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What is the Mini-CEX tool? 

The Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) is a Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) tool that can be used to provide formative assessment as part of an approved training and development program and/or for inclusion towards ANZCAP recognition. 

It can be used to facilitate exploration of a pharmacist's clinical knowledge, critical thinking and problems solving skills during a real-time interaction with a clinical scenario. 

The main outcome of the interaction between pharmacist and collaborator should be to promote feedback and reflection of current clinical practice (knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving) in a chosen clinical setting or topic.

Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) Process 

 The process for completing a Mini-CEX is as follows: 

A Mini-CEX can be conducted in an appropriate working space that lends itself to privacy due to patient confidently and pharmacist comfort.

Choosing a Patient 

To simulate a pharmacist's true ability to critically evaluate and problem solve, ideally a Mini-CEX should focus on a patient that is unfamiliar to the pharmacist. Therefore, it is most appropriate for the collaborator or a third party to choose a patient. Acknowledging that in some complex or specialized Mini-CEX cases this may be difficult. 

Prior to the arranged time for the Mini-CEX the pharmacist and collaborator should confirm the practice recognition level and clinical setting/topic that the Mini-CEX case will allow the pharmacist to show. 

Examples:

• Delivering a professional service

• Vaccination

• OTC request

Practice Recognition Level 

The Mini-CEX Learning Experience is mapped to Domain 1 and 2 of the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia 2016. 

Please refer to the ANZCAP recognition descriptors article for the further guidance on markers of performance for each ANZCAP recognition level. The pharmacist and collaborator should indicate on the learning experience tool which of the three levels of practice recognition (resident, register, consultant) they are currently practicing at or a candidate for. Please note that not all the domain 1 and 2 indicators listed in this document may be relevant to this Learning Experience.

Complexity

In some scenarios the same patient case may be used for pharmacists aiming for different levels of practice recognition. However, the complexity and expected knowledge and skills expected to be displayed will vary. 

The pharmacist and collaborator should come to an agreement on the complexity (low, medium or high) of the case in relation to the level of recognition the pharmacist is practicing at.

Collaborator

The collaborator must be familiar with the Mini-CEX assessment process. 

Collaborators must be clinically competent in the clinical setting/topic being assessed in the Mini-CEX. 

Collaborators may come from a variety of health professional backgrounds e.g. pharmacy, medical, surgical. 

Further guidance for collaborators involved in this learning experience can be found here. 

Reflection, Feedback & Goal Setting 

The main aim of the Mini-CEX as a Learning Experience is to promote feedback and reflection of a pharmacist's current clinical practice (knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills) in a chosen clinical setting or topic. This feedback can cover the clinical aspects of the case as well as the methods that the pharmacist uses to review and present the case. 

Skill Evaluation

Within the Mini-CEX tool there are key skills (and descriptors) that the pharmacist and collaborator should discuss during the feedback and reflection. Each skill should be evaluated with comments from the discussion and a marker of; Not yet met, meets, exceeds or n/a.

Feedback

The Mini-CEX tool encourages use of the Pendleton feedback method to guide reflection. This method encourages self-reflection and proactive discussions for development. 

Development Goals

The pharmacist and collaborator are encouraged to utilize the SMART goal technique to develop any learning or development goals that are identified from the reflection and feedback discussion. 

Forms and Templates 

The Mini-CEX tool is available on the ANZCAP Digital platform. Ideally pharmacists and collaborators will enter relevant information into the digital tool in real time and confirm involvement and accomplishment of a Collaborative Learning Experience.  

Alternatively, pharmacists may use Mini-CEX tools from their own workplace and upload it to the digital platform where they can then confirm completion of a Collaborative Learning Experience.

For further details on how to complete a Learning Experience on the ANZCAP digital platform please refer to the How to complete a Learning Experience article.

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