Since 2009, Peach State Health Plan has partnered with Mercer University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences to provide a practice site for Mercer’s fourth year students who are doing their Advanced Pharmacy Practices Experiences (APPE) rotations. The goal of these rotations is to allow pharmacy students to experience firsthand the different roles that pharmacists play in the healthcare system. For each rotation, the pharmacy students keep a portfolio to provide documentation of their experiences. The portfolios include the following:
1. Expectation narrative – a brief description of what the student expects to achieve or learn while on rotation.

2. SOAPe/MTM form – a form showing how the student assessed a patient’s medication regimen.

3. Evidence of learning and activities – this should document any drug information inquiries, interventions, journal clubs, and presentations in which the student participated.

4. Self-Assessments – midpoint and final student self assessments of their abilities

5. Reflection of the experience – a brief document showing what the student learned during this rotation.

While at Peach State Health Plan, students are exposed to clinical information, such as drug utilization review, medication therapy management, prior authorization review, and clinical assessments. Students also learn about the business aspects of managed care pharmacy by participating in strategy meetings, learning about cost drivers, and understanding the tactics used in managed care pharmacy to control costs while still providing the best clinical outcome for the patient. Peach State takes pride in developing relationships with pharmacy students that last beyond the five-week rotation. We strive to teach our pharmacy students the role pharmacists play in a managed care health plan and help them develop a keen understanding of how pharmacy fits into the complete healthcare model. We believe the experience students have at Peach State Health Plan will spark an interest in entering the managed care arena and help develop the next generation of managed care pharmacists. For more information, contact wbailey@centene.com or Peach State’s Human Resources Department at PSHP_Recruitment@centene.com.