Community Pharmacy Practice at Walgreens Patient Care Center Residency
Boston
Definition
A residency in pharmacy practice with emphasis in community care is defined as an organized, directed, postgraduate training program that centers on development of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to pursue pharmaceutical care for patients in the community pharmacy setting.
Philosophy
There is a rapidly expanding need and demand for pharmacists who are equipped to respond to the challenges and opportunities of community care. This program is intended to serve as a means to achieve that objective and, thus, is designed to prepare its participants for the realities of patient care in a rapidly changing health care environment. It provides opportunities to integrate the pharmaceutical care practice model and practice based outcomes research in community settings. A residency in pharmacy practice with emphasis in community care instills a philosophy of practice that outcomes should be considered from all relevant perspectives (e.g., from patients, providers and payers) while embracing the concept that pharmacists must be responsible and accountable for optimal drug therapy. A key goal of the residency experience will be to contribute to the advancement of the profession of pharmacy and to improve patient care. The residency provides opportunity for the pharmacist to:- Provide direct patient care in the community pharmacy practice environment
- Refine their skills in communications, patient care, health and wellness promotion, practice management, marketing and compensation strategies, and technology
- Work with preceptors, pharmacy faculty, and other health professionals whose personal and professional goals include the advancement of the profession of pharmacy and to life-long learning in the environment in which they practice
- Engage in practice-based research which leads to new knowledge about the beneficial and adverse outcomes of drug therapy or supports the provision and benefits of community care services
- Gain the experience and abilities needed to prosper professionally in a competitive health care system
Goal
The fundamental goal of the community practice residency will be to provide a structured and advanced education and training experience for pharmacists whose abilities, motivations, and career aspirations suggest potential for creative and innovative leadership in community based pharmacy practice.
Residency program
The community pharmacy resident will receive instruction and experience in each of the following components:- Clinical
- Educational
- Operational / Administrative
- Elective
The program will emphasize development of the practical skills needed by current and future community pharmacists. As such, the majority of the resident's time will be spent at the Walgreens Patient Care Center where most of the clinical and operational experiences are best provided. The remainder of the time will be spent either on specialized rotations in the areas of long-term care, family practice, or at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
The program will provide a minimum of 2000 hours of education and training time extending over a period of fifty weeks beginning July 1. The residency directors will provide written learning objectives at the beginning of the program. These objectives will specify the skills and knowledge the resident will gain upon successful completion of each assigned activity. The exact sequence of the resident's activities will be scheduled at the beginning of the residency year.
Employment information
Stipend: The resident will be paid a stipend of $36,500 with two weeks paid vacation. Enrollment in the residency program qualifies the resident for deferment of most student loan payments during the term of the program.
Benefits: The resident will be covered under comprehensive benefits plan in accordance with the Walgreens Company policies.
*Adapted from the ASHP Supplemental Standard and Learning Objectives for Residency Training in Pharmacy Practice (with Emphasis in Community Care)