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Recommendations for Training and Certification for Pharmacists Practicing, Mentoring, and Educating in Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy
Author(s) -
Ernst Erika J.,
Klepser Michael E.,
Bosso John A.,
Rybak Michael J.,
Hermsen Elizabeth D.,
SegarraNewnham Marisel,
Drew Richard H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.29.4.482
Subject(s) - certification , medicine , accreditation , medical education , pharmacotherapy , antimicrobial stewardship , pharmacist , board certification , family medicine , nursing , pharmacy , residency training , continuing education , management , antibiotic resistance , microbiology and biotechnology , economics , biology , antibiotics
Recently created guidelines for the development of institutional antimicrobial stewardship programs recommend that a pharmacist with infectious diseases training be included as a core member of the antimicrobial stewardship team. However, training and certification requirements for infectious diseases‐trained clinical pharmacists have not been established. Although pharmacists have nurtured their interest in infectious diseases by self‐directed learning or on‐the‐job experiences, this mode of training is not considered feasible or sufficient for reliable training of future clinical specialists in infectious diseases. This document, therefore, is forward looking and provides overarching recommendations for future training and certification of pharmacists practicing, mentoring, and educating in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy, with the recognition that full implementation may take several years. We recommend that future pharmacists wishing to obtain a clinical position as an infectious diseases‐trained pharmacist should complete a postgraduate year (PGY) 1 residency and a PGY2 residency in infectious diseases, that practitioners become board‐certified pharmacotherapy specialists, that a certification examination in infectious diseases be developed, that practitioners maintain a portfolio of educational experiences to maintain qualifications, that current nonaccredited training programs seek accreditation, and that employers and academicians recognize the desirability of these qualifications in hiring decisions.