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H. Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Overview

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Overview

The last year of the curriculum is comprised of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations. Students will experience different practice settings, which include General Medicine, Ambulatory Care, Institutional Practice, Community Practice, and various Selective Practices.

The primary goal of the APPE experience is to develop students into practitioners competent in the provision of patient-centered care. To accomplish this, students should develop the following skills and knowledge:

  1. Application of Academic Knowledge
    To provide on-the-job educational experience in pharmacy’s equivalent to a “clinical” setting. To provide an opportunity to apply academic knowledge to kinetic learning (learning by doing)
  2. Development of Judgment Skills
    To afford the student an opportunity to participate in the decision making processes regarding the provision of person-centered care, health care products and pharmacy-related information
  3. Development of Managerial Skills
    To provide the student with instruction in all aspects of the operation and management of a pharmacy
  4. Improvement of Communication Skills
    To afford the student an opportunity to communicate with a variety of health professionals (physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) and with patients
  5. Improvement of Mechanical Skills
    To provide instruction and kinetic learning opportunities in all aspects of the provision of pharmacy services
  6. Development of Professional Ethics
    To develop in the student an understanding of and appreciation for the services provided by pharmacists, and the intangible rewards associated with professional practice
  7. Development of Self-Discipline
    To develop in the student a sense of responsibility to the patient, other health professionals, and the pharmacy profession, and to develop self-awareness necessary to foster effective continuous professional development

Students will complete nine (9) required professional experiences each lasting a calendar month. Four rotations will be completed in the Fall semester (Aug-Nov) and five rotations will be completed in the Spring semester (Jan-May). Prerequisite: Fourth professional year standing. The required courses are listed below.

  1. Pharm 5914 and Pharm 5924 Community APPEs
    Each is a full-time monthly practicum conducted in an independent and/or chain community pharmacy. Instruction and supervised pharmacy practiced training is provided by an instructor in off-campus affiliated teaching community pharmacies. The advanced student applies the knowledge and skills from previous coursework and training to demonstrate pharmaceutical care in ambulatory patients.
    Prerequisites: Fourth professional year standing
  2. Pharm 5934 Institutional APPE
    A full-time monthly practicum conducted in an institutional setting. The advanced student utilizes their previous coursework and training to demonstrate the application of pharmaceutical care. Drug policy management, distribution systems, and administrative activities are also covered.
    Prerequisites: Fourth professional year standing
  3. Pharm 5944 and Pharm 5984 Selective APPEs
    Each is a full-time monthly practicum conducted at a pharmacy practice site. Instruction and supervised pharmacy practice training is provided by an instructor at a pharmacy practice site. The advanced student selects from a variety of optional pharmacy practice experiences including medicine, home health care, consulting pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, Indian Health Services, specialty pharmacy, compounding pharmacy, managed care, pharmacy administration, and/or additional community and institutional rotations.
    Prerequisites: Fourth professional year standing
  4. Pharm 5954 and Pharm 5964 Selective Medicine A/B APPEs
    Each is a full-time monthly practicum with supervised instruction in a patient care setting. The advanced student must demonstrate the application of pharmaceutical care to patients throughout the rotation experience. This is accomplished by Socratic faculty teaching utilizing low student to faculty ratios and intense problem-solving activities.
    Prerequisites: Fourth professional year standing
  5. Pharm 5974 General Medicine APPE
    A full-time monthly practicum with supervised instruction in an institutional patient care setting. The advanced student must demonstrate the application of pharmaceutical care to patients throughout the rotation experience. This is accomplished by Socratic faculty teaching utilizing low student to faculty ratios and intense problem-solving activities.
    Prerequisites: Fourth professional year standing
  6. Pharm 5994 Ambulatory Care APPE
    A full-time monthly practicum with supervised instruction in an ambulatory care setting. The advanced student must demonstrate the application of pharmaceutical care to patients throughout the rotation experience. This is accomplished by Socratic faculty teaching utilizing low student to faculty ratios and intense problem-solving activities.
    Prerequisite: Fourth professional year standing

Students earn both academic credit and State Board of Pharmacy intern hours during their APPE rotations. APPE rotations provide the student with a minimum of 1440 hours of professional experience.