Preceptor Training

Rotation: Drug Court

Preceptor: Cindi Koh-Knox, PharmD

Location: Lafayette, IN

The Drug Court rotation is a unique experience that is different from the normal traditional pharmacy setting.   However, in this rotation skills that are important to pharmacists, such as counseling patients, documenting, and researching, are practiced and honed. 

Drug Court is a community-based program that allows individuals who have abused or are addicted to drugs to get help in recovery while shortening incarceration time.  Forensic Diversion and Adult Drug Court are regularly attended by pharmacy representatives (PharmD candidates and Dr. Koh-Knox).  One team meets every Monday and the other team meets every Tuesday.  The PharmD Candidate (referred to as pharmacy intern by the teams) meets with the teams and contributes to the care of the program participants.  During the team and court meetings, the intern takes notes on each participant.  After court meetings, participants meet with pharmacy based on need or follow-up.  Interns are responsible for keeping up to date records of the participants’ medications and any general notes of interest.  The interns also have the opportunity to make any interventions in the participants’ medications deemed appropriate.  The Pharmacy Hotline is managed by the intern who is also in charge of answering and returning messages from the hotline.  The Pharmacy Hotline allows participants to call if they have any questions about their medication or other general health questions.  Most interns complete the rotation feeling that they have made a difference in these patients’ lives and contributed to their success in the Drug Court programs as they recover from addictions and criminal behaviors and thinking. 

Goals for Drug Court

1. Attend weekly staff meetings and court every Monday and Tuesday
2. Maintain Pharmacy Hotline Records and reply to any call when applicable
3. Meet with Home with Hope participants every Thursday
4. Contribute to the discussion of patients care in weekly staff meeting
5. Counsel participants on medications
6. Maintain records of patients’ medication
7. Maintain records of general notes on patients
8. Answer any pharmacy related questions for the drug team
9. Research subjects that are not familiar to the drug team that may or may not apply to pharmacy
10. Familiarize oneself with drug abuse/addiction literature; attend AA/NA meetings; accompany surveillance officer; meet with case managers; and tour jail, community corrections, work release.

bjk 10/06