Patient Simulation in Pharmacy Education

Simulation-based pharmacy education is an innovative approach to active learning. It uses medium- or high-fidelity simulators to strengthen students’ pharmacotherapeutic knowledge, enhance clinical performance, stimulate critical thinking, and reduce medication administration errors.

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) supports the use of simulation in Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) for up to 20% or 60 hours of the total 300 hours experiential education requirement.

Effective Summer 2012, patient simulation became successfully integrated into the LAU School of Pharmacy experiential curriculum, and in didactic courses such as physical assessment and immunization.

During simulation sessions, our pharmacy students have the opportunity to practice patient counseling (e.g., inhaler use), health screening and disease management (e.g., glucose and blood pressure monitoring) and the use of aseptic techniques in a safe and controlled environment. They are better prepared for direct patient care.

The future plan is to also incorporate patient simulation in the Pharmacotherapeutics series and to introduce Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) under simulation.

Dr. Lamis Karaoui
Clinical Associate Professor
Acting Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Director of Experiential Education
LAU School of Pharmacy