Work With Big-Y
Purpose & Overview
Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Community-Based Residency Program provides postgraduate training to pharmacists to become leaders within the profession, provide direct care for the members of their community, contribute to community pharmacy’s advancements in health care, and to integrate practice based outcomes research in the community setting.
Big Y Foods, Inc. recognizes the importance of advancing the role of the pharmacist and profession of pharmacy in community practice and is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for pharmacists that both enhance their knowledge base and promote personal growth. The Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY 1) Community-Based Pharmacy Residency is a 12-month program that provides exposure to the various pharmacist delivered patient care experiences within community practice.
Purpose Statement
The ASHP and APHA PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program Purpose Statement
To build upon the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop community-based pharmacist practitioners with diverse patient care, leadership, and education skills who are eligible to pursue advanced training opportunities including postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies and professional certifications.
Residency Site Description
The Western New England University and Big Y Foods, Inc. Consultation and Wellness center is located at the Big Y on Cooley Street in Springfield, MA. Within the store, there is a pharmacy that fills approximately 550 prescriptions per week and administers approximately 100 immunizations annually. The Consultation and Wellness Center is located directly behind the pharmacy in a 600 square-foot space that includes a waiting room, private restroom, examination room, and an office.
A number of services are available at the Consultation and Wellness Center. Some activities include:
- Personalized education sessions
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Glucose meter training
- Insulin injection training
- Blood glucose evaluations and monitoring
- Pharmacist review of medication regimen
- Foot examinations
- Nutrition label reading
- Grocery tours
- Wellness activities
- Smoking cessation counseling
The Consultation and Wellness Center is conveniently located within walking distance (less than ¼ mile) from RiverBend Medical Group, a large practice that includes Adult Medicine and Pediatrics in Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield is home to two large medical centers, Baystate Health System and Mercy Medical Center. These centers provide institutional based diabetes education programs with services located at the main location and at a neighborhood health center. The Consultation and Wellness Center has become the primary referral site for patients with diabetes due to its’ close proximity to RiverBend and reputable education program. The Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program provided at the Consultation and Wellness Center is fully accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE).
Learning Experiences
The goals of this residency are as follows:
- Manage and improve the medication use process
- Provide evidence-based, patient-centered care and collaborate with other health care professionals to optimize patient care
- Exercise leadership and practice management skills
- Provide project management skills
- Provide medication and practice-related information, education, and/or training
- Utilize medical informatics
The majority of the patient care and practice management activities will be conducted at Big Y Foods, Inc. on Cooley Street. There will be monthly content rotations that focus on common diseases or conditions encountered in the community. The following is a list of the rotations: disease state management, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, tobacco abuse, medication therapy management, wellness & immunizations, community service, public health & prevention, travel clinic, academia/teaching (longitudinal), and research elective. This content will be covered and emphasized throughout the residency program. Each of these experiences will have educational outcomes, goals, and objectives. Assessments will be completed by the preceptors as well as the resident at the completion of each rotation and at least quarterly for the longitudinal experience.
During the residency, the resident will serve as a co-preceptor for pharmacy students from Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Longitudinally, the resident will provide patient care at the Consultation and Wellness Center 1-2 days per week. During the Fall and Spring semesters, the resident will facilitate and teach approximately one day per week. The specific days of teaching are subject to change. The resident is expected to be flexible with scheduling.
