The post-graduate training program, established in January 2011 at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine, trains pharmacists to establish and lead clinical quality improvement and patient safety programs and perform population health interventions. The trainee works collaboratively with the fellowship director (Dr. Scott Martin Vouri). Areas of focus are medication safety, assessment of prescribing quality, consultant pharmacy, process improvement, healthcare administration, population health interventions, evaluation of interventions, and outcomes research. Trainees will learn how to effectively lead in an interdisciplinary environment to continuously improve healthcare using a team-based approach. Training is focused in the ambulatory (outpatient) care setting, however many opportunities for combined hospital and ambulatory care initiatives exist. This is preferably a 2-year program where the 2nd fellowship year focuses on quality improvement research, however 1-year training opportunities will be considered. The trainee may also be asked to participate in a variety of activities at the UF College of Pharmacy including seminar and journal clubs within the Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy. The trainee will have opportunities to take didactic courses through University of Florida College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy covering ‘Patient Safety in Medication Use’ and ‘Research Methods’ with the option to complete a MS degree. Benefits (e.g., health insurance) are available. Additional information can be obtained by emailing Scott Martin Vouri at svouri@cop.ufl.edu.
PURPOSE
The specialized residency/fellowship in healthcare quality, medication safety, and population health is a 12‐24 month, post‐graduate program. The purpose of this program is to prepare the trainee for one of several roles, including a clinical faculty position focused in interdisciplinary healthcare quality and safety, for leadership roles in healthcare settings, particularly in areas focusing on medication safety, consultant pharmacy, healthcare information technology use, managed care organizations or for roles in national organizations focused in safe healthcare practices (e.g. Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Institute for Healthcare Improvement). Opportunities in this area are expanding and growing rapidly.
TRAINING SITE and PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Training takes place in the UF Health Physicians (UFHP) administration department and within over 50 UFHP clinics. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for interaction and experiences with UF Health Shands hospital medication safety and system-wide quality programs.
MISSION
The mission of this program is to prepare pharmacists for a career in healthcare quality improvement, medication safety, and population health by providing the opportunity to gain important skills and knowledge in this area. These skills include interpreting literature in medication safety and healthcare quality, understanding nuances of quality improvement science and research, understanding national healthcare quality initiatives, using billing and electronic health record data to evaluate quality, conducting performance improvement projects, and conducting disseminable quality improvement and/or outcomes research. The healthcare quality and medication safety trainee will work closely with the fellowship director and will play a central role in several committees, including the UFHP Clinical Safety Committee, Nursing Practice Council, and the Quality and Safety Committee. The trainee will provide vital medication information and safety perspectives. In addition, the trainee will become a licensed consultant pharmacist for the UFHP practices (working directly under the consultant pharmacist of record). In this role, the resident will maintain relationships with the administration team of the clinics and educate clinicians about medication safety and quality of care and provide oversight for medication use practices in the UFHP clinics. In addition, the trainee may have some limited clinical responsibilities to better understand and advise clinic operations. During the second year, the trainee will serve as the primary investigator of a research project or performance improvement project in the area of healthcare quality and safety.
INSTRUCTIONAL COMPONENTS: SERVICE
- Assume consultant pharmacist responsibilities for UFHP clinics
- Answer clinic and patient‐specific drug information requests
- Evaluate drug literature and biostatistics, particularly in healthcare quality, to drive clinical and process improvement
- Work with the Epic EMR team to improve medication ordering and medication reconciliation
- Provide meaningful contributions to the Clinical Safety Committee
- Produce written communications, including contributions to the peer‐reviewed literature
- Evaluate quality prescribing, identify appropriate targets for improved medication use, and evaluate outcomes related medication use interventions
EDUCATION PROVISION
- Opportunity to take didactic courses through University of Florida College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy toward a MS degree with specialization in Patient Safety
- Opportunity to give lectures or facilitate active learning sessions involving quality improvement/medication safety content (in the second training year)
RESEARCH
The trainee will assist on several projects and lead one project within the UFHP ambulatory practices, which will provide important data for improving healthcare of patients, and develop research design, statistical analysis, presentation, and publication skills.
START DATE
The preferred start date of the Fellowship is June 1, 2018.
APPLICATION
Please submit a 1) personal statement/cover letter (1 page), 2) CV, and 3) a list of 3 references to svouri@cop.ufl.edu by May 15, 2018.