Clinical Team Education

Here are some ways we keep your clinical team at its best:

In-Service Education: We offer a variety of in-service training sessions on critical topics in longterm care pharmacy and nursing. Common topics include: Proper Medication Administration Techniques, Managing High-Risk Medications, Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship, Diabetes Care and Insulin Administration, Pain Management and PRN Protocols, Behavioral Health Medications and Monitoring, and Preparing for Survey (Med Pass) . During these in-services, our pharmacist or nurse educator not only presents information, but also encourages Q&A and discussion of real scenarios your staff encounters. These sessions can be recurring (e.g., monthly or quarterly) to cover new topics or refresh on core skills. We often align them with any issues identified during consultant pharmacist reviews – for example, if we notice med documentation errors, we’ll do an in-service on documentation best practices.

Regulatory Compliance Training: Assisted living and personal care in Pennsylvania have regulations regarding medication administration (for instance, unlicensed staff need specific medication training and annual refreshers). We help ensure your staff meets these requirements. We can conduct the Medication Administration Training review or assist your trainers with up-to-date materials. We’ll also keep you informed on any changes in state regulations or guidelines (like new Department of Human Services bulletins on medication management in PCHs). If a survey identified a medication-related deficiency, we’ll work with you on a plan of correction and train staff on the corrected procedure. Our consultants routinely participate in QA meetings and can provide insight or education to help you maintain compliance and be survey-ready at all times.

One-on-One Coaching & New Staff Orientation: For new nurses or med techs joining your team, handling the facility’s medication system can be daunting initially. We offer one-on-one coaching, where our consultant pharmacist or nurse will shadow or walk through a med pass with a new staff member to reinforce proper technique and answer questions on the spot. We familiarize them with how to use our pharmacy’s cycle fill delivery, how to reorder meds, use the emergency kit, etc. This personal approach helps new staff feel supported and become proficient faster. Your dedicated pharmacy technician or consultant is also just a phone call away for any “quick questions” a staff member might have (e.g., “I can’t find this medication on the MAR, what do I do?”). We encourage a culture where asking the pharmacist is welcomed – better a question than an error.

Competency Assessments: We can assist in running competency evaluations or skills check-offs for medication administration if needed. For example, annually you might want to verify each med aide’s competency. Our nurse consultant can prepare a mock med pass observation and checklist to systematically evaluate each person and then provide constructive feedback or retraining for any weaknesses. This is another layer of ensuring that your team remains sharp and any drift from proper procedure is corrected. 

Clinical Updates and Resources: Through our resources and newsletters, we keep staff informed of important clinical updates – such as new high-risk medications that might be prescribed or best practices in monitoring certain drugs. If a notable new FDA guideline or Beers List (medications to use cautiously in elderly) update comes out, we’ll share that knowledge and what it means for dayto-day care. We might also provide quick-reference sheets or charts to post at the nurses’ station – for instance, a warfarin management guide, or a pain management protocol summary. These tools reinforce learning long after the training session.

Committee Participation: Our consultant pharmacist is willing to participate in your facility’s committees such as Quality Assurance, Infection Control, or Medication Management meetings . By being part of these teams, we contribute to policy development and continuous improvement efforts. For example, on an infection control committee, our pharmacist might help analyze antibiotic use patterns and educate on appropriate indications (supporting antibiotic stewardship). On QA, we could report on med error trends and initiatives to reduce them. This close collaboration helps integrate pharmacy perspectives into your facility’s decision-making and keeps us aligned with your care goals.

The impact: When your staff is knowledgeable and confident about medications, everything runs smoother. Med passes are done correctly and on time, documentation improves, and residents receive safer care. Staff also feel more satisfied and empowered in their roles, which can boost morale and reduce turnover. Families notice when the care team can competently explain medications and manage issues – it builds trust. Furthermore, well-trained staff help avoid costly errors or incidents, protecting your facility’s reputation and liability. Custom Care Pharmacy sees itself as a partner in building up your team’s capabilities. We’re not just a service provider; we’re an educator and supporter. Our pharmacy consultants often form close relationships with the nurses and aides – they know we’re there to help, not judge. That trust means your staff will proactively reach out for guidance, creating a positive feedback loop of continuous learning. In the everevolving healthcare environment, we keep your team current, competent, and confident in medication management. Together, we turn what can be a challenging aspect of care into a strong point for your community.