APPE Experience Types

Ambulatory Care
Patient Care

Address
425 7^th Street Northwest
Cass Lake, MN 56633

Phone
(218) 335-3267

Main contact
Jinny Meyer, Staff Pharmacist

Main Preceptor

Jinny Meyer, Staff Pharmacist

Email

Phone
(218) 335-3267

Teaching Philosophy

We utilize a team approach to learning.  As a student, you will be working with several different pharmacists, nurse practitioners, medical doctors, and public health nurses.  Successful students at our site include those who are open-minded, out-going, flexible, and have the ability to work independently.  Attending cultural events with pharmacy staff such as pow wows are encouraged.

Detailed Site Information

Institution
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is responsible for providing health services to approximately 1.5 million Native Americans and Alaskan Natives belonging to more than 557 federally recognized tribes in 35 states. Presently, IHS and tribally managed programs operate in over 230 hospitals and ambulatory clinics. This task is complicated by the broad cultural, economic and geographic diversity of the groups served. As a result, health programs must be individually designed to address the needs of each community.

The Cass Lake Service Unit provides inpatient services as a 13-bed critical access hospital, 24-hour emergency room service, urgent care, primary care and internal medicine services, pharmacy, dental, optometry, physical therapy, audiology and various specialty clinics.

Treaty agreements signed between tribes and the US government direct that all health care provided to Native Americans in Indian Health Service facilities is free including all pharmaceuticals on the Federal formulary. However, federal funding has not kept pace with the Native American population or with the increasing cost of health care delivery. The Cass Lake Indian Hospital and Clinics is currently funded at approximately 44% of need.  

Institutional Mission Statement and Vision
“Working together to promote health and well-being”

Pharmacy Services
The Cass Lake Indian Health Service Hospital Pharmacy provides a variety of pharmacy services to Native Americans and Alaskan Natives primarily members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.  Our services include dispensing inpatient and outpatient medications, offer pharmacy-run clinics, individualized patient education, answer drug information questions, and assist in the Emergency Department. 

The pharmacy offers several pharmacy-run clinics including Anticoagulation Clinic, Tobacco Cessation Clinic, and Asthma Clinic where the pharmacist is responsible for assessing, initiating, modifying, and monitoring drug therapy.  One of the pharmacists works with the Healthy Heart Project and provides medication therapy management to the participants of the project typically focusing on diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.  The pharmacy staff is looking forward to developing more pharmacy-run clinics, such as lipid and hypertension management clinics, glycemic control in those with diabetes type 2, adult immunization clinic, and individualized over-the-counter medication education and dispensing clinic.

Resources
Work space including access to internet, Micromedex, Up-to-Date.  Free parking.

  Ambulatory Care

Preceptors
Joanna Ferraro, Acting Chief Pharmacist

APPE Structure
The primary work setting is the Cass Lake Indian Health Service Hospital Pharmacy but you will have the opportunity to travel to the tribal clinics located throughout the reservation as well as home visits.  Our goal for the students is to provide a variety of patient care experiences in a variety of settings and with a variety of healthcare providers.  Students will be documenting patient visits in the form of a SOAP note in our electronic health record, writing letters to patients with a current medication list and following up with patient as needed.  The students are also expected to assist pharmacists with drug information questions and projects.

Educational Opportunities:
Students are able to attend weekly student meetings for the Bemidji Area Hub.  Students will prepare and present at one Lunch and Learn session to the medical staff.  We will review and discuss the current treatment guidelines for diabetes care, hypertension, and management of high cholesterol.

Other Requirements
A brief telephone interview as well as a CV is required prior to registering for our site.  The students registering for our site should be open-minded, out-going, flexible, and have the ability to work independently.

  Patient Care

Primary Preceptor
Jinny Meyer, Staff Pharmacist
jinny.meyer@ihs.gov
(218) 335-3267

Preceptors
Joanna Ferraro, Acting Chief Pharmacist
LaDonna Lock, Clinical Pharmacist

APPE Structure
The primary work setting is the Cass Lake Indian Health Service Hospital Pharmacy but you will have the opportunity to travel to the tribal clinics located throughout the reservation as well as home visits.  Our goal for the students is to provide a variety of patient care experiences in a variety of settings and with a variety of healthcare providers.  Students will be documenting patient visits in the form of a SOAP note in our electronic health record, writing letters to patients with a current medication list and following up with patient as needed.  The students are also expected to assist pharmacists with drug information questions and projects.

Educational Opportunities
Students are able to attend weekly student meetings for the Bemidji Area Hub.  Students are will prepare and present at one Lunch and Learn session to the medical staff.  We will review and discuss the current treatment guidelines for diabetes care, hypertension, and management of high cholesterol.

Other Requirements
A brief telephone interview as well as a CV is required prior to registering for our site.  The students registering for our site should be open-minded, out-going, flexible, and have the ability to work independently.