Pharmacist graduates from the residency program
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center/MCPHS University program extends accreditation
It’s been a great two months for the pharmacy residency program hosted by Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) and MCPHS University.
Hemali Patel, PharmD, graduated recently from the one-year advanced pharmacy training program. She will be attending a second-year pharmacy residency program at VillageMD Population Health & Data Analytics in Texas.
Last month, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) awarded the program accreditation for the next eight years – the longest interval allowed by the governing body. GLFHC and MCPHS provide a Postgraduate Year One (PGY-1) pharmacy residency program. In the spring the program accepted two new residents, who began in July.
“Our pharmacy residency program provides an integrative learning environment which encompasses a unique opportunity to work in community pharmacy and ambulatory care,” said Diane Martin, RPh, Senior Vice President of Chief Pharmacy Services at GLFHC. “We are proud to be providing our pharmacy residents with a comprehensive, hands-on experience while improving the health of our patients.”
Starting in 2014, pharmacy residents in the program receive training in medication therapy management in chronic disease states such as diabetes, asthma, and anticoagulation management. They also collaborate with the medical residency team to provide transitions of care services, as well as assist with the accountable care organization formulary management.
“Clinical pharmacists are an integral part of our care team,” said Jonathan Lichkus, MD, a family physician at GLFHC. “They promote medication adherence and answer complex questions on dosing, interactions, and adverse side effects. For my medically complicated patients, they reconcile inaccurate medication lists that occur during the transition between the health center, hospital, and back. Indeed, clinical pharmacists are essential to high-value primary care and have benefited both patients and primary care physicians alike.”
GLFHC has six pharmacies in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill, which are open to the public.
The mission of Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is to improve and maintain the health of individuals and families in the Merrimack Valley by providing a network of high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services and by training health care professionals to respond to the needs of a culturally diverse population. More than 62,000 patients depend on GLFHC for their primary health care needs at locations in Lawrence, Haverhill, and Methuen. For more information, visit https://glfhc.org.
Be the first to comment