the art counseling of patient - American Pharmacists Association

The Art of Patient Counseling 2013Part IIGuidelines for theLocal CompetitionA. Planning Your CompetitionPlanning for the local competition should begin as early inthe semester as possible. A director should be designated andcommittees or individuals should be appointed to oversee particularaspects of the competition. Promotion and publicity areimportant, since this is an activity with which the students maybe unfamiliar. The competition should be scheduled at a timewhen there are a limited number of other activities. Two weeksafter mid-terms is usually a good time. The sign-up periodshould last two weeks, although most students will wait untilthe last minute to sign up.B. OrganizationAPhA-ASP chapters are responsible for organizing and conductingthe competition at the local level. This is a competitiveactivity, so it is important that it be conducted fairly, with anequal opportunity for participants to compete and win. Changesin this handbook's procedures should be made only after assuringthat the content of the program remains the same.For there to be acceptance of the competition by the studentsas a whole, it is im portant that the competition be understoodby the students, that it be perceived as an enjoyable and worthwhileexperience, and that it have the appearance of being wellrun.Effective organization can assure that these objectives aremet.The chapter advisor at each college of pharmacy will receivecopies of the patient counseling competition handbook. Thishandbook is updated annually.Each APhA-ASP chapter advisor will also receive a video ofthe previous year's Na tional Competition finalists in order topromote participation in the local competition, and to use it asa teaching tool.One person should be designated as the director of thePatient Counseling Competition each year. This person may be astudent volunteer, the APhA-ASP chapter advisor, or anotherfaculty member. The director of the competition organizes andcoordinates the competition and handles communications withAPhA-ASP.An initial organizational meeting should be held by theAPhA-ASP chapter and other interested parties as early aspossible in the school year. Planning should be well underway by three months prior to the deadline to schedule theappointment for the National Competition with the APhA-ASP National Office.Timing of the competition will depend on other campusactivities. The best time is following mid-semester examsduring the first semester. The sign-up period would beginimmediately following mid-semester exams and would last fortwo weeks. The timeline will be helpful in determining whento schedule the competition.C. StructureA program director should be designated as early as possibleand volunteers for specific functions should be recruited. Thedirector's job is both challenging and rewarding—the directoris the leader and organizer. The director must know whatresources are available, both in personnel and finance, in orderto delegate tasks appropriately.Three committees should be established and committeechairs selected.The Finance Committee should obtain funding for the localcompetition and funds to help defray the expenses of sending thelocal winner to the National Competition. Chapters must locatefinancial resources for local prizes and travel costs. Optimally,$1,000 is the recommended total for prizes and any additionalfunds should be allocated for travel assistance to the APhA AnnualMeeting. If internal resources are inadequate to handle the expensesof the competition, a community pharmacy, chain pharmacy or a4