(70) Development and Implementation of an Experiential Education Course Review Process

Objective : Experiential education (EE) quality assurance is required per the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Standards 2016, but little information is available regarding establishment of a successful process. The aim is to describe the development and implementation of an EE course review process as part of a quality assurance plan.

Methods: The Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy EE Committee developed and implemented an EE course review process with the goals to review each Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) course at least triennially and identify strengths and areas for improvements. The EE Committee created IPPE and APPE course review forms. Specified components of a single form are completed by each of three stakeholders: 1) Course Coordinator, 2) EE Committee, and 2) Curriculum Committee, consecutively. IPPEs are assessed using the 2010 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) pre-APPE performance domains, and APPEs are assessed using the AACP essential elements. The Course Coordinator and EE Committee provide an integration effectiveness rating for each AACP performance domain or element.

Results: During the first year of the process, the Course Coordinators and EE Committee completed five course reviews (3 IPPE and 2 APPE). Course Coordinators identified 19 strengths and 18 areas for improvement. The EE Committee identified 29 strengths, 26 improvement areas, and 15 areas for preceptor development. Global outcomes from the course reviews included feedback and suggestions for modifications related to curricular design, course assignments, and preceptor resources.

Conclusions: This systematic EE course review process has resulted in the identification of course strengths as well as areas for improvement which will ultimately enhance the quality of student experiences.