Q & A
Q&A Accreditation of nontraditional pharmacy residency programs Q: What is a nontraditional pharmacy residency? A: Despite the recent use of the term nontraditional to describe various types of pharmacy residency programs, the most common definition of a nontraditional pharmacy residency applies to the expansion of the traditional 12-month program over a period of 2 to 3 years.1,2 Nontraditional pharmacy residencies are required to follow the same regulations and standards that govern all residency programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Nontraditional programs are often established as a method of providing advanced training to employees of an institution’s department of pharmacy. However, nontraditional residencies have also been used by some organizations to recruit individuals seeking pharmacy residencies to more remote locations across the country by combining advanced training with full-time employment as a pharmacist in the organization. Q: Does ASHP accredit nontraditional pharmacy residency programs? A: Yes. Nontraditional residency programs may be accredited by ASHP as part of an established ASHP-accredited traditional residency program or as an individual residency program if there is not an ASHP-accredited residency of the same category already established. If a nontraditional program is seeking accreditation as part of an established
ASHP-accredited residency of the same category, a separate accreditation site visit is not required. A nontraditional pharmacy residency program seeking accreditation as part of an existing ASHP-accredited program must be designed and conducted in the same manner as the existing program with congruent elements including, but not limited to, the program’s purpose statement; educational outcomes, goals, and objectives; learning experiences; and specific program requirements. Additional accreditation fees are not incurred by programs seeking accreditation for a nontraditional program as part of an existing ASHP-accredited traditional pharmacy residency. However, accreditation fees will be assessed to a site that is establishing a nontraditional residency program in the absence of an established ASHP-accredited program of the same type. Q: Are nontraditional pharmacy residency programs required to participate in the pharmacy resident matching program administered by National Matching Services? A: Yes. According to the ASHP Accreditation Standards for Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) and Postgraduate Year 2 (PGY2) Pharmacy Residency Programs, “ASHPaccredited, provisionally accredited, and application-submitted residency programs must adhere to the rules of the Resident Matching Program (RMP),”
The Q & A column features ASHP staff responses to inquiries from pharmacists in health systems. Through this column, more practitioners can benefit from the answers prepared by the staff. The column may also include answers solicited from others, including government agencies such as OSHA, FDA, and DEA. Pharmacists with questions for ASHP should write directly to the appropriate staff member, not AJHP. Frequently called extensions are listed in every issue of AJHP on the page after the Table of Contents.
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which includes nontraditional residency programs.3,4 Of particular importance to the accreditation team is to be informed of the presence of a nontraditional residency program at a particular site before the site survey visit to allow adequate review of the program and preparation for the survey. Therefore, all practice sites with nontraditional residency programs in the ASHP accreditation process must register for the RMP and obtain a separate match code from National Matching Services for the nontraditional program. This will ensure compliance with the accreditation standards and create a unique process for individuals who may be seeking nontraditional residency programs. As the RMP results are usually released in March and traditional pharmacy residencies typically commence at the beginning of July, ASHP recognizes that these dates may not be conducive to all nontraditional residency programs due to the variation in the dates on which a nontraditional residency program may begin and end. However, regardless of the dates of the residency term for nontraditional programs, all nontraditional pharmacy residencies in the ASHP accreditation process must obtain a separate match code and enter the RMP, in accordance with the accreditation standards. For organizations that only allow current employees to participate in the nontraditional residency program, this information should be included in the program’s listing in the residency directory on the ASHP website and in all promotional materials and documents in an effort to provide candidates with the most accurate information. Q: Are nontraditional pharmacy residency programs designed for postgraduate year 1 residencies only? A: No. Nontraditional pharmacy residency programs may be developed for PGY2 residencies, as well. The majority of nontraditional pharmacy residencies
Q & A
are PGY1 programs and are accredited based on their compliance with the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies, ASHP Accreditation Standard for PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Programs, and PGY1 educational outcomes, goals, and objectives.3,5,6 As with nontraditional PGY1 pharmacy residencies, nontraditional PGY2 pharmacy residencies must be established in accordance with the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies, ASHP Accreditation Standard for PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Programs, and PGY2 educational outcomes, goals, and objectives for the specific PGY2 residency.4,5 Q: Do nontraditional pharmacy residency programs qualify for federal funding for graduate medical education (i.e., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pass-through funding)? A: No. According to the Code of Federal Regulations, “the costs of programs such
as orientation and on-the-job training . . . are considered normal operating costs and do not qualify for pass-through reimbursement of medical education costs.”7 1. Winegardner MG, Davis SL, Szandzik EG et al. Nontraditional pharmacy residency at a large teaching hospital. Am J HealthSyst Pharm. 2010; 67:366-70. 2. Vong KS, Koons KA, Carnes PA. Implementation of a nontraditional postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2013; 70:201928. 3. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP accreditation standard for postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs. www.ashp.org/ DocLibrary/Accreditation/ASD-PGY1Standard.aspx (accessed 2013 Nov 18). 4. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP accreditation standard for postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residency programs. www.ashp.org/ DocLibrary/Accreditation/ASD-PGY2Standard.aspx (accessed 2013 Nov 18). 5. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP regulations on accreditation of pharmacy residencies. www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/Accreditation/
A S D - Ac creditation-RegulationsResidencies.aspx (accessed 2013 Nov 18). 6. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Required and elective educational outcomes, goals, objectives, and instructional objectives for postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs, 2nd edition—effective July 2008. www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/Accreditation/ Regulations-Standards/RTPPGY1Goals Objectives.aspx (accessed 2013 Dec 16). 7. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 42 C.F.R. 413.85: cost of approved nursing and allied health education activities. www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ CFR-2011-title42-vol2/pdf/CFR-2011title42-vol2-sec413-85.pdf (accessed 2013 Nov 18).
Akilah F. Strawder, Pharm.D., CDE, BCACP, Accreditation Services Associate Accreditation Services Division American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Bethesda, MD [email protected]
The author has declared no potential conflicts of interest. DOI 10.2146/ajhp130679
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Feb 15, 2014
277
Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of American Society of Health System Pharmacists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
Q&A Accreditation of nontraditional pharmacy residency programs Q: What is a nontraditional pharmacy residency? A: Despite the recent use of the term nontraditional to describe various types of pharmacy residency programs, the most common definition of a nontraditional pharmacy residency applies to the expansion of the traditional 12-month program over a period of 2 to 3 years.1,2 Nontraditional pharmacy residencies are required to follow the same regulations and standards that govern all residency programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Nontraditional programs are often established as a method of providing advanced training to employees of an institution’s department of pharmacy. However, nontraditional residencies have also been used by some organizations to recruit individuals seeking pharmacy residencies to more remote locations across the country by combining advanced training with full-time employment as a pharmacist in the organization. Q: Does ASHP accredit nontraditional pharmacy residency programs? A: Yes. Nontraditional residency programs may be accredited by ASHP as part of an established ASHP-accredited traditional residency program or as an individual residency program if there is not an ASHP-accredited residency of the same category already established. If a nontraditional program is seeking accreditation as part of an established
ASHP-accredited residency of the same category, a separate accreditation site visit is not required. A nontraditional pharmacy residency program seeking accreditation as part of an existing ASHP-accredited program must be designed and conducted in the same manner as the existing program with congruent elements including, but not limited to, the program’s purpose statement; educational outcomes, goals, and objectives; learning experiences; and specific program requirements. Additional accreditation fees are not incurred by programs seeking accreditation for a nontraditional program as part of an existing ASHP-accredited traditional pharmacy residency. However, accreditation fees will be assessed to a site that is establishing a nontraditional residency program in the absence of an established ASHP-accredited program of the same type. Q: Are nontraditional pharmacy residency programs required to participate in the pharmacy resident matching program administered by National Matching Services? A: Yes. According to the ASHP Accreditation Standards for Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) and Postgraduate Year 2 (PGY2) Pharmacy Residency Programs, “ASHPaccredited, provisionally accredited, and application-submitted residency programs must adhere to the rules of the Resident Matching Program (RMP),”
The Q & A column features ASHP staff responses to inquiries from pharmacists in health systems. Through this column, more practitioners can benefit from the answers prepared by the staff. The column may also include answers solicited from others, including government agencies such as OSHA, FDA, and DEA. Pharmacists with questions for ASHP should write directly to the appropriate staff member, not AJHP. Frequently called extensions are listed in every issue of AJHP on the page after the Table of Contents.
276
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Feb 15, 2014
which includes nontraditional residency programs.3,4 Of particular importance to the accreditation team is to be informed of the presence of a nontraditional residency program at a particular site before the site survey visit to allow adequate review of the program and preparation for the survey. Therefore, all practice sites with nontraditional residency programs in the ASHP accreditation process must register for the RMP and obtain a separate match code from National Matching Services for the nontraditional program. This will ensure compliance with the accreditation standards and create a unique process for individuals who may be seeking nontraditional residency programs. As the RMP results are usually released in March and traditional pharmacy residencies typically commence at the beginning of July, ASHP recognizes that these dates may not be conducive to all nontraditional residency programs due to the variation in the dates on which a nontraditional residency program may begin and end. However, regardless of the dates of the residency term for nontraditional programs, all nontraditional pharmacy residencies in the ASHP accreditation process must obtain a separate match code and enter the RMP, in accordance with the accreditation standards. For organizations that only allow current employees to participate in the nontraditional residency program, this information should be included in the program’s listing in the residency directory on the ASHP website and in all promotional materials and documents in an effort to provide candidates with the most accurate information. Q: Are nontraditional pharmacy residency programs designed for postgraduate year 1 residencies only? A: No. Nontraditional pharmacy residency programs may be developed for PGY2 residencies, as well. The majority of nontraditional pharmacy residencies
Q & A
are PGY1 programs and are accredited based on their compliance with the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies, ASHP Accreditation Standard for PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Programs, and PGY1 educational outcomes, goals, and objectives.3,5,6 As with nontraditional PGY1 pharmacy residencies, nontraditional PGY2 pharmacy residencies must be established in accordance with the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies, ASHP Accreditation Standard for PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Programs, and PGY2 educational outcomes, goals, and objectives for the specific PGY2 residency.4,5 Q: Do nontraditional pharmacy residency programs qualify for federal funding for graduate medical education (i.e., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pass-through funding)? A: No. According to the Code of Federal Regulations, “the costs of programs such
as orientation and on-the-job training . . . are considered normal operating costs and do not qualify for pass-through reimbursement of medical education costs.”7 1. Winegardner MG, Davis SL, Szandzik EG et al. Nontraditional pharmacy residency at a large teaching hospital. Am J HealthSyst Pharm. 2010; 67:366-70. 2. Vong KS, Koons KA, Carnes PA. Implementation of a nontraditional postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2013; 70:201928. 3. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP accreditation standard for postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs. www.ashp.org/ DocLibrary/Accreditation/ASD-PGY1Standard.aspx (accessed 2013 Nov 18). 4. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP accreditation standard for postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residency programs. www.ashp.org/ DocLibrary/Accreditation/ASD-PGY2Standard.aspx (accessed 2013 Nov 18). 5. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP regulations on accreditation of pharmacy residencies. www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/Accreditation/
A S D - Ac creditation-RegulationsResidencies.aspx (accessed 2013 Nov 18). 6. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Required and elective educational outcomes, goals, objectives, and instructional objectives for postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs, 2nd edition—effective July 2008. www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/Accreditation/ Regulations-Standards/RTPPGY1Goals Objectives.aspx (accessed 2013 Dec 16). 7. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 42 C.F.R. 413.85: cost of approved nursing and allied health education activities. www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ CFR-2011-title42-vol2/pdf/CFR-2011title42-vol2-sec413-85.pdf (accessed 2013 Nov 18).
Akilah F. Strawder, Pharm.D., CDE, BCACP, Accreditation Services Associate Accreditation Services Division American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Bethesda, MD [email protected]
The author has declared no potential conflicts of interest. DOI 10.2146/ajhp130679
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Feb 15, 2014
277
Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of American Society of Health System Pharmacists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
