PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program

Purpose Statement

Postgraduate year one (PGY1) Program Purpose: The Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH) PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

Mission Statement

The mission of Cabell Huntington Hospital PGY 1 Pharmacy Residency is to provide a dynamic learning environment for pharmacy residents. The residents will practice within an environment that has been created to provide a high quality, comprehensive education that prepares residents to function as effective clinical pharmacists providing patient-oriented care in a hospital environment. The residency program is designed to provide the pharmacy residents with the essential skills, experience, and background to care for a broad spectrum of patients while providing quality pharmaceutical care to the patients, and caregivers they serve

Program Overview

Our program is a 12-month postgraduate curriculum that offers training opportunities in acute care, ambulatory care, drug information, drug use policy development, clinical services and pharmacy leadership. Residents will gain the necessary experience and develop critical thinking skills needed to move forward in the ever changing world of pharmacy practice.

The program is based on five outcome measures:

• Understanding all aspects of the medication use process in a complex health system
• Providing evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy using an interdisciplinary approach
• Demonstrating proficiency in providing pharmaceutical care for various patient populations
• Participating in pharmacy practice leadership activities to advance the profession
• Educating patients and health care providers on effective and safe drug use

The residency program is designed to offer an individualized training plan for each resident based on their interests, goals and past experiences. Residents are required to complete core rotations in order to build a strong knowledge base and have the opportunity to select elective rotations in many fields of interest. Additional program requirements, aimed at developing a skilled and competent practitioner are also required. Required elements of the program include completing a major research project, patient education, student precepting, providing pharmacy services, and developing leadership and communication skills. Upon successful completion of the program, residents will be awarded a program certificate

Teaching

Residents completing this residency program will be competent educators in pharmacy practice. The program provides various opportunities for one to develop effective teaching skills to pharmacy students, medical residents, pharmacists and physician groups. Required teaching presentations include two patient cases, two journal clubs, two disease state overviews, two white board presentations, and two ACPE-accredited continuing education activities. Informal teaching will also occur on rotations to include nursing in-services, journal clubs, topic discussions, and education to medical teams. In addition, residents will serve as co-preceptors for pharmacy student rotations, participate in pharmacy staff development education and provide pharmacy presentations to the medical residency and nursing staff.

Scholarly Activity

Residents completing this pharmacy residency program will be competent in scholarly activities through active participation in both service/research project management and publication. Residents will complete a service or research project and prepare a manuscript suitable for publication in a biomedical journal prior to graduation. Residents will be given the opportunity to complete two medication use evaluations, one of which will be presented as a completed poster at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. Residents will also take an active role in hospital administration and practice evaluation by completing order set reviews, formulary additions and deletions, drug monographs, and policy reviews. These will be accomplished through mentorship and regular attendance at the Pharmacy & Therapeutics meeting, Critical Care Collaborative meeting, and various other hospital committees contributing to evidence-based patient care.

Staffing Responsibilities

Residents are trained to independently function as a clinical staff pharmacist supporting both the pharmacotherapy consult and pharmacy practice service at Cabell Huntington Hospital. The role and responsibilities of a clinical staff pharmacist is to support all pharmaceutical services for the hospital and may include but is not limited to the following:

• Verifying and checking pharmacy orders for inpatient adult and pediatric patients
• Supporting the pharmacotherapy consult service including pharmacokinetic dosing of medication therapy
• Writing and monitoring orders for TPN
• Triaging and resolving medication problems
• Responding to overhead pages (code blue, rapid response, stroke alert)
• Supervising and overseeing pharmacy technicians and students PGY1 pharmacy residents work every 3rd weekend and one evening shift every 3rd week.

Mentorship

All PGY1 pharmacy residents will choose a mentor from the preceptor group after having the opportunity to meet with preceptors at the beginning of their experience through planned events. The mentor of their choosing will serve as their mentor throughout the year to provide insight and guidance in both professional and personal aspects of career development. We believe this opportunity provides our residents with a well-rounded experience with means to ensure they are provided with the tools and support to flourish throughout their first year of residency.

Concentrated Experiences

Core Rotations (4 to 5 weeks):

• Pharmacy Orientation
• Internal Medicine
• Medical Intensive Care OR Surgical Intensive Care
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacy Practice Management

Elective Rotations (4 to 5 weeks):

• Advanced Core Rotation
• Family Practice
• Emergency Medicine
• Hospitalist Service
• Concentrated Medication Safety
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Pediatrics
• Ambulatory Oncology

Longitudinal Experiences

• Staffing
• Research/Service Project and Manuscript
• Teaching Certificate
• Professional Development
• Medication Safety

Program Specifics

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Sick leave
• Paid vacation
• Retirement plan contributions
• Health and Wellness Center
• Professional travel reimbursement
• Resident office
• Resident computer
• Lab Coats
• ACLS and PALS certification

Contact

Nathan T. Goad, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Clinical Pharmacist Specialist – Medical ICU
Cabell Huntington Hospital
nathan.goad@chhi.org