Proposal USPHS Pharmacist Readiness Training Program PRTP

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Proposal USPHS Pharmacist Readiness Training
Program (PRTP)

• CAPT Mike Montello
• CDR Laura Pincock

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Background

• HHS OIG Findings Current readiness training
  insufficient
• PPM 07-001, Extension of Manual Circular 377
• 87 of Pharmacists meet or exceed OFRD Basic
  Readiness standards (as of 12/31/06)
• Questions
• How to close the remaining gap?
• Where do we go from here? (i.e. approach, format,
  resources, topics)
• Proposal - Develop and Implement a Pharmacist
  Readiness Training Program consistent with OFRD
  Life-Cycle training initiative

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Objective of Program

• Increase and enhance the readiness and
  preparedness skills of all PHS pharmacists
• By extension, improve readiness of PHS and our
  Nation
• Meet training objectives of Federal guidelines
• Katrina After Action Report
• S3678 Pandemic and All Health Hazards
  Preparedness Act
• National Response Plan
• National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• Provide a model for other PHS categories and
  civilians
• Consistent with OFRD initiatives

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OFRD Readiness Mega-Competencies for PHS
Officers

• 1st four skills are generic to all categories.
• The final two skills are category-specific.
• Consciousness of personal character
• Interpersonal communication
• Mental agility
• Cross cultural savvy
• Preeminent field skills
• Professional astuteness
• The proposed program may build off OFRD core
  competencies and focus on the development of
  tailored training for pharmacists to assure
  preeminent pharmacy field skills and professional
  astuteness

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Basic Tenets of Training Program

• Balanced
• Formats didactic, Internet, face-to-face,
  hands-on, etc.
• Includes training, deployment, and leadership
  experience
• Comprehensive -
• All Hazards
• Broad range of programs covering clinical,
  administrative and leadership issues
• Flexible
• Officers self-select from a menu of programs that
  appeal to their personal interests or OPDIV work
  environment
• Assures a mix of skills for the Pharmacy Category
• Use of existing programs
• Incentives
• Participation and advancement in the program
  provides tangible benefits to the officer

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Overview of Proposal

• Multi-stepped system each step represents an
  achieved level of experience and skill and builds
  towards the next step
• Novice (1st PHS career year) Basic readiness
• Responder (yrs 1 to 5) Officer prepared to
  deploy in support role
• Managerial (yrs 6 to 20) Officers capable of
  assuming a leadership role
• Executive (yrs 20) Officers capable of
  assuming a senior leadership role

All points should be considered suggestions and
are negotiable.
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Qualifications for each Step
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Sample Course Options(see packet for additional
course options)

• Standard programs for all officers
• Medical Management of Chemical and Biological
  Casualties (MMCBC)
• Joint Operations Medical Managers Course (JOMMC)
• First Responder
• Incident Response Coordination Team (IRCT)
  Training
• Pharmacy specific training programs
• Pharmacist Immunization Certification
• Triage for Pharmacists
• Logistical Considerations for a Field Pharmacy
• Pharmacists Roles in a Crisis
• Strategic National Stockpile for Pharmacists
• Regulatory Considerations in a Disaster Response

New programs to be developed by PHS pharmacists
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Potential Incentives

• Altruism
• Promotion Benchmarks
• Public recognition (Response Badge)
• PHS Awards
• Mandatory requirements
• (similar to PPM-07-001)

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Other Highlights

• Proposal can be implemented quickly with current
  programs and remaining curriculum built over time
• Cost for PHS to implement now negligible
• Longer-term could pursue funding for
  participation development of new programs
• Development of curriculum provides an additional
  venue for officers to participate in preparedness
  activities (add to qualification matrix)
• Establishes USPHS and Pharmacy Category as
  leaders in health preparedness activities
• Potential recruitment retention benefits

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Hurdles to Cross

• Resource needs (Funding, Time, Supervisor
  approval, etc.)
• To develop programs
• To train officers
• Impact on officers that are unable to participate
  (i.e., isolated hardship critical need limited
  resources etc.)?
• Duplication with State pharmacy programs
• Most States do NOT have true Pharmacy specific
  programs. Leverage the best of what is
  available.
• Oversight responsibility (OFRD vs PharmPAC)
• To be negotiated
• Other Issues?

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Recommendation

• Form a Working Group to
• Assess viability of a Pharmacist Readiness
  Training Program which dovetails with OFRD
  training initiatives
• If found viable
• Provide preliminary guidelines for Training
  Lifecycle matrix
• Identify suitable programs with emphasis on
  pharmacy specific programs
• What exists now
• What needs to be developed
• Develop an implementation plan
• Short, Mid and Long-term
• Identify how to collaborate with OFRD and other
  PACs
• Others?

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Questions/Comments/Discussion?

• montellom_at_ctep.nci.nih.gov
• laura.pincock_at_fda.hhs.gov