Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California has developed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program in compliance with accreditation standards set by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. In existence since 1992, the program is a one-year postgraduate residency with an emphasis in pharmaceutical care. The resident is offered the opportunity to develop and apply their didactic pharmaceutical knowledge in areas of adult and pediatric acute care, ambulatory care, and practice management.
The PGY1 pharmacy residency program is designed to give residents optimum independence in a supportive, state-of-the-art environment, allowing self-structuring for highly motivated individuals. The overall purpose of Huntington's residency program is to develop the necessary skills to become a competent pharmaceutical care practitioner. The residency will emphasize the development of clinical, teaching, and leadership abilities.
The pharmacy department at Huntington Hospital offers 24-hour services. With over 30 clinical pharmacists on staff, pharmaceutical care is provided in a wide variety of areas including emergency medicine, pediatrics/neonatology, critical care, general medicine, general surgery, hematology/oncology, infectious diseases and an outpatient anticoagulation clinic.
OUTCOMES OF THE RESIDENCY
Upon completion of the residency, the resident shall be able to:
Manage and improve the medication-use process.
Provide evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy management.
Exercise leadership and practice management skills.
Demonstrate project management skills.
Provide medication and practice-related education/training.
Utilize medical informatics.
Conduct pharmacy practice research.
Participate in the management of medical emergencies.
Contribute to formulary decisions.
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Acute Patient Care:
The resident is required to rotate through clinical rotations in the areas of medicine, critical care, pediatrics/neonatology, and hematology/oncology. Each rotation will be six weeks in length. As a member of the medical team, the resident is expected to proficiently and competently provide pharmaceutical care as well as staff the clinical area for the last two weeks of the rotation. Additionally, the resident will have the opportunity to rotate through the emergency department on an emergency medicine rotation. The resident will utilize clinical skills to enhance patient care and improve patient outcomes. Activities include active participation in patient care, attending rounds, monitoring and regulating patient drug therapies, pharmacokinetics, and consultation in drug information. Regulation of drug therapy involves appropriate drug and dose selection and dosage adjustments based on patient specific parameters, clinical status, and response. Additional responsibilities include providing in-service lectures to the pharmacy, nursing, and medical staff; as well as precepting fourth-year pharmacy students. Infectious Diseases:
The resident is required to rotate through a six-week rotation in infectious diseases. The resident will develop a broader understanding of the pharmacotherapy of a wide variety of infectious diseases. The resident will apply pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, adverse drug reaction profile, clinical use, and relative cost information of antimicrobials to maximize treatment outcomes for patients. Activities include formulating individual monitoring plans, making recommendations regarding patient management and monitoring parameters involved with the patient’s drug therapy as well as precepting fourth-year pharmacy students.
Ambulatory Care:
The resident will participate in the hospital’s pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic for a total of three weeks. The first two weeks will include orientation and training and the last week will consist of staffing the clinic. The resident will review and update patient profiles, adjust warfarin doses based on the pertinent lab results and comorbid conditions, provide patient education and precept fourth-year pharmacy students.
Practice Management:
The resident will become oriented to the functions and concepts of pharmacy administration within the hospital setting. This exposure will enable the resident to make administrative judgements and assume responsibility. The resident will be intimately involved in medication error and adverse drug reaction reporting and evaluation. Additionally, the resident will develop problem-solving abilities related to operational and organizational management. Activities include attending and participating in the Pharmacy, Therapeutics, and Diet (PT & D) Committee, Medication Safety Committee, pharmacy staff meetings, management meetings, and interdepartmental committees. The resident will understand the role of the PT & D Committee in developing, implementing, and regulating drug usage policies and procedures. Topics discussed in practice management are people skills and key relationships, cost and profit analysis, budget preparation, drug distribution systems, and drug inventory control.
Pharmacy Research Project:
In addition to various short-term projects assigned throughout the year, the resident is required to undertake a year-long project under the direction and guidance of a faculty preceptor. The resident is expected to research and analyze administrative and/or clinical problems. The project will be presented as a poster at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in December and as a platform presentation at the annual Western States Conference in May. The results may also be published in pharmacy journals as well as presented at state/national pharmacy conferences.
Teaching:
The teaching affiliations with the local schools of pharmacy provide the resident an opportunity for precepting fourth-year pharmacy students on clinical rotations. Additionally, the resident will be required to provide educational in-services to the pharmacy, nursing, and medical staff. Lastly, the resident will also be required to develop and present an ACPE-accredited continuing education program to the pharmacy staff.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE
All candidates must meet the following criteria:
Possess a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of pharmacy and maintain a competitive GPA.
Be eligible to apply for licensure to practice pharmacy in the state of California
Have completed a professional curriculum inclusive of significant clinical clerkship experience
GENERAL INFORMATION
Number of positions:
2
Period of appointment:
12 months from July 1st through June 30th
Salary:
Approximately $41,000
Vacation:
2 weeks
Professional leave:
2 weeks to attend professional meetings (CSHP Seminar, ASHP Midyear ClinicalMeeting, Western States Conference for Pharmacy Residents, Fellows, andPreceptors). Allowance for registration and travel to be determined.
Health Insurance:
Includes medical, dental, and vision plans; provided after 30 days of employment
CERTIFICATION UPON RESIDENCY COMPLETION
After the resident has satisfied all requirements of the program, a Certification of Completionshall be issued. A certificatewill not be offered if the resident has not completed all the requirements, such as completion of core rotations, a research project, a peer-reviewed educational event or non-licensure as a pharmacist in California. Each case will be dealt with on an individual basis and in accordance with organizational policies on leaves of absence.
STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT
The organization will expect all employees to uphold the organization’s standards and conduct all activities in a lawful and ethical manner.
