(150) Expansion of MyDispense to Simulation Activities and Assessment in a Certified Pharmacy Technician Training Program

Objective : Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) implemented a pharmacy technician training program in 2016. MyDispense, an online pharmacy simulation, allows students to develop and practice their dispensing skills in a safe environment with minimal consequences for mistakes. We describe a novel innovation, expanding the functionality of MyDispense to the training of pharmacy technicians.

Methods: Technician training coordinator supervisors, faculty members with experience in MyDispense, and experiential pharmacy students created cases targeted towards pharmacy technician activities. Activities were aligned with current American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Accreditation Standards for pharmacy technician education and training programs.

Results: 12 cases were developed to be utilized in student technician training, and account for approximately 12 to 14 hours towards simulation. Additionally, one assessment encompassing 5 exercises was created. The first cohort (n=6) completed the activities during 2 days of in-class simulation. The final summative assessment was completed on an average of 58 minutes (SD ± 24 minutes). Final assessment scores averaged 27 out of 41 points (SD ± 6 points). Faculty determined areas of improvement for cases including consistent feedback on label directions and patient fact-finding information and minor edits to exercises to prevent any confusion, which were modified for future cohorts.

Conclusions: MyDispense, a student pharmacist dispensing simulation, allows students to access and complete exercises and perform summative assessments in a learner focused environment. This process expanded simulation activities to student pharmacy technicians, with minimal adjustment for dispensing skills specific to technician scope of practice. These exercises will be shared on the MyDispense Content repository for interested faculty as part of a formal technician training program and in preparation for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE).