THE EARLY PATIENT-ORIENTED CARE PROGRAM AS AN EDUCATIONAL-TOOL AND SERVICE

The Early Patient-Oriented Care (EPOC) program was designed to provide early clinical education for baccalaureate pharmacy students while pe rforming a clinical service for patients. Six students were assigned 1 2-15 hemodialysis patients to visit monthly under preceptor supervisio n. Educational activities changed over time as students gained experie nce. Approach to the patient, medication information retrieval, pharma ceutical care philosophy, and monthly medication reviews were taught i n the first semester. Identification of drug related problems (DRPs), targeting on anemia and renal bone disease, were undertaken in the sec ond semester. Resulting interventions identified were ranked for signi ficance and impact on care. A patient satisfaction survey was performe d. 105 DRPs were identified over four months. Interventions impacted o n care, cost, or both: 41.9 percent, 23.8 percent, 34.3 percent of tim e, respectively. Eighty-six percent of recommendations were accepted i n whole or in part. Over 75 percent of patients, overall, were satisfi ed with the EPOC program. The EPOC program provided practical and dida ctic education and a clinical service.