The 2011-2012 application cycle is now closed. For information about the next application cycle, please check back or sign up for the ASHP Foundation E-news.
Description
The ASHP Foundation is offering a research grant program that supports demonstration projects related to the ASHP/ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI). The overarching goal of the PPMI is to increase pharmacist participation on patient care teams as the professional who is responsible and accountable for patients’ medication-related outcomes while delegating all medication distribution functions that do not require clinical judgment to qualified pharmacy technicians and technology.
The proposed practice-based research must be consistent with the vision, mission and strategic priorities of the ASHP Foundation. The PPMI is driven by a set of assumptions, beliefs and recommendations from the November 2010 ASHP/ASHP Foundation PPMI Summit.
The following research priorities have been established by the ASHP Foundation for the PPMI Demonstration Grants Program:
Pharmacists’ Roles (up to three $25,000 grants)
The following are priority areas related to the pharmacist’s role in advancing pharmacy practice models as the interdisciplinary team member who is responsible and accountable for patients’ medication-related outcomes:
• Comparative evaluations of the impact of inpatient pharmacist-provided core clinical services on patients’ therapeutic and safety outcomes. (See the core clinical services included in the following recommendations from the PPMI Summit: B7-9, B13-16, B20-21, B23a-o, B24a-b, B25b.)
• Comparative evaluations of the impact of hospital/health-system-based outpatient pharmacist-provided core clinical services on patients’ therapeutic and safety outcomes. (See the core clinical services included in the following recommendations from the PPMI Summit: B7-9, B13-16, B20-21, B23a-o, B24a-b, B25b.)
• Comparative evaluations of the impact of inpatient pharmacist-provided core clinical services on patients’ therapeutic and safety outcomes in the small and rural hospital setting. (See the core clinical services included in the following recommendations from the PPMI Summit: B7-9, B13-16, B20-21, B23a-o, B24a-b, B25b.)
• Evaluations of the economic benefits of hospital/health-system pharmacist-provided core clinical services. (See the core clinical services included in the following recommendations from the PPMI Summit: B7-9, B13-16, B20-21, B23a-o, B24a-b, B25b. This study must include an element that demonstrates efficient methods to track and analyze pharmacists’ clinical interventions.)
Pharmacy Technicians and Technology (up to two $25,000 grants)
The following are priority areas related to the roles of pharmacy technicians and technology in advancing pharmacy practice models:
• Evaluations of delegation of all distributive functions that do not require clinical judgment to pharmacy technicians and technology. (See the pharmacy technician-related assumptions, beliefs and recommendations from the PPMI Summit.)
• Evaluations of the use of pharmacy technicians to perform clinical support functions. (See the pharmacy technician-related assumptions, beliefs and recommendations from the PPMI Summit.)
• Evaluations of the impact of accredited technician training programs and Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification on technician effectiveness.
• Evaluations of the use of existing technology systems in supporting advancement of pharmacy practice models. (See the pharmacy technology-related assumptions, beliefs and recommendations from the PPMI Summit.)
Pharmacist Education (one $25,000 grant)
The following is the priority area related to the role of pharmacist education in advancing pharmacy practice models:
• Evaluations of innovative residency program models that result in expansion of the number of residency-trained pharmacists who can participate as the interdisciplinary team members who are responsible and accountable for patients’ medication-related outcomes.
Applications for this research grant program should emphasize:
1. Measurable objectives that relate to practice-based research that focuses on advancing pharmacy practice models.
2. Rigorous research methods that support the study objectives.
3. A description of the impact that the results of the project will have on advancing pharmacy practice models.
4. A description of the potential to generalize findings to other health care facilities.
5. Interdisciplinary collaboration.
6. An organized plan for prudent use of grant funds.
Preference will be given to research projects with the potential to yield strong scientific evidence that can be applied to practice.
Eligibility
The proposed research must involve demonstration projects focused on the PPMI research priorities listed above. The principal investigator must be a licensed pharmacist, and multidisciplinary research teams are strongly encouraged. The principal investigator must have a strong research track record as evidenced by a history of publication of original research in peer-reviewed biomedical journals and receipt of extramural grant funding. Consideration should be given to allocating a portion of the budget to support biostatistics consultation.
The proposed research must be submitted to an institutional review board (IRB) for approval. Evidence of IRB approval must be provided to the ASHP Foundation upon acceptance of the grant award. Grant funds will not be disbursed until evidence of IRB approval, or exemption from review, has been received.
The research must comply with the NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research that was amended in October 2001.
The research must comply with the NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects.
The study timeline should not exceed 18 months from project initiation.
Funding Information
Up to six $25,000 grants will be awarded. Grants will be awarded in each of the priority areas as follows:
• Pharmacists’ Roles: Up to three $25,000 grants
• Pharmacy Technicians and Technology: Up to two $25,000 grants
• Pharmacist Education: One $25,000 grant
Grants will be awarded to provide funding for specific practice-based research related to advancing pharmacy practice models and are not intended for long-term support of research programs. Facilities and administrative cost rates that do not exceed 8 percent of the total requested budget are allowed.
Application Process
Pharmacists interested in applying for funding should refer to the request for proposals and application instructions when available for full eligibility requirements and application procedures.
Selection Criteria
Grant applications will be judged by a selection panel using the following criteria:
• Rationale-10 points
• Significance-10 points
• Objectives-20 points
• Methods-40 points
• Scope and Timeline-5 points
• Personnel and Facilities-15 points
Deadline
The 2011-2012 application cycle is now closed. For information about the next application cycle, please check back or sign up for the ASHP Foundation E-news.