Advocating for the pharmacy profession through involvement in a type 1 diabetes day camp as a pharmacy residency learning experience

Objective: Diabetes summer camps have the common objectives of providing children with diabetes a safe environment to have fun and develop skills to manage diabetes in the presence of variable physical activity and nutritional intake. Historically, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has relied on nurses, dietitians, and physicians to serve as medical staff, whereas pharmacists served in educational roles. This commentary describes the experience of postgraduate year-2 (PGY-2) ambulatory care pharmacy residents participating as medical staff in the management of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at a week-long, summer day camp in an elective learning experience. Description: Two PGY-2 residents volunteered at ADA-sponsored camps in July and August 2017, in which they were responsible for performing and documenting blood glucose measurements, dosing and administering insulin, overseeing the use of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, and managing cases of hypo- and hyperglycemias in children aged 4-9 years. They facilitated interprofessional education of other medical staff members, including discussions regarding pharmacokinetic profiles and formulations of various insulin products and performing advanced insulin dosing adjustments. The perceived benefits of this residency learning experience included increased self-confidence regarding the management of T1D, insulin administration techniques, and interprofessional collaboration. Performing advanced clinical management of children with T1D increased awareness of pharmacists’ skill set in diabetes care. Demonstrating this value in nontraditional care settings may increase the likelihood that pharmacists are recruited to interdisciplinary health care teams to participate in autonomous direct patient care. Conclusion: The PGY-2 ambulatory care pharmacy residents autonomously practiced as recognized medical staff in the management of pediatric patients with T1D. This experience advocates for pharmacists’ and their trainees’ involvement in service-learning and team-based medical care outside the traditional health care setting.