Impact of an In-House Resident Clinical Pharmacist On-Call Program on Resident Physician Training: A Cross-Sectional...

Interdisciplinary collaboration is a core component of residency training. At the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health), a 24-h in-hospital Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) resident on-call program provides real-time clinical support to health care teams. Although primarily patient care-directed, these interactions offer a platform for interprofessional learning. The educational value of pharmacy resident involvement in training physician residents remains underexplored.

A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2025, targeting UI Health inpatient physician residents across specialties. Eligible residents received email invitations to complete an anonymous Qualtrics survey of their perceptions about the Pharm.D. resident on-call program. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; qualitative feedback underwent thematic analysis. The primary outcome was the percentage of residents reporting a positive impact on their training. Secondary outcomes included satisfaction by specialty, areas of clinical knowledge growth, perceived accessibility, self-reported confidence, and reasons for lack of interaction with the Pharm.D. on-call.

Of 557 residents, 97 responded (17% response rate). Among the 87 who interacted with a pharmacy resident, 93.0% reported a positive training impact. These interactions were associated with improved pharmaceutical knowledge (89.7%), particularly in dosing adjustments, anticoagulation management, drug interactions, and contraindications. Residents reported that Pharm.D. on-call collaboration enhanced their confidence in patient care (92.0%) and contributed to feeling more prepared for independent practice (70.1%). Qualitative responses highlighted physician residents' appreciation for the on-call program's contributions to medication safety, with conveyed interest in expanding the program's availability and educational opportunities. Responding physician residents also emphasized the need for increased awareness of the program across underutilizing specialties.

The Pharm.D. resident on-call program was well-received and perceived to enhance physician resident education. Future efforts should focus on increasing program visibility, targeted specialty outreach, and enhancing pharmacists' responsibility and integration in physician residency training and education.