Quality experiential education.

The 2007 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Accreditation Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Program in Pharmacy delineate new expectations for experiential education within curricula and include guidance on the development and conduct of Pharmacy Practice Experiences. The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Educational Affairs Subcommittee C developed a position statement to further delineate the views of ACCP on factors necessary to meet contemporary standards for doctoral education in pharmacy and to provide guidance to our membership on how to implement the new standards. This White Paper provides explanation and supporting documentation for positions on quantitative and qualitative aspects of experiential education, as well as requirements for practice sites, preceptor roles, qualification, credentialing, and development and assessment of student performance.

Costs of treating lower respiratory tract infections.

Objective: To determine the direct medical costs of treating lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in a managed care organization (MCO).

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a regional MCO identifying adults diagnosed with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB) or community- acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods: A claims database examination of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes was conducted to identify adults receiving initial outpatient care for an LRTI during 2005-2006.