Background

The IHS National Anticoagulation Training Program

The Claremore Indian Hospital was one of the first pharmacy programs in the Indian Health Service to manage patients in the highly specialized area of anticoagulation management. Each pharmacist in the anticoagulation clinic underwent formalized training in this area and became certified and recognized nationally for their work in anticoagulation management. In 1999, members of the anticoagulation management program developed a formalized training program for IHS pharmacists. This program was developed because of an identified shortage of training programs available to IHS pharmacists for this highly specialized area of clinical management.

Pharmacist Applied Clinical Training

After 16 years of continuous training, in 2016 a needs assessment of the Indian Health Service revealed that a broader training would better serve the needs of our Native American and Alaska Native programs. Additionally, in 2016 the Chief Pharmacist Officer of the United States Public Health Service, RADM Pamela Schweitzer, requested the National Clinical Pharmacy Specialist program restructure itself and only certify pharmacists with a broad clinical practice.

For the reasons listed above, the Pharmacist Applied Clinical Training endeavours to provide an expansive clinical training focused on highlighting multiple areas of care in which pharmacist are improving patient care.