Idaho State University

THE PSYCHOPHARMACY PHARMACY PRACTICE RESIDENCY AT THE BOISE VA MEDICAL CENTER

This is a one-year, postgraduate, non-degree specialty training program. It is designed for individuals who seek experience in providing clinical pharmacy services and managing inpatient and outpatient pharmacotherapy for adult psychiatric patients.  In most cases, this will be an advanced residency (PGY2) for those who have completed a general pharmacy practice residency (PGY1). Well-qualified family medicine, adult internal medicine, pediatric, psychiatric, geriatric, and ambulatory care pharmacy faculty contribute to the training of the resident.  The resident will be appointed to the faculty as a lecturer at the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy.

CLINICAL TRAINING SITES

The Psychiatry Department at the Boise VA includes a 15-bed acute inpatient unit, a 4-bed extended-stay program for treatment of PTSD and a residential substance abuse treatment program.  Outpatient psychiatric services are provided to a large, adult veteran population.  Outpatient services include adult psychiatric care, substance abuse treatment, consultation services, and intensive community care programs.  Eight psychiatrists and numerous other mental health professional staff comprise the multidisciplinary staff of the Psychiatry Department. Additional medical specialty staff include: Infectious Diseases, Pulmonology, Critical Care, and Geriatrics.  Inpatient pharmacy services include: decentralized distribution and pharmacy staff, patient education, monitoring of inpatients for toxic and therapeutic effects, general drug information and formulary compliance.  The Psychopharmacy Resident will be actively involved in providing pharmaceutical care to patients served by the Psychiatry Department of the Boise VA.  Involvement will include active participation as a member of the inpatient treatment team, providing ongoing outpatient medication follow-up clinic services and participation in outpatient psychopharmacy treatment services.   
In addition, the resident may be able to gain additional experience in geriatric psychopharmacy at Sun Health Hospital in Boise.  Sun Health Hospital is located 20 minutes away from the Boise VAMC.

CURRICULUM

The Psychopharmacy Residency Program is designed to provide specialty training in psychopharmacy practice.  A minimum of 2,000 clock hours of experience over a one-year period is required for successful completion of the program.  During the 2,000 hours of experience, the program provides the resident with orientation, instruction, and experience in (but not limited to) the following areas:

• Inpatient adult psychiatric care
• Decentralized inpatient staffing (up to 8 hours/week)
• Pharmacy administrative functions and exposure to committees dealing with institutional drug use
• Clinical pharmacy projects such as DUR/DUE and staff development
• Psychopharmacy Research

The resident participates in the teaching of undergraduate pharmacy and medical students.  Furthermore, the resident is expected to  contribute to the professional literature by assisting and engaging in scholarly work.  Successful completion of a research project is required of residents in this program.
Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the resident is awarded a certificate of completion.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE APPLICANT

The applicant must be a graduate of a school of pharmacy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, be a U.S. citizen, possess a doctor of pharmacy degree, and be licensed to practice pharmacy in one of the States, territories of the United States, or District of Columbia.  The applicant must demonstrate leadership abilities, professional competence, communication skills, professional development, scholastic achievement, dependability, and ability to work with others.  These qualities will be judged through personal interviews, interviews with peers, pharmacy school transcripts, and letters of recommendation from instructors, supervisors, and others acquainted with the applicant in conjunction with the application.
Selection of the applicant will be made by the Fellowship Selection Committee and the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy in Cooperation with the Chief, Pharmacy Service.
Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a copy of transcripts of college work, and three letters of reference.

BOISE

Boise, the “City of Trees”, is the State’s capital and largest metropolitan area in Idaho.  Approximately 430,000 people live in the Boise metro area.  The area’s largest employers include companies that are leaders in their industries:  Albertson’s Inc.; Boise Cascade Corp.; Hewlett-Packard Co.; Micron Technology, Inc.; J.R. Simplot Co.; TJ International and Zilog.  The entire state of Idaho is known worldwide for its majestic mountain ranges, towering over streams and rivers, forests, mountain lakes and high desert plains.  Idaho diversity affords each resident quality outdoor recreational experiences.  Boise itself is transected by the Boise River and a greenbelt walking/biking path throughout the City.  Idaho State University College of Pharmacy is located in Pocatello, four hours east of Boise.  Seven fulltime ISU faculty are based in Boise.