APPE
Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences
APPEs integrate, apply, reinforce, and advance the knowledge, skills, attitudes, abilities, and behaviors developed in the Pre-APPE curriculum and in co-curricular activities.
Key Elements:
- APPEs follow successful completion of all IPPE and required didactic curricular content.
- APPEs emphasize continuity of care and incorporate acute, chronic, and wellness-promoting patient-care services in outpatient (community/ambulatory care) and inpatient (hospital/health system) settings.
- APPEs expose students to diverse patient populations as related to age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors (e.g., rural/urban, poverty/affluence), and disease states) students gain in-depth experience in delivering direct patient care as part of an interprofessional team.
- Required APPEs occur in four practice settings: (1) community pharmacy; (2) ambulatory patient care; (3) hospital/health system pharmacy; and (4) inpatient general medicine patient care.
- Elective APPEs are structured to give students the opportunity to: (1) mature professionally, (2) secure the breadth and depth of experiences and (3) explore various sectors of practice.
- Required APPEs are completed in the United States or its territories or possessions. All quality assurance expectations for U.S.-based experiential education courses apply to elective APPEs offered outside of the U.S.
[ACPE Standard 13: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Curriculum]
Registration Requirements Heading link
All students are considered eligible to begin the fourth-year APPE sequence when they satisfy requirements for 105 credit hours with a UIC College of Pharmacy cumulative grade point average of 2.00/4.00. In addition, all students are required to satisfactorily complete, with a grade point average of 2.00 or better, all core courses before entering APPEs.
If a student has a cumulative grade point average below 2.00, the student will be required to repeat selected core courses, as determined by the Academic Standing Committee, for which a grade of “D” was received. In addition, the Academic Standing Committee also may require that the student repeat elective courses offered by the college for which a grade of “D” was received. The student must receive sufficiently high grades in these courses to obtain a core grade point average of 2.00 or above. The student will be allowed one calendar year to complete these courses. In extreme cases, the Academic Standing Committee can extend this period to two calendar years.
Pre-APPE requirements Heading link
HIPAA Training
All students will complete basic HIPAA training and then an Annual Update-‐Security training on Learning Management System (LMS). After completing the modules, a transcript should be printed and submitted to Mrs. Jennifer Casamassimo or Ms. Rhonda Larkin.
TB Skin Test
All students must have a valid/current TB skin test for the entirety of the P4 year. If there is a positive TB test, a negative chest x-‐ray report within the last 1 year may be required. The student may also be required, based on the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience site, to obtain additional two-‐step tuberculin skin tests or QFT-‐G (Quantiferon) blood test based on the infection control policies of the experiential site on a more frequent basis.
Influenza vaccine
Students are highly encouraged to receive the annual influenza vaccine. If the vaccine is declined, a Form of Declination must be completed and placed on file in the Office of Experiential Programs for your campus. The vast majority of sites are now requiring this immunization and not receiving it could impact experiential site placement.
Hepatitis B Immunization
Students must be immunized against Hepatitis B which requires a series of 3 injections. The usual schedule is 0 months; 1-‐2 months; 4– 6 months. Hepatitis B Surface Antibody and/or Surface Antigen titers are required post immunization to confirm immunity. This should be measured 4-‐6 weeks after the 3rd dose is given. Once immunity is documented, no further steps are required.
Measles/Mumps/Rubella Immunization
Students must have a history of measles/mumps/rubella disease (documented by a healthcare provider) or have been immunized against Measles/Mumps/Rubella. Antibody titers are required to confirm immunity.
Varicella Immunization (Chicken Pox)
Students must have a history of varicella disease (documented by a healthcare provider) or have been immunized against varicella. Antibody titers are required to confirm immunity.
Tetanus Booster
Students must have received a tetanus booster (Td) within the last 10 years. Many experiential sites also require a Tdap booster and could be requested if not previously received.
NOTE: Students are required to keep a copy of their immunization records with them while on their APPE rotations. If positive immunity is not documented for any of the above disease states after initial vaccination and booster doses, a letter from their physician must be submitted. If the student cannot receive a vaccination series and/or a TB skin test prior to entering rotations due to special health circumstances, a letter from their physician must be submitted to explain these circumstances.
Pharmacy Technician License
All students must possess a valid State of Illinois pharmacy student technician license. A copy must be on file in the Office of Experiential Programs. See the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation website for forms and information regarding the application process, or call at (312) 814-‐4500. Keep copies of the paper work and your payment before submitting the documents. The license must be renewed annually, by March 31st. If you have moved since your last renewal, please inform the Department of Professional Regulations of your new address. Failure to do this can cause your license to lapse.
Health Insurance
Students must have and maintain health insurance coverage.
Criminal Background and Drug Screen Screening
Students must complete a criminal background check and 10 panel drug screen before the start of Module 1 and Module 4. A secure-‐web address will be provided to pay for and complete the report process. All information is handled confidentially. Students must provide a copy of the most recent criminal background check or drug screen results to their preceptor upon request.