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November 28, 2007

Pharmacy students train at HRMC
 
Two years ago Haywood Regional Medical Center Pharmacist Tracey Truesdale began coordinating the Pharmacy Preceptor Student program. The program began with four students the first year and has now expanded to 16 students this year.

The students are from three area schools of pharmacy — the University of North Carolina, Campbell University and Wingate University. The program gives students the opportunity to connect with communities and deepen their understanding of the unique challenges facing the health care profession, while gaining hands-on experience critical for their transition from student to practitioner.

At Haywood Regional Medical Center, pharmacy students participate in clinical activities, dosing, and special considerations of medications.

“Students are taught how to order, prepare, distribute and monitor prescription medications during their four- to five-week rotations. During their hospital pharmacy introductory rotation, the students spend about half their time working with pharmacy technicians to learn about the ordering and distribution of medications,” said George Methvin, pharmacy director at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

“During their last professional year (sixth year), the senior students complete an advanced clinical rotation, when they spend most of their time working with HRMC pharmacists, nurses and physicians in the verification, distribution and monitoring of medications administered to our patients,” he said.

“The number of students shadowing at our pharmacy has steadily increased,” Methvin said. “Each pharmacist serving as a preceptor has had special training in precepting pharmacy students and are designated as clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice to the various colleges of pharmacy.”

“About 60 percent of our pharmacy students are from Wingate University and 40 percent are from the University of North Carolina,” he said.

The students work the same shifts as pharmacists and are evaluated by the pharmacy director at each practice site.

“They offer challenges to us with the new information they bring, and perform an important service for the hospital. We also have some students involved with hospice and ambulatory infusion services. They often make rounds with hospitalists and nurses to observe them caring for our patients,” Methvin said.

Rebecca Thompson of Murphy, a senior at Wingate, said she chose Haywood Regional Medical Center as the site for her experience training because of the size of the center.

“I’m from a small town and I wanted to train at a smaller hospital. I think you can get a better perspective about the pharmacy and about the community,” Thompson said.

George Methvin, pharmacy director at Haywood Regional Medical Center, holds up a binder about Wingate University’s Early Practice Experience Program.