Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE)

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE)

The Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) is meant to give each student an opportunity to gain an understanding regarding how institutional and community pharmacy practice settings operate. The student should be encouraged to begin to assume patient care responsibilities to the level possible in your facility/state and within your comfort level. The focus is to learn the foundations of the distributive process from order interpretation to product delivery. We also want the student to acquire a basic understanding of how each setting differs administratively and the many aspects involved in pharmacy practice from inventory management to advanced clinical services. Please refer to our Learning Objectives (found below and within the rotation manual) for a complete list of rotation goals. Refer to the IPPE Rotation Manual as a resource to guide you through the student’s time with you. The rotation manual and additional preceptor resources are available to preceptors on CORE ELMS. You will find some required and some optional assignment suggestions enclosed. There are also instructions regarding the evaluation process which should occur at the end of the 2nd week (midpoint evaluation) and at the end of the 4th week (final evaluation) prior to the end of the rotation. Evaluations and assignments are submitted using the CORE ELMS website. We invite your feedback and ask that you contact the Experiential Office at any time if you require ANY additional support. We want this IPPE to be an enjoyable experience for you, as well as for the student. Thank you for all that you do to assist us in each student’s development. We could not do it without you!

IPPE Learning Objectives:

The goal of IPPE rotations is to have the students become competent in the daily practice of pharmacy operations. The student will:

1. Describe the structure, the organization, and chain of command within the organization.
2. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the diverse personnel working in the pharmacy.
3. Become familiar with the workflow in the pharmacy.
4. Handle the processing of prescriptions or physician’s orders from their initial receipt in the pharmacy to the dispensing of the product to the patient or to the patient’s floor/bedside.
5. Gain experience handling parenteral medications as well as other types of formulations.
6. Document and/or file orders or other documents pertaining to the daily work in the pharmacy.
7. Use pharmacy technology pertaining to the site and understand the technologies’ impact on the practice of pharmacy.
8. Communicate efficiently with patients (if appropriate) and members of the health care team.
9. Be professional at all times.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive. The preceptor has the authority to adapt and to add other experiences that he/she feels the student will benefit from.