Status of pharmacy practice experience education programs.
OBJECTIVE
To assess financial, personnel, and curricular characteristics of US pharmacy practice experiential education programs and follow-up on results of a similar survey conducted in 2001.


METHODS
Experiential education directors at 118 accredited US pharmacy colleges and schools were invited to participate in a blinded, Web-based survey in 2011. Aggregate responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and combined with data obtained from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy to assess program demographics, faculty and administrative organizational structure, and financial support.


RESULTS
The number of advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) sites had increased by 24% for medium, 50% for large, and 55% for very large colleges and schools. Introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) sites outnumbered APPEs twofold. The average experiential education team included an assistant/associate dean (0.4 full-time equivalent [FTE]), a director (1.0 FTE), assistant/associate director (0.5 FTE), coordinator (0.9 FTE), and multiple administrative assistants (1.3 FTE). Most faculty members (63%-75%) were nontenure track and most coordinators (66%) were staff members. Estimated costs to operate an experiential education program represented a small percentage of the overall expense budget of pharmacy colleges and schools.


CONCLUSIONS
To match enrollment growth, pharmacy practice experiential education administrators have expanded their teams, reorganized responsibilities, and found methods to improve cost efficiency. These benchmarks will assist experiential education administrators to plan strategically for future changes.
School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Jennifer
J
Danielson
School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Dayl
D
Eccles
St. Joseph Hospital Franciscan Health-System, Tacoma, Washington.
Abigail
A
Kwasnik
University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
Karen
K
Craddick
Kirk's Pharmacy, Eastonville, Washington.
Andrew K
AK
Heinz
Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia.
Arthur F
AF
Harralson
D002017:Budgets / Q000639:trends; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D005178:Faculty / Q000458:organization & administration; D005378:Financial Support; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation / Q000191:economics; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000639:trends; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
administration; advanced pharmacy practice experiences; budget; experiential education; experiential learning; faculty development; financial support; introductory pharmacy practice experiences; organizational structure; pharmacy faculty; salary