Meeting the accreditation standard through implementation of a multiprogram residency advisory committee and ongoing quality improvement.

Abstract

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Purpose: To describe the process utilized by a large multiprogram residency site to expand preceptor engagement and establish ongoing quality improvement efforts in order to meet the program's needs in response to evolving ASHP accreditation standards.

Summary: A multiprogram residency advisory committee (RAC) primarily composed of residency program leadership was formed to focus on aspects of program management and accreditation compliance that were not being addressed at the monthly all-preceptor meeting. The ASHP standard and a recent residency accreditation survey guided the RAC agenda, which led to the creation of a combined manual for the institution's 5 residency programs and a preceptor manual. Preceptor engagement was improved through the establishment of local preceptor requirements, inclusion of preceptor representatives on the RAC, expansion of subcommittee opportunities, addition of a preceptor midpoint retreat, and optimization of the end-of-year preceptor retreat. Communication with residents and identification of continual improvement opportunities were improved through roundtables with residents, residency program directors, and the RAC chair; a monthly meeting with the rotating chief resident and RAC chair; and face-to-face exit interviews with the department's chief of pharmacy. The RAC chair has been a key figure in coordinating program change to meet the ASHP standard as well as leading planning for subsequent ASHP surveys.

Conclusion: Through the establishment of a multiprogram RAC and a RAC chair, our program has been able to engage a large preceptor group that is dedicated to continual improvement and provides the ability to dynamically respond to ASHP's progressing guidance for pharmacy residency programs.