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Background: Lean methodology, specifically value stream mapping, can be used to identify and reduce inefficiencies in the medication synchronization process., Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate potential medication synchronization process improvements to reduce nonvalue-added actions, (2) assess fidelity to the medication synchronization core components, and (3) identify the best process for medication synchronization for an independent community pharmacy with multiple locations., Methods: This study used an observational, cross-sectional design. A value stream map was created to provide a detailed illustration of each step in the medication synchronization process. Time for each step of the medication synchronization process was observed on site on different days and times as well as the time required to process, package, and verify prescription medications. These steps were conducted before interventions were made to the process and after to compare the difference. The organizational readiness for change tool was administered to employees of the independent pharmacy before interventions to determine their perspective of the medication synchronization process and assess their readiness for change., Results: Owing to various interventions made to the medication synchronization process, 2 steps in the process were eliminated. This resulted in a decrease in adherence packaging time workflow by 69.4%. Staff (n = 9) rated the medication synchronization process on 4 components: acceptability of the current process (13.8 ± 3.6), intervention appropriateness (13.7 ± 3.7), feasibility of a new medication synchronization process (17.1 ± 2.3), and organizational level of support (21.8 ± 4.1)., Conclusion: Value stream mapping proved to be a valuable tool in identifying inefficiencies in the medication synchronization process and reducing nonvalue-added waste. The result was a decrease in time required for adherence packaging workflow and a more standardized medication synchronization process across multiple independent pharmacy locations. This more standardized process can play a key role in improving the continuity of patient care, increasing medication adherence, and in turn decreasing the number of hospital admissions., (Copyright © 2022 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Historically, pharmacy skills laboratory courses have primarily been delivered utilizing in-person instruction; however, changes in methods of healthcare delivery serve as a catalyst to consider best practices for virtual learning in the skills laboratory setting., Perspective: Shifting to a virtual delivery method is valuable for future curriculum and course development. Three specific delivery methods including flipped classroom, virtual formative simulations, and telehealth objective structured clinical examinations, provide examples of the opportunities and challenges instructors may encounter when shifting delivery methods. Furthermore, the examples illuminate the need to deliberately incorporate virtual technology into pharmacy skills laboratory courses to ensure students are practice-ready for the changing methods of delivery in the healthcare environment., Implications: Skills laboratory instructors and students must reimagine how patient care skills can be taught and assessed. It is imperative to reassess priorities and adapt skills-based courses to incorporate the virtual learning environment to prepare student pharmacists for future practice., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: While medication synchronization programs are becoming a staple in community pharmacies, a standard process needs to be identified to provide consistent positive outcomes. Many studies demonstrate how medication synchronization affects individual level patients but have not examined how medication synchronization affects the pharmacy's performance. Because community pharmacies are calibrated based on performance to adherence measures for all patients, it is important to understand whether resource-intensive interventions, such as medication synchronization, lead to improved performance., Objectives: The aims of this study were to 1) examine pharmacy characteristics associated with medication synchronization adoption and 2) examine whether medication synchronization is associated with pharmacy-level performance on select medication adherence and utilization measures., Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. Community pharmacies participating in the North Carolina Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (NC CPESN℠) program were included in this study. Pharmacy performance was measured as summary score of pharmacy's performance on seven risk-adjusted measures which were used to measure pharmacy's performance in the program. Adoption of medication synchronization was measured as a binary variable capturing whether the pharmacy offered med sync at the time the survey was administered., Results: Surveys were received from 160 out of 268 participating pharmacies (59.7% response rate) with a total of 155 pharmacies being included in the analytic sample. Pharmacies that adopted medication synchronization were more likely to have a clinical pharmacist on staff (c = 5.4, p = 0.019). Holding all else constant, medication synchronization adoption was not significantly associated with total medication adherence performance (p = 0.371)., Conclusion: Medication synchronization has proven successful in improving individual patient level adherence but may not change a pharmacy's overall performance in adherence for all patients. Further research is needed to examine how effective implementation might contribute to whether a medication synchronization program leads to meaningful gains in adherence for all patients., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective. To review current conceptualizations and measurements of active-learning education within Doctor of Pharmacy degree programs as it pertains to social determinants of health (SDOH) and to determine the gaps and limitations in available literature. A secondary objective was to assess simulation-based educational methods related to SDOH in pharmacy. Findings. Sixteen articles were eligible for inclusion. Many simulation-based and non-simulation-based teaching strategies are described. The majority of articles included active-learning activities related to social/community context and health/health care, the other three 3 social determinants of health domains: education, economic stability, and neighborhood/built community, were not equally addressed. In the studies included in this review, schools and colleges of pharmacy did not appear to not be integrating all five components of SDOH into active learning curricula. The sparsity of literature and lack of diversity in published types of simulated experiences and assessments may suggest there is room for innovation in this area. Summary. More research is needed in order to fully characterize conceptualizations of social determinants of health in Doctor of Pharmacy degree programs in order to ensure students are provided with a full understanding of the SDOH factors that affect patient outcomes., (© 2020 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.)

Background: With the evolving roles of pharmacy technicians in the United States, the profession has attempted to define a national standard. Community pharmacy employers to-date have preferred on-the-job training to formal, accredited training programs or credentialing, however, limited evidence exists on the perceived needs of pharmacy technicians in the United States compared to those of community pharmacy employers., Objectives: The aims of this study were to explore: 1) community pharmacy employer perceptions of associated benefits and perceived value of pharmacy technician certification and 2) needs of employers related to pharmacy technician attitudes and knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs)., Methods: Using a semi-structured interview guide, researchers interviewed 7 community pharmacy employers within top management teams in a variety of community pharmacy settings. The data were analyzed for themes using the human capital vs. signal theory., Results: Employers and managers generally saw both attitude and KSAs as vital to success. However, given a choice between experience and attitude, attitude was preferred. There was general agreement that certified technicians offered more value to their organization, however gaps in certified technician KSAs were noted (i.e., lack of day-to-day practical skills, vaccination screening, motivating patients to change behaviors, patient communication and workflow management)., Conclusions: New emerging directions for certification now exist due to the rapidly shifting pharmacy landscape, which is revolves around new and expanded clinical patient care services. This shifting landscape has exposed gaps, reinforced strengths, and uncovered potential new opportunities and needs related to technician certification., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)