Pharmacy residency

PGY1 pharmacy residency at HCA Florida Putnam Hospital is an intimate, 12-month program where residents will have the opportunity to learn all the aspects and responsibilities required of a clinical pharmacist. Residents develop their education and clinical capabilities throughout personalized interactions with preceptors, physicians, nurses and all ancillary departments. The program and residents function as an integral part of the department and institution's patient care services.

We are committed to clinical excellence, informative and practical education, and as well as utilization and promotion of pharmacy services to the fullest extent. Our pharmacy residency program is an extension of our hospital mission statement, which reads as follows:

Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. In recognition of this commitment, we will strive to deliver high quality, cost-effective healthcare in the communities we serve.

The PGY1 pharmacy residency program builds on the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists. We strive to foster a class of pharmacists ready for the responsibilities inherent with medication-related care of a wide variety of patients. We aim to help pharmacists become eligible for both board certification and postgraduate year-two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.

In order to be considered eligible for pharmacy residency, prospects must complete the following:

• Graduation or graduation-eligible from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited degree program
• Licensed or eligible to apply for a license to practice pharmacy in the state of Florida within 90 days of the start of the residency year
• Participate in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) resident matching program
• Submission of an application to the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) prior to January 6 of the upcoming year that includes:
  • Copy of pharmacy school transcript
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Letter of intent
  • Three professional references/evaluations submitted via PhORCAS

If selected, an on-site interview is required for phase I matching.

The following are examples of items considered during the pharmacy residency selection process for the residency program:

• Ability to work cooperatively with others
• Collegiate achievements
• Communication skills, as represented in the letter of intent, professional references, APPE, academic, and interview performance
• Leadership potential, as indicated by the nature and extent of participation in professional societies, social activities and community or public services
• Professional competence based on clinical APPE rotations, as well as work, presentation, research, biomedical writing/publishing and practical experience

Upon admission to the program, residents will be required to undertake the following responsibilities:

• Completion of a research project manuscript, suitable for publication
• Completion of Teaching Certificate training and certification
• Grand Rounds presentation to hospital staff
• Medication use evaluation to be presented to the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee
• Minimum of two journal clubs and two case presentations
• Pharmacy department in-service at the hospital skills fair
• Research project to be presented to hospital administrative staff at the Florida Residency Conference

Core required rotations includes the following:

• Orientation (six weeks)
• Internal Medicine 1 (six weeks)
• Administration (six weeks)
• Internal Medicine 2 (six weeks)
• Infectious Disease (six weeks)
• Transition of Care (six weeks)
• Critical Care (six weeks)
• Elective rotation (six to twelve weeks)

Residents may repeat Critical Care, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine 2 and Transition of Care rotations. Residents may also choose to replace an Internal Medicine 2 rotation with a Transition of Care rotation, or vice versa, to tailor their rotation more towards inpatient or ambulatory/transitions of care.

Longitudinal required rotations include:

• Staffing (11 months)
• Pharmacy Education (11 months)
• Research (11 months)
• Drug Information (4 months)
• Pharmacy Management (4 months)