The clinical pharmacist in a family practice residency program.

A project of interdisciplinary family medicine education was conducted in which a clinical pharmacist served as a drug therapy consultant-educator in a family practice residency program. The clinical pharmacist provided drug information, advised about drug therapy, taught in formal conferences, prepared and disseminated a drug information bulletin, made rounds with the physicians, provided drug blood level consultation, and conducted a drug utilization review project. The family physicians' attitudes about clinical pharmacy were assessed by interviews before and after the project and by a questionnaire administered after the project. The physicians and the pharmacist in this model were observed to have a greater understanding of the interdisciplinary team practice concept; and an active role for the clinical pharmacist as a teacher and consultant was reinforced.