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Marta Hildebrandt reports.
Consider special interest accreditation, say Linda Hirst and Marta Hildebrandt – it’s well worth the effort.
What is a Pharmacist with Special Interest (PhwSI)?
The Department of Health’s (DH’s) definition is: “A PhwSI supplements their core generalist role by delivering an additional high quality service to meet the needs of patients.
“Working principally in the community, they deliver a clinical service beyond the scope of their core professional role or may undertake advanced interventions not normally undertaken by their peers. They will have demonstrated appropriate skills and competencies to deliver those services without direct supervision.”
The key points are:
• A PhwSI has undergone an accreditation process relating specifically to a particular clinical service. This is different to a qualification.
• The clinical service has to be over and above the pharmacist’s core role and is usually a service that improves patient’s access to care.
• The accreditation process ensures the pharmacists have the skills and competencies to deliver the service.
Do I need to be a supplementary or independent prescriber first?
It is not a requirement for a PhwSI to be qualified as a prescriber. However, the DH does say, “in practice, this may enhance the scope of the role”.
Where do I start?
The DH advises pharmacists to firstly find out whether local decision-makers are planning to commission specific services through PhwSIs. If in principle they are, you will need to match your clinical interest and skills to any proposed local service, investigate how that service is likely to be commissioned and determine whether the PhwSI accreditation would be an acceptable quality marker.
How do I become accredited?
The next step would be to address the competency frameworks. There are national guidelines for accreditation of PhwSI but most localities develop their own, based on the national model. Additionally, some specialities such as anticoagulation now have their own specific frameworks.
You will need to compile a portfolio of evidence to submit to the commissioners for approval and subsequently meet with the “accreditation panel” for discussion.
What should my portfolio include?
It must include details of:
• the service and its location
• referral criteria
• integrated patient pathway
• collaboration
• education, training and development
• clinical quality and governance – measurement for improvement
• clinical support
• resuscitation certificate
• indemnity arrangements.
If the accreditation panel decide the applicant has the necessary competences to fulfil the role, accreditation is given, specifying the length of time before re-accreditation must take place. This is usually a maximum of three years.
How much does it cost?
There is no cost for accreditation, but you will need adequate professional indemnity assurance.
What next?
Once accreditation has been given and the service is up and running, there is still work to be done. Clinical audit is a key feature and the commissioners will require ongoing evidence of a quality service. CPD is vital, as is evidence of clinical networking; and, of course, feedback from patients is essential.
Linda Hirst and Marta Hildebrandt were the first pharmacists in England to be accredited as PhwSIs