Development of a community residency program with a focus on specialty pharmacy

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Specialty Pharmacy
• Residency Training

Background:

• Increasing U.S. approvals of specialty therapies for chronic diseases necessitate pharmacists with advanced training.
• Specialty medications often involve complex patient needs, risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS), and limited distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative community residency program for specialty pharmacy practice.
• To train pharmacists in both clinical and administrative aspects of specialty pharmacy.
• To prepare trainees for operational and business challenges in specialty pharmacy.

Main Methods:

• A one-year community residency program developed by Duquesne University and Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy.
• First half: direct patient care rotations focused on specific disease states.
• Second half: operational-administrative training including REMS, contracting, and patient assistance programs.
• Additional components: managed care rotation, research, and teaching experiences.

Main Results:

• The program provides comprehensive education on diseases and specialty therapies.
• Trainees develop expertise in medications and patient management for chronic conditions.
• Graduates are prepared for diverse practice settings including clinical, managed care, and academic roles.

Conclusions:

• A unique community residency program prepares trainees for diverse practice settings.
• The program addresses the growing demand for specialized pharmacy expertise.
• Graduates are equipped for careers in clinical, managed care, community-based, and academic pharmacy.