Development of a pharmacy residency program in home care.
A residency training program developed by a college of pharmacy in conjunction with a home care company is described. The 12-month program is based on the ASHP Residency Learning System and the goal statements and educational objectives of ASHP's accreditation standard for pharmacy practice residency training with emphasis in home care. Establishing the program involved identifying goals, objectives, and learning experiences consistent with the expected outcomes. Specific objectives for meeting goals in four categories--practice foundation skills, direct patient care, drug information and drug policy development, and practice management--were linked to expected program outcomes. Learning experiences that would lead to achievement of the program objectives and outcomes were selected and organized into one- to eight-week rotations (e.g., in acute care, care of pediatric patients, pain management, nutrition, patient education and counseling, and administration and practice management). Throughout the program, residents gain experience in pharmaceutical services and research. Skills in care planning and monitoring are emphasized, as is practicing pharmaceutical care in an interdisciplinary environment. Residents who have completed the program have found employment immediately as pharmacy managers of home infusion centers. Pharmacy residency training in home care provides the experience needed to function as a competent clinician and manager who can identify and solve problems to improve patient care.
Thompson
M
M
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee 32307, USA. midenth@aol.com
Scott
M
M
Thornton
A
A
Honeywell
M
M
D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005431:Florida; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical; D016730:Program Development