Streamlining the process for initial review of pharmacy residency applications: an analytic approach.
OBJECTIVE
An analytics-driven process for improving the efficiency of initial candidate screening by pharmacy residency programs is described.


METHODS
In an initiative to streamline pharmacy resident selection at Johns Hopkins Hospital, retrospective analyses of materials submitted by prospective residents during two application periods (n = 277) were conducted to identify the applicant characteristics most strongly associated with the ultimate extension of an invitation to interview. Multiple two-member teams of pharmacist reviewers independently scored each application on 13 variables, with the resultant item scores tallied to derive rank sum scores. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors most important in distinguishing candidates invited for an interview from those not invited.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis indicated that all 13 evaluated applicant characteristics correlated with the likelihood of an interview invitation, but some were relatively less determinative; these factors were excluded from a final multivariate logistic regression model containing only the 7 factors most strongly predictive of an invitation to interview: grade point average, pharmacy work experience, professional association involvement, rotation experiences, presentations, publications, and skills and certifications. The final model was found to be highly explanatory (r(2) = 0.66) of variances in interview-invitation decisions and has been adopted as a guide to future initial screening of candidate applications.


CONCLUSIONS
By analyzing the relative importance of specific residency applicant characteristics and focusing on those deemed most useful in determining which candidates are invited for interviews, a large teaching institution streamlined preliminary application screening while maintaining an equitable candidate selection process.
Christopher R. Ensor, Pharm.D., BCPS (AQ-CV), is Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA; at the time of writing he was Clinical Specialist, Cardiothoracic Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Cathy L. Walker, B.S.Pharm., is Assistant Director, Education and Training, and Program Director, Pharmacy Practice Postgraduate Year 1 Residency, Johns Hopkins Hospital. Shyla K. Rider, B.S., is a Pharm.D. candidate, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus; at the time of writing, she was a summer intern at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Estela Uy Clemente, B.S., is a Pharm.D. candidate, College of Pharmacy, Harding University, Searcy, AR; at the time of writing, she was a summer intern at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Daniel M. Ashby, M.S., FASHP, is Senior Director of Pharmacy and Program Director, Health-System Pharmacy Administration Postgraduate Year 1/2 Residency; and Kenneth M. Shermock, Pharm.D., Ph.D., is Director, Center for Medication Quality and Outcomes, Department of Pharmacy, Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Christopher R
CR
Ensor
Cathy L
CL
Walker
Shyla K
SK
Rider
Estela Uy
EU
Clemente
Daniel M
DM
Ashby
Kenneth M
KM
Shermock
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007586:Job Application; D008297:Male; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D064172:Pharmacy Residencies / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000639:trends