PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions and comorbidities. Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) aims to graduate highly skilled pharmacists with the tools necessary to provide quality patient care as members of interprofessional health care teams. Emphasis will be placed on communication, lifelong learning, evidence-based medication management and safety in the unique setting of a community hospital, giving graduates a strong foundation to pursue a career as pharmacy clinicians or further training in a PGY2 residency.
Our core rotations span a variety of common patient populations and disease states. In partnership with our physicians and hospital staff, the purpose of the Residency is to prepare newly-graduated pharmacist clinicians for direct patient care positions in an acute care setting. The program aims to ensure optimal pharmaceutical care while upholding Northern Arizona Healthcare’s mission, vision and values. As a division of Pharmacy Services, the program will strive to provide cost effective and compassionate care, health care excellence, and superior service to our patients and their families consistent with clinical quality and safety standards.
Goals
Residents who complete the program will be prepared to:
- Serve as a confident, competent independent practitioner with in-depth knowledge of disease states and medication management.
- Promote the appropriate, safe and effective use of medications.
- Contribute to the education of pharmacy learners, the interdisciplinary team and patients.
- Obtain a position as a Clinical Pharmacist or PGY2 Resident.
Learning experiences
Rotation Blocks last six weeks for a total of eight blocks throughout the year, with the exception of orientation, which lasts four weeks. All residents will be assigned the six required learning experiences and may select two elective learning experiences. Residents will also be provided additional longitudinal rotations throughout the residency year.
Learning experiences are sequenced so that PGY2 interest areas occur before the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting. Throughout the year, the schedule may be adjusted based on the resident’s interests or performance, with input from the Resident, the Residency Advisory Committee (RAC) and the Residency Program Director (RPD). Beyond clinical rotations, residents receive structured project time and weekly pharmacotherapy sessions for case presentations, journal clubs and preceptor-led discussions.
Required learning experiences
- Orientation (4 weeks)
- Internal Medicine I – Anticoag focus (6 weeks)
- Internal Medicine II – Pharmacokinetic/Nutrition Focus (6 weeks)
- Infectious Diseases (6 weeks)
- Critical Care I – MICU (6 weeks)
- Emergency Medicine (6 weeks)
- Research, Literature Evaluation and DI (6 weeks)
Longitudinal learning experiences (required)
- Emergency Response (12 months – average 4 hours/month)
- Medication Safety and Practice Management (12 months – average 4 hours/month)
- Research and/or QI Project – (10 months – average 10 hours/month)
- Pharmacy Practice/Staffing 11 months (20 hours/3 weeks, 320 hours total)
- Teaching and Learning- 9 months (average 4 hours/month*)
*This is an average and there may be more or fewer hours at different times throughout the residency year.
Elective learning experiences
- Crit Care II – Trauma and Cardiovascular (6 weeks)
- Oncology (6 weeks)
- Pediatrics (6 weeks)
- Repeat Required Rotation (6 weeks)
- ASHP – Association Management (based on ASHP acceptance and availability) (6 weeks)
Project
Each resident is required to complete at least one residency project. The project may apply to specific medications, drug classes, disease states or conditions, parts of the medication-use system, workflows, technology implementation, policies and procedures, or outcome measures. The overall goal of a project is to increase the resident’s knowledge of project design and management, data analysis and to improve patient care. Residents will be provided with a project mentor to help them design and implement their endeavor. All projects will be pre-approved by the RPD.
Attendance at professional meetings
The department will support the resident (expenses and leave time) to attend ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and a local Residency Conference (Southwestern or Western States Residency Conference). Any additional travel to be supported by the department will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Pharmacy practice component/service commitment (staffing)
Each resident must complete the pharmacy practice component, commonly referred to as “staffing.” This experience is essential for developing professional practice, providing residents with proficiency in distribution, clinical service integration and personnel management. Residents will also gain deep insight into the operations, policies and procedures of acute care facilities.
Please review the following guidelines for the Pharmacy Practice Component:
- Clinical practice: Each resident is expected to practice as a pharmacist throughout the residency year.
- Shift requirements: PGY1 residents are required to staff two 10-hour shifts every third weekend (averaged over three months).
- Assignments: Staffing may occur during day or evening shifts within a clinical area or the main pharmacy, depending on departmental needs.
- Holiday coverage: Residents are expected to assist with holiday coverage, including one major winter holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day) and one minor holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day). While the department will make every effort to accommodate preferences, final shifts will be mutually agreed upon with the Area Manager.
- Evaluations: Performance evaluations for this component are conducted quarterly. Residents are also expected to evaluate the staffing component and provide suggestions for operational improvements.