This is a 12-month ASHP- accredited residency in Primary Care with an emphasis in Family Medicine. It is sponsored and conducted by the Medical University Medical Center and College of Pharmacy in cooperation with the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. The Family Medicine Center is an interdisciplinary health care training site for Family Medicine Residents, medical students, Doctor of Pharmacy Residents and candidates, and undergraduate pharmacy students.The Department of Family Medicine is responsible for its own in-patient service. The hospital is within easy walking distance of the Family Medicine Center. The clinical pharmacy program participates in this responsibility in a clinical and educational role. The patient population consists of over 12,500 families who are representative of Charleston County in their demographic characteristics. The Family Medicine Center has approximately 2,800 patient visits per month. The problems seen in the practice are representative of those usually seen in a community setting.

The resident in family medicine will work with the faculty to maintain and improve upon existing ambulatory and institutional clinical pharmacy services associated with the Family Medicine Center. The resident will participate in and develop expertise in the care of patients in a Family Medicine Center, education and training of Pharm.D. candidates, medical students, and Family Medicine residents throughout the residency year. The resident will also develop academic skills through several writing and research projects (scholarly activity) in the Family Medicine Center.

Upon completion of the residency, the resident will be prepared for academic positions in Departments of Family Medicine, University Clinics,or Colleges of Pharmacy as well as nonacademic primary care positions in private group practices and Health Maintenance Organizations. The residency aims to provide an optimal environment for the individual to develop their potential as a person, a competent primary care practitioner, an effective teacher, and productive researcher. The University, the College, and the Department provide an environment rich with resources, role models, encouragement and guidance. Each resident is urged to retain their uniqueness, to further develop their personal potential, and to refine their value system as they become a family oriented health care professional.

Service/Clinical Practice

Throughout the residency he/she will be expected to:

• Serve as a primary provider of pharmaceutical care in the Department of Family Medicine (including but not limited to the Family Medicine Center,University Family Medicine, Family Medicine inpatient service, and the Family Medicine Pharmacy). When the resident is responsible for covering the Family Medicine inpatient service they will be the primary pharmacist on-call for weekends and after hours.
• Be the primary pharmacist on-call for weekends and afterhours while covering the Family Medicine Inpatient service.
• Assist the physician in the selection and utilization of the safe stand most appropriate drug therapy by designing and implementing a therapeutic plan, based on patient specifi information.
• Support the documentation of day-to-day activities of the clinical pharmacists at the Family Medicine Center.
• 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 t improve patient understanding and compliance.
• Participate in drug-use reviews, patient care audits, and clinical drug investigations.
• 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. This includes preparing a manuscript for publication (in a peer-reviewed family Medicine or pharmacy journal).

Opportunities for teaching include:   

• Precepting Pharm.D. students on Family Medicine rotations.
• Conducting conference session teaching experiences (leading group discussions). 
• Contributing to clinical teaching both in and out of the patient care environment (inpatient rounds, clinic setting, morning report, pharmacy rounds, etc.).
• Conducting both formal and informal patient education programs.

An independent research project is required and will be determined by resident interest as well as by needs of the clinic/health care system.  The results of this project will be presented at the end of the year to the Department of Pharmacy Services and at the Southeastern Residency Conference (SERC) as required.  Participation in other ongoing research projects is also encouraged.

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.
 
 

PRECEPTORS

Lori L. Dickerson, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS Associate Professor of Family Medicine	Kelly Ragucci, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, CDE Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcome Sciences Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Andrea Wessell, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDE Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcome Sciences Assistant Professor of Family Medicine	Sara Shrader, Pharm.D., BCPS Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcome Sciences

For further information contact: