A Pediatric Resource Program for Home Infusion Pharmacists:
Approaches to Improve Confidence and Competency

By Suzanne Kluge, RPh, BSPharm; Marlee Andis, PharmD, RPh; Mintu Shah, RPh, PharmD; Julie Selfridge, RPh, BSPharm 

PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS
This INFUSION article is cosponsored by Educational Review Systems (ERS), which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. ERS has assigned 1.0 contact hours (0.1 CEU) of continuing education credit to this article. Eligibility to receive continuing education credit for this article begins May 15, 2017 and expires May 15, 2020. The universal activity numbers for this program are 0761-9999-17-098-H01-P and 0761-9999-17-098-H01- T. Activity Type: Knowledge-Based.
 
Approval as a provider refers to recognition of educational activities only and does not imply Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, ERS, CDR or ANCC Commission on Accreditation, approval or endorsement of any product. This Continuing Education Activity is not underwritten or supported by any commercial interests.
 
This continuing education article is intended for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other alternate-site infusion professionals.
 
In order to receive credit for this program activity, participants must complete the online post-test and subsequent evaluation questions available at www.nhia.org/CE_Infusion. Participants are allowed two attempts to receive a minimum passing score of 70%.
 
EDUCATIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
 1. Explain why pediatric patients are at increased risk of medication errors
 2. Explain why pediatric doses often pose challenges for pharmacists
 3. Identify opportunities for pediatric therapy training for home infusion pharmacists
 4. List possible resources for participating pharmacists to use while interpreting pediatric referrals 

AUTHOR BIOS:
 
Suzanne Kluge, RPh, BSPharm, is the Corporate Director of Clinical Education for Option Care in Bannockburn, Illinois. She has more than 20 years of home infusion experience and has been with Option Care for 18 years. During her tenure, Kluge has held several positions including Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Manager, Director of Pharmacy PGY-1 Residency Program, Area Clinical Director, and Corporate Manager, Pharmacy Operations. She has managed clinical operations, trained clinicians, written policies and procedures, and presented in-service training sessions. Kluge is also currently a PCAB, pharmacy, specialty pharmacy and nursing surveyor for the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ Ambulatory Care Specialty Advisory Group for Home Infusion. She attended St. Louis College of Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri and is a APPE and IPPE preceptor for University of Illinois, Midwestern University, Purdue University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University Roosevelt University, University of Pittsburgh and University of Colorado Pharmacy School interns as well as 10 Option Care PGY-1 pharmacy residents. 
 
Marlee Andis, PharmD, RPh, is Clinical Pharmacist with Presence Health at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Residency with Option Care of Wood Dale, Illinois in June 2016. During her residency, Andis completed a pediatric elective rotation and developed a pediatric therapy resource program for pharmacists as her residency project. Andis graduated from Purdue University College of Pharmacy in West Lafayette, Indiana.  
 
Mintu Shah, RPh, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist, specializing in pediatric home infusion medications, for Option Care located in Wood Dale, Illinois. She has 15 years of home infusion experience with Option Care, including 10 of those years with a greater focus in pediatrics. She has also worked as a clinical pharmacist at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago specializing with the Hematology/Oncology patient population. Shah commenced her career as a community pharmacist at Walgreens. She serves as a preceptor for the on-site PGY-1 pharmacy residents and is actively involved with training/mentoring of pharmacy students. Shah graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy with her Doctorate of Pharmacy.
 
Julie Selfridge, RPh, BSPharm, is the Director of Pharmacy for Option Care in Wood Dale, Illinois. She began her career in hospital pharmacy and moved to home infusion more than 20 years ago. She has been with Option Care for 19 years. Throughout her career, Selfridge has held roles as clinical pharmacist for pediatric and adult focus, clinical oncology liaison, pharmacy preceptor, and director of pharmacy.  She graduated from University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in Lawrence, Kansas and is a preceptor for the PGY-1 pharmacy residents.
 
AUTHOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
The authors declare no conflicts of interest or financial interest in any product or service mentioned in this program, including grants, employment, gifts, stock holdings, and honoraria.
 
Questions or comments regarding this article should be directed to [email protected]