Advanced Community APPE Preceptor Resources

Community pharmacy practice is quickly transforming from its traditional dispensing role to offering enhanced clinical services, public health initiatives, and increasing coordination of care within the health team.

Today, as community pharmacies are offering more enhanced clinical services, students in training on their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) can be a viable mechanism to assist pharmacies in transforming their practice. The decision to add enhanced clinical services or increase care coordination with other health care providers brings a large amount of work, including writing new protocols, staff training, comparing vendor options, and determining the exact needs of the community or provider. Restructuring APPEs to help with the lift is a great way to advance a practice site and provide students with a one-of-a-kind learning experience. The students’ learning is enhanced through gained exposure to business practices, service development, and management--elements that are all important to their development as pharmacists and that can contribute, regardless of a student’s career plans, to future success.

The aim of this curriculum is to aid pharmacy practices on this restructuring. This curriculum gives concrete approaches and examples on how to engage students in activities that aid in pharmacy transformation. The priorities for each pharmacy varies, so the curriculum begins with a self-assessment, then guides pharmacist preceptors on how to develop student activities to support the long-term goals of the pharmacy. A variety of examples is provided throughout including a sample syllabus, and turn-key student materials are provided as resources to help pharmacists re-design their APPE rotation. The goal is to create sustainable change for the pharmacy while providing an enriched learning experience for the student.

Pharmacy Self-Assessment  

Design Student Activities  

Create Syllabus  

Orient Student  

Pharmacy Self-Assessment

The first step is to identify priorities and goals for pharmacy services and consists of a video and a worksheet. This activity should take 30 – 45 minutes to complete and should be repeated on a yearly basis.

Design Student Activities

This second step is how to plan student activities to reach your business goals. It consists of a video and worksheet. This activity should take approximately 30 minutes initially and repeated for each rotation.

Designing Student Activities Video

Designing Student Activities Worksheet

Examples of Enhanced Services

Create Syllabus

A sample syllabus is provided and includes an example student schedule. An example enhanced service of documenting eCare plans is provided in the sample syllabus. Pharmacist preceptors insert the activities developed in Step 2 in the syllabus template.

Orient Student

After steps 1-3, assign students to review the syllabus and any assigned videos or materials (see below). Review self-assessment with your student and your goals for the pharmacy and rotation.

Introduction to this Rotation

This video introduces students to the concept of the rotation with a certain amount of responsibility for enhanced service projects. This is applicable to most rotations.

CPESN Introduction

This video introduces students to the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network. It provides the background, formation, and description of the local and national network. This video would be applicable to any pharmacy who is a member of CPESN.

Assessment and Answer Key

eCare Plan Basics

This video introduces students to the "eCare Plan". It describes the history of health information technology, components of the care plan, and current use.

Assessment and Answer Key

References

Authors

Department of Pharmacy Practice
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Megan G. Smith, PharmD, BCACP

Department of Pharmacy Practice
South Dakota State University
Shanna O’Connor, PharmD

1. Smith MG, Ferreri SP. A model to inform community pharmacy's collaboration in outpatient care. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2016;12(3):529-534. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.07.005

2. Smith MG, Ferreri SP, Brown P, Wines K, Shea CM, Pfeiffenberger TM. Implementing an integrated care management program in community pharmacies: A focus on medication management services. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2017;57(2):229-235 e1. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2016.12.074

3. Turner K, Weinberger M, Renfro C, Powell BJ, Ferreri S, Trodgon JG, et al. Stages of change: moving community pharmacies from a drug dispensing to population health management model. Med Care Res Rev. 2019. doi: 10.1177/1077558719841159

4. Smith MA, Spiggle S, McConnell B. Strategies for community-based medication management services in value-based health plans. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2017;13(1):48-62. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.01.005

Acknowledgements

The development of this curriculum was inspired by the work of Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network USA LLC, and the Academia-CPESN Transformation Pharmacy Collaborative.

We are also extremely grateful to our pharmacy practitioners and owners who reviewed the materials, providing guidance and feedback throughout the development process.

Amy Schmidt, MSW North Star Pharmacy and Infusion Cheyenne, Wyoming

Jason Finley, PharmD Finley Pharmacy Benton, Arkansas

Jenny Stephens, PharmD The Pharmacy at Wellington Little Rock, Arkansas

Aubrey Harton, PharmD Cornerstone Pharmacy at Chenal Little Rock, Arkansas

Lorri Shaver, PharmD Shaver Pharmacy and Compounding Center Pocatello, Idaho