Pharmacy residency training in academic medical centers

A survey of U.S. academic medical centers (AMCs) was conducted to identify the most important and challenging issues in pharmacy residency training.

A questionnaire addressing program characteristics and residency training concerns was sent electronically to pharmacy directors at 130 AMCs that are members or associate members of the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). Residency coordinators for both pharmacy practice and specialized programs were asked to complete the questionnaire, with input from other pharmacists involved in the residency program. Respondents were asked to rate the importance and degree of challenge for all issues on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 = least important or least challenging and 5 = most important or most challenging.

Responses were received from hospitals representing over 60% of all residency positions offered by UHC member hospitals. Recruitment was rated the most important issue (mean importance score, 4.8) facing residency programs in AMCs, but with over 85% of budgeted positions filled, programs appear to be successful in overcoming this concern. The most challenging issue (mean challenge score, 4.2) was compliance with the evaluation and documentation elements of the ASHP Residency Learning System (RLS), a system often used to meet requirements for pharmacy practice residency accreditation. The completion of resident research requirements was ranked as both an important and a challenging issue (mean importance score, 4.5; mean challenge score, 3.9).

A survey of AMCs showed that they offered a wide variety of pharmacy residency programs and filled most budgeted resident positions. Resident recruitment, the RLS, and research requirements are the most important and challenging residency concerns facing the respondents.