Developing a practice site in the non-academic community hospital: A primer for pharmacy practice faculty members

The need for quality advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) and clinical practice sites for pharmacy faculty in in-patient settings continues to increase with the expansion of colleges of pharmacy. Since the patient care model in non-academic community hospitals often differs from the traditional model in an academic institution, the development of a practice site and experiential education in this setting requires a strategic approach by the faculty member. This article was developed by three full-time pharmacy practice faculty at different colleges of pharmacy who were each tasked with developing a new part-time practice site at a non-academic community hospital. Included are strategies for establishing the site, overcoming barriers to the creation of an optimal practice environment, and keeping the momentum once the site has been established. The various roles of a faculty member in this setting and some of the advantages to practicing within a non-academic community hospital are also presented. As the landscape of pharmacy education continues to evolve, successful development and perspectives from these practice sites should be shared.