Frequently Asked Questions
-
Why does the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy conduct site visits?
Site visits help ensure that experiential practice sites continue to provide high-quality learning experiences for students. They also support compliance with ACPE accreditation requirements by confirming consistency across sites and ensuring that sites meet the School of Pharmacy’s expectations for student learning and engagement.
The purpose of the visit is collaborative. The goal is to support preceptors, answer questions, better understand the educational experiences provided to students, and identify opportunities for continued success and improvement.
-
Are site visits conducted for an entire facility or for individual rotations?
Site visits are conducted at the rotation (Site ID) level, not the facility level. Each rotation is reviewed independently because learning experiences, preceptors, and expectations may differ. A facility with multiple rotations may have multiple site visits over time. If you feel that some sites could be combined into one site visit, just ask.
-
Can the site visit be conducted virtually or in person?
Yes. Most visits are conducted via Zoom, though Microsoft Teams or other platforms can be accommodated. In some cases, an in-person visit may be requested.
-
How long does a typical site visit take?
We generally schedule 90 minutes for virtual site visits. In-person visits can sometimes run longer depending on site activities and discussion. We strive to be respectful of your time and schedule.
-
What if I need to remain in the workflow while the visit is taking place?
That’s perfectly fine. We can conduct the visit while you continue your normal patient care or operational responsibilities.
-
What will be reviewed during the site visit?
The visit typically includes:
- Review of key site information
- Discussion of the student learning experience and course assignments
- Observation of the prescription verification process (as applicable)
- Review of the physical workspace and available resources
- Discussion of day-to-day activities and responsibilities assigned to students
- Assessment of how the site’s experiences align with program expectations
-
Will students need to participate in the site visit?
Generally, no. Site visits focus on discussions with preceptors and review of the learning environment. Students may be present at the site during an in-person visit but are not expected to participate.
-
Who should attend the site visit?
The primary preceptor (course contact) should participate in the site visit. If there are additional preceptors, managers, or site personnel involved in student training, they are welcome to join. We understand workloads and do not expect all preceptors to participate.
Information discussed during the site visit should be shared with other preceptors at the site. We ask that course contacts help communicate any relevant updates, resources, or expectations to the rest of the preceptor team. This helps ensure consistency in the student experience across all preceptors at the site.
-
How should we prepare for the site visit?
No extensive preparation is required. It is helpful to be prepared to discuss:
- Student schedules and activities
- Learning opportunities provided at the site
- Patient care or operational responsibilities students undertake
- Resources available to students
- Any recent changes to the site or preceptors
-
How do I schedule a site visit?
The experiential education team will provide several available dates and times. Please select two or three options that work best for your schedule, and we will coordinate the visit. If another individual should coordinate the visit, please let us know.
Have Additional Questions?
Please contact Julie Ethridge (Julie.Ethridge@wisc.edu) .
As always, thank you to all our preceptors for your continued support of our learners.