Implementation of a nontraditional postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program.

Purpose: The development and implementation of a nontraditional pharmacy residency program at a Veterans Affairs medical center (VAMC) are described.

Summary: The nontraditional pharmacy residency program at Lebanon VAMC was designed in accordance with the ASHP accreditation standard. The residency program was structured to meet staff needs without compromising patient care or significantly affecting the pharmacy services provided. The purpose statement, intended outcomes, and learning goals and objectives of the nontraditional pharmacy residency program were formulated to be equivalent to those of a traditional one-year pharmacy residency program, enabling practicing pharmacists to obtain similar overall learning experiences. The nontraditional residency program at Lebanon VAMC spans two years. The non-traditional program structure is based on a four- to six-week residency learning experience that alternates with a comparable time in the work schedule. Each required or elective learning experience ranges from four to six weeks. Longitudinal learning experiences may extend up to two years. One pharmacist was matched and began the residency in July 2012 as the inaugural nontraditional postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy resident at Lebanon VAMC, the second institution to implement the nontraditional program within the Veterans Health Administration. The resident is expected to complete the program in June 2014 and remain committed to the Lebanon VAMC pharmacy service for a minimum of two years thereafter.

Conclusion: A nontraditional PGY1 pharmacy residency program was successfully developed and implemented for pharmacists who aspire to complete residency training and improve their clinical, leadership, and preceptorship skills.