Education Program Structure

Souraya EL-Sayed Abdallah, Pharm D
PGY-1 Resident
Holy Cross Hospital

Structure is a crucial part of implementing a successful program. It builds the foundation on which the program will run and if the foundation is obscure so will the learning experience. Pharmacy schools and Residency programs are accredited by accrediting bodies such as the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP).1-2 They are to follow standards and guidance that develop a competent pharmacist and clinician. These standards are very general in order to give leeway for those building the program establishing criteria for training allowing the student/pharmacist in training to achieve competency, allowing for autonomy for the educators creating the program.1-2 This is why each program may differ from one another and may have a specific focus and structure to the program in comparison to other programs.

Not all programs are the same whether Doctor of Pharmacy programs or Pharmacy residency programs. They are organized in a manner to implement the mission and vision of the program. Expectations are standardized even if the experience differs based on the organization itself; i.e. a Veteran’s Affairs Hospital vs. a Trauma center vs. a children’s hospital. At the end of the experience, the expectation is to bring about a more competent and experienced practitioner. Additionally, each experience may differ based on the actual rotation and preceptor. Not all rotations are created equal and not all preceptors are created equal. Internal medicine rotation has a different patient demographic than the neonatal intensive care unit rotation and that is okay. Each preceptor may have a different teaching styles, and, again, that is okay. Having the standards and guidance related to the program is very important because it standardizes the experience and gives the educator an outline of objectives that should be met during his/her rotation.1 ASHP’s standards have clear instruction on the resident understanding the purpose, goals, and objectives of the residency.1 By implementing standards each post graduate year one (PGY-1) residency will have a foundation to build on. This will help in organizing the program and aiding in creating a program that will bring about strong practitioners.

As a fourth year student on my APPE experience I had the pleasure of rotating at ACPE; this gave me a second perspective from a macro perspective as compared to my experience as a student which was more of a micro perspective of pharmacy programs, both being an experience from different spectrums of the educational process. As a resident I see this as well, there is so much that goes into accreditation and although a program may fit the standards, its organization is crucial for an effective and enriching learning experience. Organization is a key component in this process because it will bring about competent students with at least a minimal required understanding of the field.2 For example, if the preceptor is organized and has a clear and concise schedule for the student, or resident, with clear deadlines and checkpoints throughout to assess progress, the experience will be positive and well defined. If the organization is unclear and not as structured, the student or resident may feel lost in what is expected of him/her leading to an experience that may or may not be as positive and enriching. Having standards to be followed by accrediting bodies may not always translate to an organized strong preceptor, this is why it is important to for accrediting bodies to have site visits; ask students, faculty, and personnel questions; and look at CV’s for all individuals with faculty positions, teaching and precepting.

Not all programs have a great structure even if on paper a program may appear to abide by the standards the accrediting body expects to be followed. During my experience in ACPE, reading through monographs, I learned, was not enough. Going through the appendices attached in regard to each standard was helpful to see if what is said is being done, coincides with what is actually being done. Auditors through ACPE also conduct site visits in order to ensure that all individuals are on the same page and what is depicted on paper is actually implemented in practice. This is the most important part of accrediting because some programs would look great on paper, however the professors, students, and/or faculty may not think so. This allows accrediting bodies to address any issues and gives responsibility for the individuals in charge of the program to make changes that are necessary to improve the program.

In summary, educational programs such as Pharm D’s and residencies need to be standardized in a way to ensure the success of the student or practitioner. Accrediting bodies are important in doing so by setting their standards for programs to abide by these minimum requirements.2 Ensuring effectiveness of a program is a crucial and is done through site visits. By standardizing programs, the student’s education or resident’s experience becomes organized and more clear. It gives the individual a purpose in mind, goals to meet and objectives to reach. Not all programs are created equal; having comprehensive site visits allows to shed light on any issues that may have not been conveyed in the program’s written material. It allows for in person contact with the many individuals that are part of the program and if issues do arise the accrediting body will work with the program to come to a solution or resolution of the issue.

References
1. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP Accreditation standard for postgraduate year one pharmacy residency programs (2016). https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/professional-development/residencies/docs/pgy1-residency-accreditation-standard-2016.ashx?la=en&hash=9FF7C76962C10562D567F73184FAA45BA7E186CB

2. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Accreditation standards and key elements for the professional program in pharmacy leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. (“Stardards 2016”). https://www.acpe-accredit.org/pdf/Standards2016FINAL.pdf