitive processes, including gathering information, setting the goals of therapy, developing a treatment plan, and communicating with patients and practitioners in the delivery of patient care in general inpatient and outpatient settings.

The first part of this mixed methods study used qualitative methods to better identify specific activities performed by clinical pharmacists in their practices. In total, 22 clinical pharmacists were interviewed by telephone. Telephone interviews were used to develop the initial focus group facilitator’s guide. Six focus groups were conducted from October 2012 through February 2013. Transcripts collected from the telephone interviews and focus groups were used to identify common themes in patient care by clinical pharmacists. The results of the qualitative study are currently being analyzed and prepared for submission to a major health care conference and for publication.

The interviews and focus group transcripts are also being used to develop a point-of-care documentation tool to be used in a subsequent quantitative research study to capture the activities of a single clinical pharmacist interaction with a patient. From this study, the PBRN will be better able to describe and understand factors that influence patient care delivery by a clinical pharmacist. The quantitative study will be conducted using the PBRN and will begin recruitment after IRB approval is obtained. Inpatient and outpatient clinical pharmacist PBRN members will be contacted by e-mail in the near future to request their participation. If you are not currently a PBRN member but are interested in joining the PBRN and participating in this study, contact the PBRN at [email protected].

Frontiers Fund: Celebrating Success

The Frontiers Fund helped establish the first national clinical pharmacy practice-based research network (PBRN). We recognize that the PBRN’s success is made possible in large part by the contributions of several hundred ACCP members and organizations, as well as many PRNs. However, further success cannot be achieved without additional support. Your tax-deductible donation will develop researchers, build the ACCP PBRN, and generate evidence to further document the value of clinical pharmacy services and advance pharmacy research.

The 2013 Frontiers Fund goals are to receive $100,000 in donations and to increase the percentage of members who donate from 4% to 6%. More information about the Frontiers Fund, including a complete list of donors since 1998, is available at www.accpri.org. Please consider donating to help the Frontiers Fund in 2013 and join the others who have contributed to its success. You can also make online donations at www.accpri.org.

2013 Frontiers Fund Committee:

Ron Evens
Susan Fagan (Chair)
Stuart Haines
Ralph Raasch