Supported by an educational grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals
Program Overview
The Pain and Palliative Care Traineeship Program is a tiered educational initiative that includes the following components:
• Level 1 - Pain Management and Palliative Care Self-Assessment Tool (knowledge-based activity);
• Level 2 - Application of the Principles of Pain Management and Palliative Care (application-based activity); and
• Level 3 - Live Experiential Program (practice-based activity).
These unique educational activities were designed so pharmacists can systematically acquire specific knowledge, skills, attitudes and performance behaviors to expand and enhance practice competencies in pain management and palliative care. The tiered program provides a series of educational activities that build on the preceding level.
Level 1 - Pain Management and Palliative Care Self-Assessment Tool (knowledge-based activity)
Program availability: TBD
Audience/Eligibility: Open access for pharmacists
Level 2 - Application of the Principles of Pain Management and Palliative Care (application-based activity)
Program availability: TBD
Description: The course will occur over a 3-month period and consist of three modules that will focus on the following topics: 1) opioid conversion calculations, titration and break through; 2) acute pain and chronic non-cancer pain; and 3) chronic pain with advanced illness and palliative care.
Audience/Eligibility: Limited to 60 pharmacists. The prerequisite is an acceptable level of achievement on the Level 1 self-assessment tool. Applicants must be licensed pharmacists in any state in the United States and graduates of an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy.
Level 3 – Live Experiential Program (practice-based activity)
Program availability: TBD
Description: This 5-day experiential program provides intensive didactic and clinical training for 10 trainees. The experiential training is designed for pharmacists practicing in acute or ambulatory care settings and who are developing or expanding pain management and palliative care services at their institutions. The traineeship prepares participants to design patient-specific pharmacotherapy; solve drug therapy problems; and develop protocols, policies and procedures for the treatment of such patients.
Audience/Eligibility: Limited to 10 pharmacists. To qualify for the traineeship, the applicant must be a licensed pharmacist in any state in the United States, a graduate of an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy, and have completed an ASHP-accredited residency or have 2 years of experience in clinical practice. The application requires a letter of support from the chief executive officer of the pharmacist’s hospital or health-system that confirms a commitment to establishing an organized pharmaceutical pain management and palliative care service. The letter of support should include the expected date of implementation. In addition, a second letter of support is required from the physician who is responsible for pain management and palliative care services, indicating support for the development of a pharmaceutical service and/or involvement of the pharmacist on the patient care team. Successful completion of Level 2 or a passing score on the Level 2 post-course assessment will be a prerequisite for Level 3.
Applicants must have a command of basic knowledge areas as they relate to pain management.