Entry-level Competencies Needed for Managed Care Pharmacy ...

Following completion of the AMCP membership survey, a third Task Force conference call was
held to discuss the results (including individual comments received from respondents). In
preparation for that call staff prepared a summary report that reported the average number of yes
votes for each item (indicating respondents’ expectations that new PharmD graduates would
possess that competency) and the average importance rating for each. That report is provided in
Appendix 2 (beginning on page 43). Based on this discussion, all the competency statements
were sorted into three categories: (1) those items that received at least 85% yes votes in response
to the question about expectations of new graduates plus an importance rating of 4.0 or greater
(on a scale of 1 to 5); (2) those items that met one of these two thresholds but not both (i.e., 85%
or greater on expectations and less than 4.0 on importance, or less than 85% on expectations but
4.0 or greater on importance); and (3) those items that met neither threshold. It was agreed that a
final survey of Task Force members would be conducted, to allow members to indicate, for each
competency statement, whether it should be retained or rejected (based on the results of the
ratings just described). It was understood that the results of this survey would generate a final list
of competencies expected of new PharmD graduates in a managed care practice setting, to be
included in the Task Force’s final report. Staff prepared a survey questionnaire for this purpose,
which is shown in Appendix 3 (beginning on page 47). Responses were received from seven
Task Force members. For most of the items that were retained, there was unanimous approval. In
certain other cases, items were retained without a unanimous vote. There was a split vote in each
case where items were ultimately rejected. In such cases, the majority vote (i.e., 4 out of 7) was
used in generating the final list.
Results
Based on the processes described here and data provided in the appendices, the AMCP-ACPE
Task Force concludes that new Doctor of Pharmacy graduates seeking employment in a managed
care environment should possess each of the competencies listed below. These are organized into
three domains: the cognitive (knowledge-based) domain, the psychomotor (skills-based)
domain, and the affective (attitudes/values) domain. From the original list of 55 proposed
competency statements, this list includes 44 items. The remaining items (those not included here)
were either combined with other statements in this final list or were rejected based on the results
of the membership survey and subsequent analysis by members of the Task Force.
Cognitive domain
1. Explain the general concept of managed care.
2. Describe the differences between health care delivery models, including PPOs, ACPs,
integrated systems, and patient-centered medical homes.
3. Define pharmacoeconomics and explain practical applications.
4. Outline the general provisions of Medicare Parts A, B, C and D, and Medicaid, including
coverage of medications.
5. Define formulary system and explain the rationale for and practical applications of a
formulary system.
6. Describe the steps involved in developing a formulary system.
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