Drug Information Journal - March 2009 - (Page 154) 154 MEDICAL INFORMATION Hurley, Miller to be sent to health care providers upon request. Students on this rotation acquire experience with medical information software utilized in the pharmaceutical industry. Exposure to specialized software programs is a unique advantage offered by this rotation. Additionally, students are introduced to the legal complexities of industry-based drug information services, which provide an additional perspective differing from traditional academic-based and hospital-based drug information services. The core curriculum for medical communications professionals practicing in the pharmaceutical industry (9), describing pharmaceutical industry standards that are adhered to by MIS, is introduced to the student. Students gain a unique perspective from which to respond to consumer inquiries when working in the pharmaceutical industry, as federal regulations strictly regulate information that may be provided to a consumer by a pharmaceutical company (9). On the first day of the rotation, the student will be oriented to the staff and facility, the expectations for the rotation, and the agenda for the month. The preceptor and the student will meet for an overview of the rotation and introductions to the staff. The student will receive general information about the company and standard operating procedures. The preceptor will provide the student with training on computer systems used for information retrieval and documentation in providing medical information (8). The fulfillment of the goals and objectives of the rotation is facilitated through the completion of projects and activities throughout the rotation. The student will be trained on selected supported products and will be expected to respond to written medical information requests under the direct supervision of a medical information specialist. The student is expected to work with members of MIS in achieving the following goals: 1. Utilize various literature searching databases to perform literature searches tailored to the needs of specific medical information inquiries. 2. Critically evaluate literature to be used as supporting documentation in responding to medical information inquiries. 3. Assist MIS with updating and developing standard response letters for pharmaceutical industry clients. 4. Evaluate and present a minimum of two articles related to a supported product or recent medical information inquiry. 5. Present a final presentation to MIS regarding a current medical topic relating to a therapeutic area that the student has been involved with throughout the rotation, incorporating literature evaluation and written and verbal communication skills. 6. Complete and satisfactorily pass a final exam, encompassing competency in carrying out required activities throughout the rotation, developed by the preceptor. In addition, the student will regularly attend meetings and conference calls, which are conducted with the purpose of maintaining communication between MIS and various pharmaceutical industry clients. The student will gain useful exposure to the business aspects of a medical information company within the setting of the pharmaceutical industry. STUDENT EVALUATIONS The student is formally evaluated at midpoint and at the end of the rotation (Figure 1). This will ensure that progress may be tracked as the student progresses through the rotation. The determination of the student’s final grade reflecting performance throughout the rotation shall lie within the responsibility of the primary preceptor. However, other members of the medical information staff may be asked to provide individual evaluations of the student, in order to provide the most accurate picture of the student’s performance throughout the rotation. COMPANY RESOURCES The student will require many resources while on rotation for an optimal learning experience. Time and guidance from preceptors, personal workspace with computer and Internet access, and additional medical information resources,
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