Development of a framework for implementation of pharmacist-led dermatology clinics

Abstract

Background

The current landscape of pharmacy practice presents a notable gap for pharmacists specializing in dermatology who seek to establish clinics and specialized services. Unlike other specialized fields, there is a lack of specialized training or specific Board of Pharmacy Specialties certification tailored to dermatology.

Objective

This study aimed to explore how entrustable professional activities (EPAs) can revolutionize workplace-based training, addressing specialized needs to evolve the roles of dermatology clinical pharmacists.

Methods

A multidisciplinary team of dermatologists, clinical pharmacists, and scholars was formed to create core EPAs and competencies, ensuring high-quality EPA construction through consensus. To align pharmacists’ roles with dermatologists in specialized settings, preliminary EPAs were drafted with a deep understanding of dermatologists’ workflows and pharmacists’ scope of practice.

Results

Six core workplace-based EPAs were identified ranging from patient assessment to monitoring. These EPAs, detailed with specific tasks and assessment tools, allowed pharmacists to specialize and efficiently conduct dermatology pharmacist clinics, benefiting patients and the institution. This model’s success led to the sustained operation of dermatology pharmacist clinics, expanding pharmacists’ roles in dermatology subspecialties.

Conclusion

A small-scale EPA framework to train clinical pharmacists for independent roles in dermatology clinics was successfully implemented, demonstrating EPAs’ potential to broaden pharmacists’ scope in such settings. This approach provides a model for integrating clinical pharmacists into collaborative teams and can be adapted for training of pharmacists in other specialized settings.