The catalyst for change in teaching and assessing virtual laboratory skills

Historically, pharmacy skills laboratory courses have primarily been delivered utilizing in-person instruction; however, changes in methods of healthcare delivery serve as a catalyst to consider best practices for virtual learning in the skills laboratory setting.

Shifting to a virtual delivery method is valuable for future curriculum and course development. Three specific delivery methods including flipped classroom, virtual formative simulations, and telehealth objective structured clinical examinations, provide examples of the opportunities and challenges instructors may encounter when shifting delivery methods. Furthermore, the examples illuminate the need to deliberately incorporate virtual technology into pharmacy skills laboratory courses to ensure students are practice-ready for the changing methods of delivery in the healthcare environment.

Skills laboratory instructors and students must reimagine how patient care skills can be taught and assessed. It is imperative to reassess priorities and adapt skills-based courses to incorporate the virtual learning environment to prepare student pharmacists for future practice.