Pharmacy school updates practice laboratory

DES MOINES, Iowa Drake University’s pharmacy school has made several technology updates at its practice laboratory, the university announced last week.

The university said the renovations to the Donald F. Davidson Pharmacy Practice Laboratory were possible through a gift from trustee and alumnus Donald Davidson.

The lab includes technology available in most major retail pharmacy stores, such as automation equipment and software like PDX EPS Rapid Fill, a gift from PDX.

“This environment is the same as real-life pharmacies – the same equipment, software and process – eliminating the worries about technology and allowing the students to focus on patient care,” pharmacy practice instructor Heidi Price said in a statement. “Students who haven’t even touched the lab or software before can learn to fill prescriptions in just 10 minutes.”

Drake has started a number of initiatives for pharmacy students lately, including a partnership with GRX Holdings to provide internships through Medicap Pharmacy stores in central Iowa, funded in part by grants from McKesson Corp., Pharmacists Mutual and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation.