Meritus Medical Center PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency

Pharmacy ResidentsThe purpose of the Meritus Medical Center's PGY1 pharmacy residency program is to build on the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training. The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency conducted by Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD is accredited by ASHP.

About our Residency Program:

The Meritus Medical Center Residency is an ASHP accredited program that will provide a unique opportunity for residents to gain in depth training for patient care, clinical services, education, and leadership. Residents completing this program will be competent and confident practitioners for direct and indirect patient care in multiple practice environments.

Meritus Medical Center pharmacy consists of a decentralized model within the innovative Medical Center. Pharmacists are located on each floor and work with other health care providers to provide optimal patient care and safe medication practices.

Pharmacists participate in multidisciplinary rounds and provide patient education, as well as other services, which include:

Required Learning Experiences

The following are considered required learning experiences and will be required for successful completion of the residency. Each learning experience is 5 weeks in length.

  • Orientation
  • Internal Medicine
  • Critical Care
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Administration
  • Pediatrics/NICU
  • Ambulatory Care

Elective Learning Experience Options

The following are considered elective learning experiences, each learning experience is 5 weeks in length.

  • Nutrition Support
  • Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Extension of required learning experience (Internal Medicine II, Outpatient Oncology II)
  • Pain management
  • Outpatient Oncology

Longitudinal Learning Experiences

The following learning experiences are required and are to be completed on a weekly to monthly basis throughout the course of the residency.

  • Medication Safety
  • Teaching (Shenandoah University)
  • Projects and Research
  • Staffing

Staffing Requirement:

  • Every other weekend in addition to clinical duties
  • Staffing in central pharmacy 1 week day evening (8 hour shift) every other week in addition to clinical duties

Required Conferences:

  • ASHP Mid-year Clinical Meeting
  • Eastern States Residency Conference

Certifications Available:

  • Teaching Certificate Program (Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy)
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Pharmacist workingPharmacists participate in multidisciplinary rounds and provide patient education, as well as other services, which include:

  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Anticoagulation
  • Nutrition Support
  • Medication Rounds
  • Discharge Counseling
  • Medication Reconciliation
  • Code Blue Team Support