Survey‐based Evaluation of National Practices for Postgraduate Year One Pharmacy Resident Emergency Response Training

IntroductionMedical emergency response teams optimally involve interdisciplinary expertise, including pharmacists. A pharmacist may make therapy recommendations, prepare medications, and act as a drug information resource, which are important skills for a postgraduate year one pharmacy resident (PGY1) to develop. Limited data exist evaluating current national practices for PGY1 emergency response. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to describe national practices for PGY1 emergency response. These data may help PGY1 programs identify potential best practices for self-improvement. MethodsAn anonymous survey was developed to describe PGY1 emergency response within the United States and electronically distributed to PGY1 residency program directors. The questionnaire included general demographic information along with questions involving pharmacist and pharmacy resident emergency response and training within their institution. A univariate analysis was performed to evaluate potential predictors of survey respondent confidence in PGY1 independent emergency response by the end of the residency year. ResultsA total of 178 completed responses were obtained (response rate: 33.0%). The majority of respondents had both pharmacist and PGY1 response at their institution, with response to cardiopulmonary arrest being the most common. Of the 36 programs that did not have pharmacy resident involvement, the most common reason was due to lack of pharmacy response at their institution (61.1%). The majority of programs (68.3%) were confident in the ability for a PGY1 to independently respond by the end of their residency year. Only the number of emergency response by the end of the residency year was a predictor in their confidence of PGY1 independent response (p = 0.002). ConclusionThe majority of PGY1 programs had both pharmacist and pharmacy resident response to medical emergencies. The results of this survey may help PGY1 programs identify potential areas of improvement and help prospective residency candidates identify program characteristics that may best prepare them for emergency response.