Evolution and Validation of Practice Standards, Training, and Professional Development
CPE
CPD is not a replacement for CPE, but CPE should be one component of a PDP.
ICU pharmacists should focus on CPE programming that meets their defined educational needs and
incorporates several different techniques that will help meet the full range of competencies needed
for clinical practice in the ICU.
Accreditation standards maintain minimum quality assurance of CPE activities.
| d. | CPE credits are the most widely used βcurrencyβ by regulatory bodies, accrediting agencies, and |
|---|
other organizations as a proxy for professional competency, and this is unlikely to change in the near
or intermediate term.
Traditional didactic lecture-style CPE activities have several limitations toward achieving CPD
learning objectives.
Often non-curricular
ii.
Limited influence on changing practice
iii.
Educational outcomes may not align with the individualβs needs.
iv.
Content is sponsor or speaker driven.
Opportunity for bias (or perception of bias), depending on source of support
vi.
CE efforts are often fragmented across professions (not interdisciplinary).
CPE providers are expanding the diversity of educational methodologies and techniques to include
interaction, experiential learning, simulation, discussion and debate, and role-playing, among others.
Limited evidence suggests that live CE over print, multimedia format, and a series of programs on
a curricular theme is the most effective CE method.
Certificate or credentialing programs
ACLS
ii.
ATLS
iii.
PALS
iv.
Emergency neurological life support (ENLS)
Teaching certificate programs
Structured curricular programs
ACCP Academies
ii.
Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) and Pediatrics Fundamental Critical Care Support
(PFCCS) course
iii.
Membership and participation in national organizations
ACCP; Critical Care PRN
SCCM; Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Section
ASHP; Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists
| d. | Several specialty organizations related to critical care (American College of Chest Physicians, |
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American Trauma Society, NCS, American Burn Association, etc.)
Primary and secondary literature
Reading, analyzing, and applying the relevant literature should be central to any strategy of
professional development.
No gold standard strategy for staying current with the literature
Many βforagingβ strategies will need to be considered and used.