College of Pharmacy
Program-Level Ability Based Outcomes (ABOs)
The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curriculum at the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) is
designed to prepare students to be entry level generalist pharmacists. Further, it is designed to prepare
graduating pharmacy students who proactively integrate into the health care team to collaboratively
advance and deliver optimal patient care. This serves as the differential advantage of the College of
Pharmacy and as an underlying theme for all of the college’s educational outcomes.
The faculty of the College of Pharmacy have developed and approved overall educational objectives in
the form of ability based outcomes (ABO) statements. The ABO statements have three outcome areas
and represent what graduates are expected to be able to do as entry-level pharmacists as a result of
their education in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. They reflect the integration of knowledge, skills and
attitudes learned in the curriculum in order to attain the outcome. They are acquired across the length
and breadth of the curriculum and not necessarily at a discrete time point in the curriculum. The ABO
statements also serve as a blueprint for curriculum development, assessment and improvement.
OUTCOME AREA 1: Graduates work effectively as part of an interprofessional team to provide
population-based and patient-specific pharmaceutical care, thereby helping patients achieve optimal
clinical and patient-centered outcomes. To achieve this outcome, graduates will be able to:
1.1 Collaborate with other care providers to establish or maintain an effective interprofessional health
care team
1.1.1 Identify and establish collaborative relationships with health care team members
1.1.1.1 Involve patients, families and caregivers in the health care decision process
1.1.2 Explain one’s role and responsibilities to patients, families, caregivers and other key
stakeholders
1.1.3 Explain the roles and responsibilities of other care providers and how the team works
together to provide care
1.1.4 Choose communication tools and techniques that facilitate discussion and interaction to
enhance team function
1.1.5 Give feedback to others about their performance on the team and respond respectfully to
feedback from others
1.1.6 Demonstrate respect for patients while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of teambased care
Pharmacy Core Faculty Council Approved 6.20.12
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College of Pharmacy
Program-Level Ability Based Outcomes (ABOs)
1.2 Develop and implement evidence-based pharmaceutical care programs for target populations
1.2.1 Interpret epidemiologic and pharmacoeconomic data relevant to specific diseases and their
management
1.2.2 Develop medication use criteria
1.2.3 Conduct and analyze medication use reviews
1.2.4 Identify and implement risk reduction and medication optimization strategies
1.2.5 Identify health maintenance and disease prevention concerns
1.3 Provide evidence-based, patient-specific pharmaceutical care
1.3.1 Collect relevant data to create a patient-specific database
1.3.1.1 Identify and interpret relevant data in patient medical records
1.3.1.2 Conduct a patient interview, including a medical and medication history
1.3.1.3 Perform a patient evaluation, including physical assessment
1.3.1.4 Select and administer health screenings using appropriate assessment tools
1.3.1.5 Recognize and triage patient health concerns and complaints
1.3.2 Identify and evaluate actual or potential drug therapy problems
1.3.2.1 Conduct medication reconciliation
1.3.2.2 Assess patient adherence
1.3.2.3 Evaluate appropriateness of drug therapy
1.3.2.4 Identify adverse drug events
1.3.2.5 Identify drug interactions
1.3.2.6 Identify barriers to health care access
1.3.3 Integrate foundational sciences, social sciences, therapeutics and evidence-based practices to
develop a pharmaceutical care plan
Pharmacy Core Faculty Council Approved 6.20.12
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College of Pharmacy
Program-Level Ability Based Outcomes (ABOs)
1.3.3.1 Retrieve, evaluate and apply current disease state information
1.3.3.1.1 Describe the etiology and pathophysiology of human disease
1.3.3.2 Retrieve, evaluate and apply current drug information
1.3.3.3 Apply principles of cultural competency
1.3.3.4 Develop patient-centered therapeutic goals
1.3.3.5 Identify preventive care interventions
1.3.3.6 Identify non-pharmacologic treatments
1.3.3.7 Select appropriate prescription and/or non-prescription medication(s)
1.3.3.8 Design a medication regimen based on population data and patient-specific factors,
including pharmacogenomic variables
1.3.3.9 Select strategies to optimize adherence to treatment regimens
1.3.3.10 Manage adverse drug events
1.3.3.11 Manage drug interactions
1.3.3.12 Develop a monitoring plan
1.3.3.13 Select strategies to overcome barriers to health care access
1.3.4 Recommend and implement pharmaceutical care plans
1.3.4.1 Communicate pharmaceutical care recommendations to other care providers
1.3.4.2 Educate patients, families and caregivers
1.3.4.2.1 Discuss drug indication, expectations and optimal use
1.3.4.2.2 Discuss preventive care and wellness interventions
1.3.4.2.3 Discuss non-pharmacologic treatments
1.3.4.3 Recommend and implement a patient-specific monitoring plan
1.3.5 Monitor patient response to therapy and modify therapeutic plan as necessary
Pharmacy Core Faculty Council Approved 6.20.12
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College of Pharmacy
Program-Level Ability Based Outcomes (ABOs)
1.3.5.1 Assess efficacy of the therapeutic intervention
1.3.5.2 Assess safety of the therapeutic intervention
1.3.5.3 Evaluate progress toward a patient’s therapeutic goal
1.3.5.4 Evaluate the impact of a health problem and/or its treatment on the patient’s quality
of life
1.3.5.5 Determine appropriate follow up
1.3.6 Document pharmaceutical care activities
1.4 Use a systematic approach to assure safe and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications
1.4.1 Analyze written, electronic or verbal prescriptions for therapeutic appropriateness and
compliance with legal standards
1.4.2 Recommend a course of action when a medication order should not or cannot be filled
1.4.3 Transfer prescriptions in compliance with legal standards
1.4.4 Perform calculations required to compound, dispense, and administer medications
1.4.5 Prepare and compound extemporaneous preparations and sterile products
1.4.6 Prepare, package, and label available dosage forms according to legal standards
1.4.7 Verify the accuracy of a prescription order before final dispensing
1.4.8 Administer immunizations
1.5 Demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills that result in effective information exchange
with patients, their families, caregivers, and other key stakeholders
1.5.1 Identify the appropriate type of communication for a given situation
1.5.2 Use effective communication skills
1.5.2.1 Verbally educate using a variety of methods and media
1.5.2.2 Educate in writing using a variety of methods and media
Pharmacy Core Faculty Council Approved 6.20.12
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College of Pharmacy
Program-Level Ability Based Outcomes (ABOs)
1.5.3 Assess the ability of patients, families, caregivers and other key stakeholders to acquire,
process, understand, and use health-related information
1.5.4 Evaluate understanding of the communicated message
1.6 Exhibit professional attitudes and behaviors
1.6.1 Demonstrate professional accountability while interacting with patients, families, caregivers
and other key stakeholders
1.6.2 Participate in the care of all patients, including those who are underserved and/or those
populations disproportionately affected by disease
1.6.3 Promote fair and equitable allocation of health resources
1.6.4 Act with honesty and integrity in interactions with patients, families, caregivers and other care
providers
1.6.5 Demonstrate continuous personal/professional development
1.6.6 Participate in local, state and national organizations
1.7 Practice pharmaceutical care in accordance with legal, ethical, social, economic and professional
guidelines
OUTCOME AREA 2: Graduates manage medication use systems and use health care resources to
promote optimal health. To achieve this outcome, graduates will be able to:
2.1 Develop and implement a systematic strategy to identify, prevent and manage medication use
system problems
2.1.1 Identify, filter and organize medication use system problems and supporting information
2.1.2 Define the medication use system problem(s) and desired goals
2.1.3 Create an approach for managing the medication use system problem(s)
2.1.3.1 Generate a list of potential strategies to manage the problem(s)
2.1.3.2 Evaluate the potential strategies for efficacy and cost-effectiveness
2.1.3.3 Select an appropriate strategy
Pharmacy Core Faculty Council Approved 6.20.12
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College of Pharmacy
Program-Level Ability Based Outcomes (ABOs)
2.1.4 Use technology and other resources, to implement and monitor the strategy for achieving
optimal outcomes
2.1.4.1 Communicate the strategy and monitoring plan to key stakeholders
2.1.4.2 Identify alternatives and modify the strategy as appropriate
2.1.5 Participate in a formulary system
2.1.6 Develop and manage systems for drug procurement and inventory control
2.2 Evaluate medication use systems
2.2.1 Evaluate a drug-distribution process for safe, accurate, and time-sensitive drug-distribution
2.2.2 Compare medication use systems to minimize medication errors
2.2.3 Evaluate medication use systems to optimize patient outcomes
2.2.4 Interpret and apply medication use information, health policies and pharmacy benefit plans to
optimize patient outcomes
2.2.5 Participate in, evaluate and improve the medication use process during and after transitions
of care
2.2.6 Evaluate and employ resources required to achieve optimal outcomes
2.2.6.1 Assess the economic cost and impact of patient-centered pharmaceutical care
services
2.2.6.2 Develop and propose a program to establish a new service
2.2.7 Develop and conduct medication use evaluations to assure compliance with accepted
standards of practice
2.2.8 Develop and monitor an adverse drug reaction reporting system
2.3 Perform administrative and personnel management responsibilities in accordance with legal, ethical,
social, economic and professional guidelines
Pharmacy Core Faculty Council Approved 6.20.12
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College of Pharmacy
Program-Level Ability Based Outcomes (ABOs)
OUTCOME AREA 3: Graduates promote health improvement, wellness and disease prevention in
cooperation with patients, communities, at-risk populations and other key stakeholders. To achieve this
outcome, graduates will be able to:
3.1 Apply population-specific data, quality assurance strategies, educational strategies, and research
processes to identify and resolve pharmaceutical care related public health problems
3.2 Apply population-specific data, quality assurance strategies, educational strategies, and research
processes to develop pharmaceutical care related health policy
3.3 Apply the principles of cultural competence in the development, implementation and evaluation of
public health
3.4 Collaborate with policy makers, members of the community, and other key stakeholders to develop
public policy
3.5 Evaluate and implement strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent or detect disease in
target populations
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