Characterization of Pharmacy Resident Interventions on an Academic Inpatient Internal Medicine Rotation

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the clinical interventions of postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) pharmacy residents on a required, 1-month, inpatient adult internal medicine service at an academic medical center. Methods: The interventions completed by PGY-1 pharmacy residents on a required, adult internal medicine rotation were analyzed. Documentation of clinical interventions was performed by the PGY-1 residents, and the significance of the intervention was subsequently determined. Acceptance rates of clinical interventions were also documented and reviewed. Results: A total of 2161 interventions were documented by 14 PGY-1 pharmacy residents between January 2016 and May 2017. Of these interventions, 2016 (93.3%) had a positive, or accepted, outcome. The significance of the majority of interventions was moderate (93.5%), indicating that either an improvement in drug therapy effectiveness, decreased hospital length of stay, reduction in cost, or prevention in harm had occurred. The most common intervention types were recommendations to add, change, or discontinue a medication therapy, completion of a pharmacy dosing consult or conducting an admission medication reconciliation. Conclusion: PGY-1 pharmacy residents have a positive impact on patient care in the inpatient adult internal medicine setting.