A practical approach to remote precepting in a chronic disease management call center setting during a pandemic

Jennifer M Bingham, PharmD, BCACP, Annette C De Santiago, PharmD, Whitney A Everett, PharmD, Jennifer J Stanislaw, PharmD

Extract

A global pandemic was announced on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization in response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).¹ In response to the pandemic, a national medication therapy management (MTM) organization transitioned to a remote work model. MTM staff transitioned seamlessly via telehealth and advanced telephony solutions, but the in-person interactions among student pharmacists and preceptors decreased due to stay-at-home orders and physical distancing regulations.

At this site, postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) ambulatory care pharmacy residents had the opportunity to serve as preceptors for student pharmacists. The preceptor role involved instructing, modeling, coaching, and facilitating student pharmacists in relation to ambulatory care skills (per required objectives set forth by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists [ASHP] accrediting organization).² Yet, with pandemic proscriptions, the call center was forced to find an innovative solution for the PGY2 residents to provide effective feedback to student…