Pharmacotherapy Principles & Practice

Use of effective and safe pharmacotherapy is a cornerstone of appropriate patient care for both acute and chronic medical conditions. Although the biomedical research enterprise continues to provide medications that have enormous potential to improve individual patient and population health outcomes, these agents are too often applied inappropriately and ineffectively. Consequently, many patients do not achieve the best possible outcomes or incur harm from their drug therapy. Appropriate implementation and management of high quality, cost-effective pharmacotherapy by health care providers requires an integration of scientific knowledge and clinical practice skills combined with a fiduciary responsibility to put the patient’s needs first. The development of mature, independent pharmacotherapists occurs through structured learning processes that include formal coursework, independent study, mentorship, and direct involvement in the care of actual patients in inter professional settings