Specialized Clerkship
in Drug Information/Patient Education
Consumer
Health Information Corporation
8300 Greensboro Drive, Suite 1220
McLean, VA 22102
"The uniqueness of this rotation was the best.
This company is one of a kind and likely the only one
in the world to provide the types of services that it does."
-- Student Testimonial
Consumer
Health Information Corporation offers a specialized clerkship
in drug information for
senior Doctor of Pharmacy
candidates who are keenly interested in patient education and consumer awareness. The clerkship is customized depending on the type of rotation:
DRUG INFORMATION
The emphasis is on learning how to conduct a wide range of literature searches in areas relating to patient adherence, patient education and how to apply this information to the development of evidence-based programs for patients and consumers. Students will also be involved in researching new advances in pharmacy practice and medical research and maintaining documentation. Students will learn how to write for both professional and consumer audiences.
ELECTIVE
Students will also be involved in the drug information activities above but will have the opportunity to gain experience in the business and marketing components of the company. Students will be exposed to national pharmacy organizations in Washington DC and a tour to an organization will be arranged whenever possible. Students will be involved in attending corporate meetings with clients and national organizations when possible. Students will be encouraged to develop their leadership skills and be involved in the preparation of articles for publication.
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PHARM.D./MBA
This is a special rotation for students in a Pharm.D./MBA program. Students will be involved in all of the activities of the Elective Rotation but will also develop a research project that applies to patient education, patient adherence or consumer awareness. Students will be encouraged to publish their research results. The student will gain experience in the business and marketing areas.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Consumer Health Information Corporation is internationally recognized for its patient adherence programs. Consumer Heath Information Corporation is a teaching site for several schools of pharmacy across the United States and is involved with major national medical, pharmacy, and consumer organizations.
The company develops a wide range of evidence-based patient adherence programs that health professionals use in their patient counseling. The goal is to help patients better understand how to take their medications safely and wisely and reduce medication errors made by patients and consumers.
Strong emphasis on the integration of behavior modification techniques, patient counseling techniques, patient comprehension/ health literacy and graphic design. Many of these programs have won national and international awards for excellence.
The student will be involved in the current
projects of the company. These projects range from helping develop patient information programs for prescription medications, OTCs, medical devices, home monitoring devices and wellness programs. Specific types of programs include patient pamphlets, patient diaries, patient adherence tools, websites for patients and/or consumers, FDA-approved Patient Package Inserts and patient programs for clinical trials.
The corporate office is located in McLean, Virginia (a suburb of Washington, DC) and approximately
25 minutes from downtown Washington, DC. Professional
business dress is required. The office building has a gym facility to which the student will be given free access. Parking is free.
STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO:
Integrate their knowledge from several areas of practice. This
requires a thorough understanding of the clinical pharmacology,
pathophysiology, therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, interpretation
of adverse effects reported from clinical trials, clinical
statistics, drug interactions, potential patient adherence
problems and appropriate behavior modification techniques
that can be used to address these problems.
Conduct world-wide electronic literature searches and how to critically evaluate the studies. They will use their literature searches to develop creative patient information about specific medical conditions, lifestyle
changes (diet, exercise, stress reduction), specific
medications and other types of therapies used to treat
these conditions. Behavior modification and patient
compliance techniques will be integrated throughout.
Translate medical terminology into language the average patient can understand (Grade
6 to Grade 8 level).
Use the various
criteria involved in meeting patient comprehension and
readability requirements.
Explain the early signs and symptoms of an adverse reaction
in language that patients can understand and will not frighten them.
Use graphic design to help simplify complicated messages for patients because the layout can often be just as important as the "words".
Always consider a problem a patient is having with a medication from the "patient's point of view".
Predict patient adherence problems from both the drug as well as the illness.
Use the types of information patients need in order to take their medications correctly and the importance of behavioral psychology and counseling techniques. This will help in future patient counseling services.
You will be involved in the day-to-day activities of the company and will gain experience in business. Students who are interested in learning more about how to apply drug information and patient education to marketing and public relations may be given this opportunity depending on the specific circumstances.
PREVIOUS STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Click here to read what previous students have said about their rotation at Consumer Health Information Corporation.
HOUSING
The company will assist students in finding housing. Several families who live near the corporate office are willing to take students into their homes at minimal cost. The company is affiliated with many schools of pharmacy and there is the possibility that the student may be able to share housing with another student.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CLERKSHIP
Apply early! Because this clerkship is offered to more than 40 Schools of Pharmacy, please try to apply early in the application process while rotation openings are still available. We can only take 3 students for each rotation.
Students require computer
skills,
excellent spelling and grammar...and a strong desire to help patients
learn about their medications.
Students who are interested in this clerkship should
inform their Experiential Director and send a resume, transcript of marks,
and letter outlining interest areas in patient education
to: