Barriers to expanding advanced pharmacy practice experience site availability in an experiential education consortium.
OBJECTIVE
To compare 2006-2007 and projected 2010-2011 advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) availability and needs for 4 colleges and schools of pharmacy in Georgia and Alabama and to examine barriers and offer potential solutions to increase APPE site and preceptor availability.


METHODS
Data on APPE needs and availability were gathered prospectively and evaluated relative to current and projected enrollment and planned programmatic changes.


RESULTS
Combined 2006-2007 non-community APPE needs and availabilities were 3,590 and 4,427, respectively, with a surplus availability of 837. Combined projected 2010-2011 non-community APPEs were estimated at 4,309. Assuming 2006-2007 non-community availability remained unchanged, the surplus availability declined to 118.


CONCLUSIONS
The need for quality experiential education represents a significant barrier and rate-limiting step to the matriculation of the increased numbers of pharmacists. Barriers to expanding APPE availability include: introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) and APPE expansion, growth of new and existing pharmacy programs, financial instability of acute care facilities, and lack of preceptor development resources. Regional experiential education consortiums can provide a constructive approach to improve access to quality sites and preceptors through standardizing processes and leveraging resources.
Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA. brackpd@auburn.edu
P David
PD
Brackett
Debbie C
DC
Byrd
Lori J
LJ
Duke
James W
JW
Fetterman
Whitney L
WL
Unterwagner
April G
AG
Staton
Mindi S
MS
Miller
Melody C
MC
Sheffield
William K
WK
Kennedy
Charles H
CH
McDuffie
T Lynn
TL
Stevenson
Paula A
PA
Thompson
Elizabeth S
ES
McCullough
D000068:Accreditation / Q000458:organization & administration; D000407:Alabama; D002568:Certification / Q000458:organization & administration; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D017145:Models, Educational; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D013997:Time Factors