Shaping the Development of Future Pharmacists

Pharmacist Development Programs

HospiScript values education and the future development of pharmacist’s, therefore we partner with various colleges of pharmacy and aid in the training of future pharmacists. In addition, HospiScript offers an ASHP accredited PGY1 ambulatory pharmacy practice residency with an emphasis in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Opportunities for Pharmacy Students

HospiScript is a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) providing medication therapy management, drug utilization reviews and educational resources for hospices nationwide. The HospiScript clinical team provides a variety of clinical services to hospice programs and palliative care professionals. The clinical staff provides pharmacotherapy consultation via telephone with nurses, physicians and patients/family/caregivers. Consultations occur for new patient admissions to hospice, patient transitions of care and 24 hour symptom management. Our clinical pharmacists participate onsite as members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) and via audio conference for hospices located throughout the country. Other clinical activities include: monthly educational audio conferences provided to nurses, physicians and pharmacists; onsite education at hospices; drug utilization evaluations; formulary management; and medication therapy management (MTM) reviews. HospiScript also operates a clinical resource center focusing on providing drug information services to our clients as well as the only hospice and palliative care abstracting service, HospiLink™.

Pharmacy students may elect rotations at either the Columbus, Ohio clinical office or HospiScript Services corporate headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama. Students will partake in many daily pharmacist activities. Future pharmacists will experience the interdisciplinary approach to patient/family care. Students are engaged in pharmacist shadowing, medication therapy management (MTM), disease state presentations, formal and informal clinical writing projects, journal clubs, case presentations, and other company projects. Depending on the office location selected by the pharmacy student, opportunities include: rounding with the interdisciplinary homecare and inpatient team; shadowing hospice interdisciplinary team members such as nurses, social workers and chaplains; and/or attending journal clubs with hospice medical directors and medical students or residents. Students will also gain insight to operations of a pharmacy benefit manager from patient enrollment to claim adjudication at the community pharmacy.

Pharmacy Practice Residency

HospiScript Services offers an ASHP accredited PGY1 ambulatory care residency in conjunction with The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. Our mission is to empower pharmacists to be agents of change in ambulatory care by creating a culture of encouragement and accountability. The program will foster the development of knowledge, skills and abilities needed to pursue patient care and to educate current and future practitioners.

The clinical team utilizes patient assessment skills and medication therapy management (MTM) skills to provide evidence based clinical consultations to physicians, nurses, patients and caregivers from hospice and palliative care organizations across the country. The pharmacists play an essential role in helping their clients manage their medication utilization and costs as they interface with the pharmacy benefits manager (PBM,) HospiScript. The clinical team in conjunction with SeniorScript also provide consultation to healthcare professionals working with the National PACE Association.

The primary practice site for the residency program is HomeReach Hospice & Palliative Medicine– Kobacker Hospice House. At the practice site, the resident will develop interdisciplinary and clinical skills as they provide clinical services to their patients. The resident will be incorporated as a vital part of the clinical team. Clinical training includes developing disease state management skills for various symptoms during the patient’s disease trajectory.

Program Goals: Upon completion of this residency, the resident will be able to:

• Provide Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and direct patient care through interdisciplinary teams for hospice, palliative care and geriatric patients.
• Develop and implement evidence based medication use guidelines.
• Develop confidence and leadership skills.
• Perform practice-related research, in the area of hospice care.
• Provide education to patients and other health care providers regarding optimal pharmacotherapy.
• Develop skills in the areas of process improvement, customer service, and quality assurance.
• Perform drug-utilization reviews and formulary discussions with current and prospective hospice clients.
• Develop business management skills.
• Enhance educational skills through classroom and experiential teaching and public presentations.

For more information about these programs, please contact: Pharmacist Development.