Development of an interprofessional rotation for pharmacy and medical students to perform telehealth outreach to vulnerable patients in the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

This report describes an interprofessional rotation for pharmacy and medical students focused on telehealth outreach to patients at high risk for delays in care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The curriculum was designed around core competencies of interprofessional education. Student activities included participating in interprofessional huddles, collaborating on patient interviews, and practicing interprofessional communication. Three pharmacy students and two medical students completed the rotation. Evaluation was conducted via survey and exit interview. All students successfully increased their knowledge of their own and others’ professional roles and demonstrated interprofessional communication and collaboration through telehealth.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education
• team-based care
• telehealth
• pandemic
• workplace learning

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by none.

Notes on contributors

Christopher A. Bautista

Christopher A. Bautista, M.D. is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine.  His interests include undergraduate and graduate medical education, interprofessional care, and health disparities.

Iris Huang

Iris Huang, MD, MPH is an assistant professor of medicine in the University of California San Francisco, Division of General Internal Medicine, San Francisco, California.

Marilyn Stebbins

Marilyn R. Stebbins, PharmD, is a professor of Clinical Pharmacy in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy in the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy.  Her research and clinical interests include innovative models of care and health disparities.

Leslie C. Floren

Leslie Carstensen Floren, PharmD, MA is an associate professor of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy in the University of California San Francisco, School of Pharmacy, San Francisco, California. 

Sharon L. Youmans

Sharon L. Youmans, PharmD, MPH, FAPhA is Vice Dean and Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). She received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UCSF in 1985 and an MPH degree from San Jose State University in 2005. From 1986 to 2001 she worked as a pharmacist in hospital and community pharmacy settings in San Francisco. In 2001 Dr. Youmans was appointed to the faculty at UCSF. In 2013 she was appointed Vice Dean of the School and in this role oversees the school’s education mission and diversity initiatives. She currently serves as a Board Director for the Homeless Prenatal Program of San Francisco, the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Advisory Board at Xavier University College of Pharmacy in New Orleans, Louisiana and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

Stephanie L. Hsia

Stephanie Lynn Hsia, PharmD is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy in the University of California San Francisco, School of Pharmacy, San Francisco, California.