Reprint of: The impact of SyncPlus on workflow in an independent pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Medication Synchronization (Med Sync) is a medication management strategy that aligns two or more medications to be refilled on the same date. Med Sync may improve several patient outcomes when implemented in a community pharmacy. SyncPlus is a Med Sync service developed at Crosby's Drugs. Objectives for assessment of SyncPlus included evaluation of changes to delivery volume, number of delivered prescriptions, and number of medication therapy management interventions before and after SyncPlus implementation. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Crosby's Drugs is an independent pharmacy in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The pharmacy offers several services to a largely Medicare-insured population. PRACTICE INNOVATION: SyncPlus patients must fill all prescription medications at Crosby's Drugs and take at least 5 chronic medications, excluding controlled substances and gabapentin. To enroll, patients verbally agree to review their profile with a technician. Patients complete a clinical consult with a pharmacist to address medication-related problems. Through shared decision-making, the patient and pharmacist determine an anchor drug and next fill date. Medications are short-filled as insurance coverage allows. Pharmacists and interns address medication-related problems and contact prescriber offices for refills and clarifications. Documentation and billing are conducted via the Outcomes platform. EVALUATION METHODS: A 3-month retrospective chart review was performed before and after SyncPlus implementation. Internal pharmacy data and Outcomes data provided reports to address objectives. RESULTS: In the three months after SyncPlus implementation, 10 patients were enrolled over three months. The sum of total deliveries dropped from 4478 to 3974. The number of prescriptions delivered were similar before and after SyncPlus implementation. During the 3 months post-implementation 89 Outcomes interventions were completed compared with 18 interventions in the three months prior. CONCLUSIONS: A medication synchronization program in an independent pharmacy may improve workflow efficiency by reducing deliveries and increasing opportunities for medication management for patients.

Evaluation of Cocurricular Learning and the Influence of Student Choice.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the students' choice of activities and perception of a cocurricular program (CCP). Attitude and skill development and areas for program improvement were also assessed. METHODS: Data were evaluated from 2 sources: a student survey administered to all Doctor of Pharmacy students to determine student perceptions of the CCP and barriers to success and student activity reporting data from postexperience submissions to evaluate the CCP. Data were stratified by student demographics to identify trends. A comparison of data was conducted from both sources on the students' perception of learning value. RESULTS: Data for 405 students were available for analysis. The highest preference overall from students for hosts of activities were professional student organizations; the highest preference of location was online, asynchronous. The most meaningful benefits were learning information about a new subject (n = 258, 63.7%), ability to extend learning from the classroom to real life (n = 247, 61%), and networking opportunities (n = 218, 53.8%). The top barriers for completion of the program included scheduling challenges (n = 296, 73.1%), lack of time (n = 249, 61.5%), and lack of interest (n = 187, 46.2%). Subpopulations identified different benefits and barriers to completion. CONCLUSION: Students have overall positive perceptions of the CCP and its value for skill development. Findings were applied to adjust the CCP at the institution, including a reduction in total hours required. The continuous evaluation of CCPs is important to optimize student learning and address curricular overload.

The impact of SyncPlus on workflow in an independent pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Medication Synchronization (Med Sync) is a medication management strategy that aligns two or more medications to be refilled on the same date. Med Sync may improve several patient outcomes when implemented in a community pharmacy. SyncPlus is a Med Sync service developed at Crosby's Drugs. Objectives for assessment of SyncPlus included evaluation of changes to delivery volume, number of delivered prescriptions, and number of medication therapy management interventions before and after SyncPlus implementation. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Crosby's Drugs is an independent pharmacy in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The pharmacy offers several services to a largely Medicare-insured population. PRACTICE INNOVATION: SyncPlus patients must fill all prescription medications at Crosby's Drugs and take at least 5 chronic medications, excluding controlled substances and gabapentin. To enroll, patients verbally agree to review their profile with a technician. Patients complete a clinical consult with a pharmacist to address medication-related problems. Through shared decision-making, the patient and pharmacist determine an anchor drug and next fill date. Medications are short-filled as insurance coverage allows. Pharmacists and interns address medication-related problems and contact prescriber offices for refills and clarifications. Documentation and billing are conducted via the Outcomes platform. EVALUATION METHODS: A 3-month retrospective chart review was performed before and after SyncPlus implementation. Internal pharmacy data and Outcomes data provided reports to address objectives. RESULTS: In the three months after SyncPlus implementation, 10 patients were enrolled over three months. The sum of total deliveries dropped from 4478 to 3974. The number of prescriptions delivered were similar before and after SyncPlus implementation. During the 3 months post-implementation 89 Outcomes interventions were completed compared with 18 interventions in the three months prior. CONCLUSIONS: A medication synchronization program in an independent pharmacy may improve workflow efficiency by reducing deliveries and increasing opportunities for medication management for patients.

Defining, capturing, and validating pharmacists' patient profile reviews in the electronic medical record.

PURPOSE: To describe the implementation and validation of a novel patient profile review tool in the electronic medical record (EMR) at an academic medical center. SUMMARY: Pharmacy leaders at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center aspired to develop a data-driven approach to clinical pharmacy services. The initial phase of this vision highlighted a need to define the clinical activities of a pharmacist and leverage use of the EMR to seamlessly capture data. A comprehensive list of clinical activities was developed and analyzed to determine which activities were currently uncaptured. Patient profile review was prioritized and determined to be variable among staff and undefined. A profile review tool was developed and implemented across the medical center while requiring minimal additional documentation through the EMR. Phase II determined what user audit trail data in the EMR were automatically recorded based on performing various levels of pharmacist-recorded profile review and validated the consistency in utilization of this tool. The information gathered as a result of this study identified interactions within the patient chart that matched profile reviews that were not captured during manual documentation. The department of pharmacy will utilize the data generated from this tool to better make decisions and build a comprehensive clinical productivity model. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a pharmacist patient profile review tool built within the EMR successfully defined, stratified, validated time spent on, and captured a clinical activity.

Current issues and recommendations to manage prescription drug benefits for public health programs.

Higher scrutiny is befalling public payors regarding drug costs and patient access to medications. These issues exist in a complex contractual environment where minimal oversight of pharmacy claim adjudication and reimbursement practices can occur. The complexity of prescription benefits, and the lack of defined expectations or accountability in the system contribute to a sense of frustration by the public. Key areas of improvement for this sector of the health care industry include legislative and regulatory shifts requiring ongoing analyses, reporting, and accountability of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in order to improve payment transparency. These improvements will enable plans to eliminate misaligned incentives in the industry and drive value. Changes in public sector programs should be comprehensive in their approach so that the policy will result in a reduction in costs, enhanced patient access, better patient safety, and improved health outcomes.

Integration, Perceptions, and Implementation of Legislative Advocacy Within US Schools and Colleges of Pharmacy.

Objective. To assess the current practices of US schools and colleges of pharmacy pertaining to teaching legislative advocacy; the engagement of staff, faculty, postgraduates, students, and administrators in legislative advocacy partnerships and activities; and their future goals for legislative advocacy involvement by academic pharmacy institutions.Methods. An electronic survey was distributed to deans of schools and colleges of pharmacy across the United States. Respondents were asked to complete 53 items about their school's involvement in, barriers to involvement in, and relative importance of involvement in legislative advocacy. Responses were evaluated using descriptive statistics.Results. The survey accrued responses from 48 of 143 (33%) schools and colleges of pharmacy. Sixteen percent of responding schools required a course on advocacy and approximately 50% offered an advocacy elective. A majority (58.8%) of responding institutions ranked their institution's involvement in legislative advocacy high (≥7 on a scale of 1-10), and 75.8% ranked the importance of legislative advocacy in external collaboration high. A majority of institutions (60%) ranked the importance of faculty, staff, and postgraduate roles in advocacy high; however, 42.3% did not rank involvement as strongly. Fifty percent of institutions plan to expand involvement in legislative advocacy.Conclusion. Respondents highly ranked the importance of legislative advocacy. Many perceived their institution's involvement as strong and having plans to expand. Moving forward, curricula and resource allocation should be reviewed to diminish the dissonance between an institution's perception of the importance of legislative advocacy and actual implementation of legislative advocacy components.

Three ways to advocate for the economic value of the pharmacist in health care.

Numerous studies have demonstrated positive therapeutic and economic outcomes associated with pharmacist-provided care. However, public policy on provider status with subsequent payment for non-dispensing services has been slow to reflect an expanded pharmacist role. It is important for the public to understand the value of a pharmacist outside of the drug distribution system. Pharmacists and other health care and public health practitioners must share this information to further knowledge and affect policies and systems that can most effectively include pharmacists fully in the health care system. The 3 main areas identified in which the pharmacist has economic impact are decreased total health expenditures, decreased unnecessary care, and decreased societal costs. Evidence supports the economic value of the pharmacist; however, public opinion and political movements supporting patients' access to pharmacist-provided care are variable. Strategies to advocate and effect change include advocating to elected leaders for policy change and advocating to other health professionals, patients, and community members to better their understanding of the positive economic value of pharmacist-provided care. Through prioritizing community outreach and legislator education, pharmacist advocates can leverage 3 key areas in which pharmacists have economic value to advance policy and increase patients' access to care.

Characteristics of postgraduate year 2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs in the United States.

PURPOSE: A survey was conducted to evaluate the characteristics and structures of postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs in the United States. The survey results can serve as a guide for current and newly emerging programs. METHODS: A 24-question survey was sent to 138 US PGY2 residency program directors (RPDs) in February 2017 to identify key program characteristics, including program type (single-site or multisite), primary practice site, number of residents, length and type of rotations, staffing requirements, additional residency activities, precepting and teaching opportunities, RPD training and credentials, and number and qualifications of preceptors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the findings. RESULTS: A 40.6% response rate was achieved. Well over half (57%) of programs had been established within the preceding 5 years. A majority of RPDs reported that their program had 1 (53%) or 2 residents (31%) and/or was a single-site program (80%). Overall, 44 different types of rotations or experiences were offered by the programs. All surveyed programs offered additional teaching opportunities. There were no formal staffing duties in 29% of programs; professional organization membership and conference attendance were highly encouraged but typically not required of residents. Qualifications of the RPD and preceptors closely mirrored those delineated in residency accreditation standards. CONCLUSION: There is an increased need for specialized training in ambulatory care in order to prepare pharmacists for the changing landscape in healthcare. The profession is adapting to this need, as evidenced by the rapid growth of PGY2 ambulatory care residency programs. Understanding characteristics can benefit continued growth to meet the needs of the profession.

The pharmacist's role in advocating for the health care of immigrants in detention centers.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of this commentary are to (1) summarize the role of pharmacists as an advocate for the health care and appropriate use of medications of migrants in immigration detention centers and (2) describe methods to advocate for this vulnerable population. SUMMARY: There is a current humanitarian crisis occurring within the United States that violates the responsibilities and values held by members of the profession of pharmacy. Reports by reputable news organizations and members of U.S. Congress have shared that there have been inappropriate distribution and use of medications in migrant detention centers along the southern border. Specific instances have been described, including lack of access to vaccinations and vital medications to control chronic conditions and treat acute conditions. The role of the pharmacist is to ensure safe and effective use of medications. This role is not being fulfilled at migrant detention centers in the United States. By advocating to elected leaders, the Department of Homeland Security, and Customs Border and Protection for legislation that ensures the appropriate use and access of medications for migrants in immigration detention centers, pharmacists can push for the appropriate care for this vulnerable patient population. CONCLUSION: The professional values of a pharmacist should not be hindered by a border or the citizenship of a patient. As is stated in the Oath of a Pharmacist, pharmacists must "consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering [their] primary concern." Through advocacy, pharmacists and student pharmacists can uphold their professional ethics and roles on the health care team by advocating for the care of a patient population that needs the profession's help.

Educating international students about medication access and usage in the US: A pilot project.

OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe an educational program for international students about medication access and use, (2) assess perspectives on the session Participants: A College of Pharmacy and Office of International Affairs at a large, public university presented on the U.S. pharmacy system during biannual international student orientation. Methods: During seven, 20-minute presentations, a facilitator discussed the role of pharmacists, defined terms, and reviewed processes. Anonymous, voluntary post-presentation surveys were analyzed to identify common themes. Results: An 86% response rate was achieved (n = 1496). Majority of students (98%) found this workshop helpful; a majority felt comfortable filling a prescription (96%) or asking the pharmacist a question (97%). More than 95% understood key terms. Common themes included health insurance and cost. Conclusions: This educational model equipped international students with knowledge to navigate the U.S. medication use system. Other universities may apply the program to prepare international visitors to access and safely use medications.

Pharmacists in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Models of Care to Improve Chronic Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacists are underused in the care of chronic disease. The primary objectives of this project were to 1) describe the factors that influence initiation of and sustainability for pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), with secondary objectives to report the number of patients receiving MTM by a pharmacist who achieve 2) hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) control (≤9%) and 3) blood pressure control (<140/90 mm Hg). METHODS: We evaluated MTM provided by pharmacists in 10 FQHCs in Ohio through qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with pharmacists and FQHC leadership and aggregate reporting of clinical markers. RESULTS: Facilitators of MTM included relationship building with clinicians, staff, and patients; regular verbal or electronic communication with care team members; and alignment with quality goals. Common MTM model elements included MTM provided distinct from dispensing medications, clinician referrals, and electronic health record access. Financial compensation strategies were inadequate and varied; they included 340B revenue, incident-to billing, grants, and shared positions with academic institutions. Of 1,692 enrolled patients, 60% (n = 693 of 1,153) achieved HbA1c ≤9%, and 79% (n = 758 of 959) achieved blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: Through this statewide collaborative, access for patients in FQHCs to MTM by pharmacists increased. The factors we identified that facilitate MTM practice models can be used to enhance the models to achieve clinical goals. Collaboration among clinic staff and community partners can improve models of care and improve chronic disease outcomes.

The feasibility of an inter-professional transitions of care service in an older adult population.

BACKGROUND: Older adults discharged from the Emergency Department (ED) are at high risk for medication interactions and side effects; examples of practice models addressing this transition of care are lacking. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study for adults in one of two urban community EDs. Patients ≥50 years of age discharged with at least one new, non-schedule II prescription medication were included. Patients had the option of three transitions of care services: 1) pharmacist-only with home delivery of discharge medications and full medication reconciliation, 2) pharmacist and home health care, including home delivery, medication reconciliation, and a visit from a home health nurse, or 3) either of the above without home delivery. RESULTS: Over seven months, 440 ED patients were screened. Of those, 43 patients were eligible, and three patients elected to join the study. All three patients selected pharmacy-only. Identified barriers to enrollment include the rate of schedule II prescriptions from the ED (53% of potential patients) and high patient loyalty to their community pharmacist. CONCLUSIONS: A pharmacy and home health care transitions of care program was not feasible at an urban community ED. While the pharmacist team identified and managed multiple medication issues, most patients did not qualify due to prescriptions ineligible for delivery. Patients did not want pharmacist or home health nurse involvement in their post ED visit care, many due to loyalty to their community pharmacy. Multiple barriers must be addressed to create a successful inter-professional transition of care model.

Improving Chronic Disease Outcomes Through Medication Therapy Management in Federally Qualified Health Centers.

INTRODUCTION: Appropriate management of chronic diseases, including proper use of medications, can lead to better disease control, decrease disease-related complications, and improve overall health. Pharmacists have been shown to positively affect chronic disease outcomes through medication therapy management (MTM). The primary objectives of this project are to increase the number of patients with (1) A1c in control and (2) blood pressure in control; secondary objectives are to (3) describe number and type of medication-related problems identified and resolved by pharmacists providing MTM in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), (4) identify potential (pADEs) and actual adverse drug events (ADEs), and refer patients to diabetes self-management education classes, as needed. METHODS: This multisite, prospective, descriptive pilot study engaged three FQHC sites with distinct models of established pharmacist MTM services to care for patients with uncontrolled diabetes and/or hypertension. Data were reported in aggregate regarding primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: As of December 2015, 706 patients were enrolled in the project. Of the 422 with uncontrolled diabetes, 52.84% (n = 223) had an A1c <9%; 72 patients (17.06%) achieved an A1c between 8% and 9%, 19.19% (n = 81) of patients achieved an A1c <8% and ≥7%, and 16.59% (n = 70) of patients achieved an A1c <7%. The percentage of patients with blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg improved to 65.21%. CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-provided MTM can improve chronic disease intermediate outcomes for medically underserved patients in FQHCs.

Enhancing Pharmacy Student Learning and Perceptions of Medical Apps.

BACKGROUND: The use of mobile apps in health care is growing. Current and future practitioners must be equipped with the skills to navigate and utilize apps in patient care, yet few strategies exist for training health care professional students on the usage of apps. OBJECTIVE: To characterize first-year pharmacy student use of medical apps, evaluate first-year pharmacy student's perception of skills in finding, evaluating, and using medical apps before and after a focused learning experience, and assess student satisfaction and areas for improvement regarding the learning experience. METHODS: Students listened to a recorded, Web-based lecture on finding, evaluating, and using mobile apps in patient care. A 2-hour, interactive workshop was conducted during which students were led by an instructor through a discussion on strategies for finding and using apps in health care. The students practiced evaluating 6 different health care-related apps. Surveys were conducted before and after the focused learning experience to assess students' perceptions of medical apps and current use and perspectives on satisfaction with the learning experience and role of technology in health care. RESULTS: This educational intervention is the first described formal, interactive method to educate student pharmacists on medical apps. With a 99% response rate, surveys conducted before and after the learning experience displayed perceived improvement in student skills related to finding (52/119, 44% before vs 114/120, 95% after), evaluating (18/119, 15% before vs 112/120, 93% after), and using medical apps in patient care (31/119, 26% before vs 108/120, 90% after) and the health sciences classroom (38/119, 32% before vs 104/120, 87% after). Students described satisfaction with the educational experience and agreed that it should be repeated in subsequent years (89/120, 74% agreed or strongly agreed). Most students surveyed possessed portable electronic devices (107/119, 90% mobile phone) and agreed with the concept of medical apps being an important part of the health care profession in the future (112/119, 94% before and 115/120, 96% after). CONCLUSIONS: Student pharmacists recognize the key role technology plays in the future of health care. A medical apps workshop was successful in improving student pharmacists' perceptions of ability to find, evaluate, and use medical apps.

Factors influencing adults' immunization practices: a pilot survey study of a diverse, urban community in central Ohio.

BACKGROUND: Adult vaccination rates in the United States are well below recommendations with disparities in race, ethnicity, and education level resulting in even lower rates for these populations. This study aimed to identify the barriers to and perceptions of immunizations in adults in an urban, underserved, multicultural community. Understanding the factors that influence adults' decisions to receive routinely recommended vaccines will aid health care providers and public health officials to design programs to improve vaccination rates. METHODS: This cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted in January 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. Participants were recruited from four urban federally-qualified health centers and four grocery stores affiliated with those clinics. The survey gathered self-reported receipt of immunizations, knowledge about indications for immunizations, and factors influencing decisions to receive an immunization. Data was analyzed in 2014. Descriptive statistics were generated for all survey items and Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact tests were used as appropriate to test for associations between demographic characteristics and factors influencing immunization decisions. RESULTS: The top five factors likely to affect the decision to receive an immunization among the 304 respondents were: "doctor's recommendation" (80.6 %), "knowing why I should get a vaccine" (78.2 %), "knowing which vaccines I need" (75.5 %), cost (54.2 %), and "concern about getting sick if I get a vaccine" (54.0 %). Significant differences in factors influencing the immunization decision exist among respondents based on ethnicity and education level. For those participants with self-identified diabetes, heart disease, or asthma, less than half were aware that certain immunizations could reduce the risk of complications associated with their disease(s). CONCLUSIONS: Data from this study may inform and shape patient education programs conducted in clinics, retailers, and communities, as well as advocacy efforts for adult immunizations. Results from this study suggest that patients would respond to programs for promoting vaccine uptake if they focused on benefits and indications for vaccines. The results also highlighted the need for education regarding immunizations for patients with chronic diseases and special indications. The differences in perceptions found between groups can be used to create targeted interventions based on the needs of those patient populations.

Fellowships in community pharmacy research: Experiences of five schools and colleges of pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe common facilitators, challenges, and lessons learned in 5 schools and colleges of pharmacy in establishing community pharmacy research fellowships. SETTING: Five schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Schools and colleges of pharmacy with existing community partnerships identified a need and ability to develop opportunities for pharmacists to engage in advanced research training. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Community pharmacy fellowships, each structured as 2 years long and in combination with graduate coursework, have been established at the University of Pittsburgh, Purdue University, East Tennessee State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The Ohio State University. EVALUATION: Program directors from each of the 5 community pharmacy research fellowships identified common themes pertaining to program structure, outcomes, and lessons learned to assist others planning similar programs. RESULTS: Common characteristics across the programs include length of training, prerequisites, graduate coursework, mentoring structure, and immersion into a pharmacist patient care practice. Common facilitators have been the existence of strong community pharmacy partnerships, creating a fellowship advisory team, and networking. A common challenge has been recruitment, with many programs experiencing at least one year without filling the fellowship position. All program graduates (n = 4) have been successful in securing pharmacy faculty positions. CONCLUSION: Five schools and colleges of pharmacy share similar experiences in implementing community pharmacy research fellowships. Early outcomes show promise for this training pathway in growing future pharmacist-scientists focused on community pharmacy practice.

Students as catalysts to increase community pharmacy-led direct patient care services.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the impact on community pharmacy service development of a faculty-student-pharmacist collaborative program offered by five U.S. colleges. SETTING: Colleges of pharmacy and community pharmacies in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Utah, and West Virginia. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Partner for Promotion (PFP) is an elective, longitudinal advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) focused on enhancement of community pharmacy management skills, specifically the development and implementation of direct patient care services. This faculty-student-pharmacist collaborative model has been implemented in five U.S. colleges of pharmacy beyond the originating institution. EVALUATION: Data on pharmacy demographics and the impact of PFP on service creation and longevity at these partnering schools were reported via annual online surveys completed by faculty directors at each partnering college of pharmacy. RESULTS: Over a 3-year period, 19 pharmacy teams across five states worked to create a total of 15 direct patient care services, 12 of which were still being offered to patients at the time of data collection (80% longevity). The PFP program guided 38 students through the process of developing and implementing a sustainable service at a community pharmacy. All participating faculty from partnering colleges of pharmacy (100%) indicated that PFP model materials were "very useful" (4-point Likert scale; 1, not useful, to 4, very useful), and all five colleges plan to continue offering the program moving forward. CONCLUSION: The PFP model of training and service development can have a positive impact on the pharmacy profession, serve as an avenue for training students in the development of clinical services, and be a catalyst for establishing the growth of community pharmacy as a patient-centered, service-oriented partner in the health care system.

Pharmacy residents' pursuit of academic positions.

OBJECTIVE: To describe pharmacy residents' interest in and pursuit of academic positions. METHODS: An electronic presurvey and postsurvey were sent to pharmacy residents during the 2011-2012 residency year. The initial survey evaluated residents' job preferences and interest in academia at the beginning of residency, and the follow-up survey focused on job selection and reasons for pursuing or not pursuing positions in academia. RESULTS: Nine hundred thirty-six residents responded to the initial survey and 630 participated in both the initial and follow-up survey. Forty-eight percent of those responding to both surveys strongly considered a career in academia in the initial survey, 28% applied for an academic position, and 7% accepted a position. Second-year postgraduate residents were more likely than first-year postgraduate residents to apply for and be offered a faculty position. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy residents are interested in academia. While increasing interest among residents is encouraging for faculty recruitment, the academy should also encourage and develop adequate training experiences to prepare residents to succeed in these positions.

A collaborative approach to residency preparation programming for pharmacy students.

PURPOSE: An innovative program to help pharmacy students navigate the residency application and interview process is described, including results of a survey evaluating the program's impact. SUMMARY: The Ohio State University (OSU) chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP) collaborated with OSU College of Pharmacy faculty members, pharmacists from OSU Wexner Medical Center and surrounding areas, and current pharmacy residents to provide programming to equip pharmacy students with skills to succeed as residency candidates. The programming has four components: Curriculum Vitae (CV) Critique, Mock Residency Interviews, Residency 101, and Midyear to Match (M-M), a six-part series that provides guidance on the Residency Showcase at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting, Match day (the annual matching process coordinated by ASHP), and the post-Match "scramble," in which unmatched applicants compete for unfilled residency slots. In an online survey conducted by the SSHP chapter after the 2012-13 residency year, 26 of 57 survey respondents indicated they had pursued a residency. Twenty respondents reported success in the Match (a rate 15% higher than the national average), with 9 reporting acceptance by their first-choice residency site. The mock interview program was rated as the most useful (a mean score of 4.8 on a 5-point scale), followed by the M-M series (mean score, 4.6). CONCLUSION: Collaborative programming coordinated by the OSU chapter of SSHP was offered to pharmacy students to improve preparation for the residency application and interview process. The program was well received by participants.