Nontraditional pharmacy residency at a large teaching hospital

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Continuing Professional Development
• Hospital Pharmacy Administration

Background:

• Nontraditional pharmacy residency programs offer alternative training pathways.
• Enhancing clinical practice skills is crucial for advanced roles in hospital pharmacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure and implementation of a nontraditional postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency program.
• To provide an alternative method for enhancing clinical practice skills for employed pharmacists.

Main Methods:

• A three-year, accredited PGY1 residency program was developed for clinical staff pharmacists.
• The program includes 10 four-week rotations and 3 longitudinal rotations.
• Rotations comprise orientation, adult medicine, intensive care, and electives.

Main Results:

• Two residents graduated from the program since its inception in 2005.
• Graduates demonstrated significant advancement in clinical skills.
• The first graduate remained with the institution as a clinical staff pharmacist.

Conclusions:

• The nontraditional PGY1 residency program successfully enhances pharmacists' clinical practice skills.
• The program provides a structured pathway for professional growth beyond entry-level practice.
• Implementation challenges included scheduling and coordination of rotations.