**Description**
This book provides a clear and concise overview of what pharmacy students can
expect when they begin their IPPE and APPE rotations. The first part, "The
Essentials," covers the basics a student should be proficient in prior to
beginning their rotation experience; part II, "The Particulars," further
explains the specifics of varying rotation sites and the skills necessary to be
successful; and part III, "Life After Rotations," covers the transition from
student to pharmacist.
**Purpose**
The purpose is to give pharmacy students a place to turn to for all things
experiential. The book provides a glimpse of the general expectations and
typical activities of rotations before they begin, allowing for better
preparation and performance. Although the purpose seems simple, the objectives
are important to pharmacy students and pharmacists who act as, or plan to
become, preceptors. Students may have many questions and concerns prior to
beginning an IPPE or an APPE rotation, and the majority are not necessarily
covered in the traditional classroom setting. The book will have special
relevance for a student who has little or no work experience or limited
exposure to the variety within the pharmacy profession. It allows students to
review expectations and gives them a place to refer to prior to and during
rotations.
**Audience**
While the book is written primarily for a student audience, residents can use it
as a reference and practitioners, as a guide and resource. It targets a broad
range of specialties, including internal medicine and clinical rotations,
hospital or health system pharmacy, community pharmacy, management and
leadership rotations, academia, ambulatory care, and geriatrics. I think
pharmacy practitioners as a whole will find this book useful, not just
students. The author is a clinical pharmacist and an assistant professor, and
therefore would have particular expertise in the section on academia and
hospital and health system pharmacy. The many contributors have experience in
their chapter topics.
**Features**
The book covers the many aspects of IPPE and APPE rotations in a concise manner,
and contains essential information such as professionalism, drug information
questions, and case presentations that are crucial for success as a student and
a practitioner. It describes the specifics of each ASHP-recognized rotation
type and thoroughly explains it. The book concludes with information about
starting a career, staying informed, and giving back, which are all essential
elements of becoming a successful pharmacist in any setting. The best aspects
of the book are that it is up to date with current issues in pharmacy practice
and the audience can relate to the discussions of professionalism, rotation
types, and what actually happens after rotations are concluded. I appreciated
the section on e-professionalism. As younger generations use online resources
and social media as outlets, it is important that they maintain a professional
appearance. Cases, case questions, quick tips, figures, and tables are
effectively used to enhance readers' experience. Cases at the beginning of each
chapter are engaging and relevant to the chapter topic discussed. The case
questions are brief, but are useful for applying knowledge and reviewing the
material. The figures and tables are excellent, especially in the chapters on
ambulatory care and becoming a preceptor. This is information I will use to
enhance my own practice and interactions with students. The only shortcoming
involves the chapter on evaluation of medical literature and journal clubs.
This could actually be split into two separate chapters that provide greater
detail, including an expanded list of common clinical trial terminology (i.e.,
open-label, parallel-group, cross-over, single-blind, etc.) as well as a more
detailed example of a journal club format.
**Assessment**
This is a useful, high quality, and practical book for both students and
practitioners who precept. I could find no other books that summarize and
collate information about IPPE and APPE rotations like this one does. I will
use it to improve and expand my practice and role as a preceptor.
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Weighted Numerical Score: 86 - 3 Stars
(Jennifer L. Colon, PharmD, MS, MBA(Temple University School of Pharmacy)
MedInfo Now: Doody's Review Services 2013-05-15)
Maximize Your Rotations: ASHP’s Guide to IPPEs, APPEs, and Beyond
By Mate Soric
American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2013; 77 (10) Article 231.
[REVIEWER'S EXPERT OPINION]
Janet K. Astle, EdD. Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
It can be a real challenge to maintain any type of consistency when dealing with multiple contributors to a text. Nevertheless, in Maximize Your Rotations: ASHP’s Guide to IPPEs, APPEs, and Beyond, Soric manages to create a coherent work Written for students preparing for introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs and APPEs), the text goes into much greater depth than publications of a similar nature. Its voice, format, and structure make for an easy read that is both engaging and informative.
The book is divided into 3 main sections. Part I: The Essentials, consisting of chapters 1 through 6, deals with overarching concepts that cut across multiple practice experience types. Topics include a review of medical terminology and biostatistics, a systematic method for conducting a balanced and objective evaluation of the literature, an approach to handling drug information questions and case presentations, and an overview of professionalism. Part II: The Particulars discusses student preparation for and engagement in individual practice experience types. Chapters 7 through 14 in this section address IPPEs as well as APPEs in internal medicine and other clinical settings, hospital or health-system pharmacy, community pharmacy, ambulatory care, management and leadership, geriatrics, and academia. The book concludes with Part III: Life After Rotations. The final 3 chapters address postgraduate opportunities, lifelong
learning, and the importance of serving as a preceptor in the future.
Each chapter begins with a short case to set the stage for the primary topic. Quick Tips and Case Questions interspersed throughout the narrative keep the reader focused and provide an opportunity for reflection. Also embedded in each chapter are helpful tables, definitions, common laboratory values, equations, sample forms and formats, and other valuable references. A list of suggested readings and citations is provided at the end of each chapter, although there is inconsistency in the extent of such references from chapter to chapter.
Maximize Your Rotations does an outstanding job of providing students with a review of the tools needed for practice experiences. Moreover, it offers students an overview of what to expect during any given practice experience type, the kinds of activities in which the student will be engaged, how to best prepare for the experience, and the types of resources needed. It also describes what is expected from students in terms of appropriate behaviors, types of project and assignments, and typical work products.
Although the book is nicely aligned with contemporary practice, it will be important for the author to periodically review and update this text to maintain its relevancy and currency. In future revisions, the author might also consider incorporation of strategies for preparing for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination and Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination, a more robust discussion and inclusion of the ACPE Standards and Guidelines that drive experiential education, and a more expansive conversation regarding the consideration of and preparation for career opportunities other than residencies and fellowships.
Maximize Your Rotations makes for an excellent addition to any experiential student’s library. The case questions embedded in the text could further serve to stimulate robust discussion as part of orientation programs and courses dedicated to experiential education. Experiential directors may wish to consider this text as a requirement for students embarking upon their practice experiences.
(Janet K. Astle
AJPE 2014-01-08)
<DIV>Mate M. Soric, Pharm.D., BCPS
Mate M. Soric, Pharm.D., BCPS, is a Clinical Pharmacist and Residency Program Coordinator at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center in Chardon, OH. He is also an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy in Rootstown, OH. He received his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from The University of Toledo in 2007 and 2009, respectively. He completed an ASHP-Accredited Pharmacy Residency at The Toledo Hospital Family Medicine Residency and obtained Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy in 2010. He precepts pharmacy students from a number of Schools and Colleges of Pharmacy along with students from other health professions.
Dr. Soric is an active member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists (OSHP), the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the Ohio College of Clinical Pharmacy (OCCP). He serves on the Student and Resident Committee of the ACCP Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network and on the Education Committee of the ACCP Adult Medicine Practice and Research Network. He is also chair of the OCCP Communications Committee. He has authored articles and chapters on a number of subjects. His interests include direct patient care of both inpatients and outpatients, education of student pharmacists and residents and evidence-based medicine.
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