The residency in Primary Care at the Medical University of South Carolina is a one year postgraduate education and training program designed to develop a clinician with expertise in ambulatory pharmaceutical care. The program consists of core practice site in a primary care adult internal medicine clinic, the University Diagnostic Center (UDC) with opportunities in various other ambulatory care clinics: OB/GYN, CHF, family medicine,anticoagulation, antihyperlipidemia, transplant, and oncology. The resident completing this comprehensive training program will be prepared to serve as both a clinician and teacher/consultant in an ambulatory care setting.

Service/Clinical Practice

It is assumed that the candidate will enter the residency with a minimum competency in the area of clinical practice. Throughout the residency he/she will be expected to:

• Assist the physician in the selection and utilization of the safest and most appropriate drug therapy by designing and implementing a therapeutic plan, based on patient -specific information.
• Support the documentation of day-to-day activities of the clinical pharmacists. In addition, planning, initiating and follow-up of recommendations made by clinical pharmacists.
• Provide drug information to prescribers and other health care practitioners.
• Educate and counsel patients and the general public on the proper use of medications.
• Develop and utilize patient education material and programs focusing on methods to improve patient understanding and compliance.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement efforts at the University Diagnostic Center (UDC).
• Utilize assessment skills in the management of acute and chronic diseases and provide appropriate referrals to other health care providers.
• Critically evaluate and apply the drug literature considering the principles of evidence based medicine.
• Effectively communicate (verbally and in writing) with patients, peers,and other health professionals about all aspects of drug therapy.
• Assist the physician with the management of chronic disease states.

Teaching

Following completion of the residency the resident will be able to function effectively as a teacher of all health care students and professionals,patients, and the public. Opportunities for teaching include:

• Precepting Pharm.D. students on Ambulatory Care rotations.
• Presenting pharmacotherapy reviews.
• Conducting conference session teaching experiences (leading group discussions).
• Contributing to clinical teaching both in and out of the patient care environment.
• Participating in the pharmacy resident case-conference series.

Research/ Scholarly Activity

An independent research project, medication use evaluation and a continuous quality improvement (CQI) project are required and will be reported to the multidisciplinary CQI meeting upon completion. Submission of a manuscript for publication will be required.

All candidates must possess a Pharm.D. degree from an ACPE-accredited college of school of pharmacy. Graduates of an entry-level Pharm.D.degree must also complete a general residency in pharmacy practice. Applicants must possess a license to practice pharmacy in South Carolina or become licensed in South Carolina by the fall of the residency year.

Candidates will be evaluated on the following basis: professional competence, ability to communicate, ability to work cooperatively in a team setting, expressed understanding of the profession, extracurricular activities, and scholastic achievement.

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Last updated on 6/16/08 by Kathy Chessman