title: Geriatric care as an introductory pharmacy practice experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the design, delivery, and impact of a geriatric introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) to develop students' skills related to consultant pharmacists' roles and patient care responsibilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A required 2-unit geriatric IPPE, involving 40 hours in a geriatric-care facility, 5 reflection hours, and 12 classroom-discussion hours, was developed for first- and second-year pharmacy students. Students interviewed patients and caregivers, reviewed patient charts, triaged patient needs, prepared care plans, and performed quality-assurance functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After completing the IPPE, students' geriatric- and patient-care abilities were enhanced, based on review of their interactions, care plans, reflections, and examinations, and they demonstrated cognitive, affective, and psychomotor-domain learning skills. Students' care plans and quality assurance activities revealed positive patient outcomes, opportunities for measurable patient health improvement, and a positive impact on quality assurance activities. Student evaluations and feedback from health workers at the facilities also were positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This geriatric IPPE in which students cared for a specific patient and interacted with other health care providers is an innovative approach to enhancing students' abilities to serve the growing geriatric population.
authors.affiliation: Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA. jwoelfel@pacific.edu
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Woelfel
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boyce
authors.forename: Rajul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D011231:Preceptorship; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013339:Students, Pharmacy