Implementation of virtual surgery advance pharmacy practice experience APPE rotation: Creative solution to combat COVID-19 ramification on pharmacy education

ABSTRACT

Service or Program A virtual four week Surgery APPE rotation was designed by four clinical pharmacy faculties at a college of Pharmacy in Saudi Arabia with the aim of providing pharmacy interns with essential pharmaceutical care experience of peri-operative setting. All clinical faculties had experience in integrating simulation in pharmacy education and training. The virtual APPE was implemented using Microsoft Teams, where all pre-scheduled activities and meetings with students were performed remotely. The goals of this rotation included 1. Understand the role of clinical pharmacist in a surgical unit 2. Enhance knowledge of major surgical procedures and medications used specifically in this unit. 3. Improve communication skills in presence of obstacles. This was achieved through integration of surgical themes and activities described in the ASHP guidelines on Surgery/ Perioperative Pharmaceutical services series. Virtual activities included Topic discussions, simulated patients case presentations, Journal clubs, drug information questions, and a longitudinal protocol development project of perioperative patients in collaboration with the university hospital. Justification/Documentation While the need of clinical pharmacist involvement in the operating room was previously established, the adaptability in clinical practice is slow and sub-optimal. This was further endorsed due to suspending clinical training of pharmacy interns as part of the ramifications of COVID-19 global pandemic on the educational and health sectors. Motivation and outcomes gained by students indicate success of this virtual rotation. Adaptability In the presence of a secure, personalized, and professional virtual platform, a distant surgical APPE rotation can be easily adapted by pharmacy schools, preferably with an experience in scenario creation and simulation education. Significance: Offering a virtual surgical APPE rotation creates an opportunity for pharmacy students to enhance pharmacotherapeutic management skills of peri-operative patients and supplement their clinical communication skills, especially in areas where surgical pharmacy practice is not well established.