ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation plans to contribute $1.5 million in grants to expand the availability of community pharmacy residency programs (CPRPs) for pharmacy graduates, which it said is the single-largest grant ever dedicated to community pharmacy residencies.
The NACDS Foundation said Thursday that with the contribution, it aims to jump-start 30 new community pharmacy residencies nationwide, a 25% increase in total residency positions. The support stands to enhance patient access to pharmacist-provided clinical services in community pharmacies and produce valuable research on medication adherence, medication therapy management and other services through required CPRP residency research projects.
Residency programs are designed to hone residents’ patient care abilities and strengthen their skills as leaders, innovators and agents for change in community pharmacy practice, according to the foundation. Pharmacy residencies represent an advanced educational opportunity for a pharmacy graduate to work under the supervision of clinical pharmacists in the community pharmacy setting. Residents provide direct patient care and develop patient care services with pharmacist preceptor oversight.
"The NACDS Foundation is pleased to help support the growth of community pharmacy residencies. These programs have been integral in enhancing patient care services and integrating these services into the community pharmacy practice setting," stated NACDS Foundation president Edith Rosato.
Reports have indicated that the current totals of residencies have been unable to keep up with graduate demand by a wide margin, the NACDS Foundation said, adding that funding has been identified as a major barrier to the development of new CPRPs.
Information on the grant application process is slated to be made available in February, and the first residencies created through the NACDS Foundation program are expected to be filled in 2012.
"In continuing its commitment to advance pharmacy education for the public good, the foundation looks forward to providing residents the opportunities they need to provide patient care services as they move forward in their careers as pharmacists," Rosato commented.
