Medication-Use Safety and Policy

Program Purpose

The UW Health PGY2 Medication-Use Safety and Policy Residency is designed to transition PGY1 residency graduates from generalist practice to specialized roles as an organizational leader in the development of safe and effective medication-use processes and policies. The program is designed to develop residents into experts in analyzing, synthesizing and disseminating medication-related information and stewards of evidence-based medication utilization across a health system. Graduates will possess the advanced facilitation skills to inform the organization’s policy-making bodies, influence their decision making and participate in the management of the decision-making process. The superior communication skills developed in this residency enable a graduate to function as a leader for activities such as conducting mediation safety initiatives and drug information practice-related projects.

Program Goals

Residents will exit the program with knowledge and experience that identifies them as authoritative resources on medication-use safety and formulary management. Residents will gain a fundamental understanding of formulary evaluation processes, clinical decision-support, principles of human error and human factors engineering, medication-use safety nomenclature, and a culture of safety. They can critically interpret and synthesize information from a variety of sources to formulate recommendations for improvement and have a broad perspective of organizational dynamics. They are also trained to be highly effective communicators and project managers. They can employ this background to effectively represent the medication-use safety and policy perspective when the organization considers the design of its formulary processes, medication-use technology and automation systems.

The PGY2 Medication-Use Safety and Policy residency offers advanced training opportunities for residents to develop expertise in:

  1. Assessing Safe and Effective Medication-Use Systems and Policies
  2. Medication-Use Data Collection and Analysis
  3. Designing Safe and Effective Medication-Use Systems/Policies
  4. Drug Shortages and Supply Interruptions
  5. Medication-Use Technology
  6. Medication-Use Research
  7. Leadership and Management
  8. Teaching, Education and Dissemination of Knowledge

Residency Structure

To achieve the goals of the program, the resident will work collaboratively with numerous multidisciplinary committees:

  • Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and associated subcommittees
  • UW Health Center for Clinical Knowledge Management (CCKM)
  • Pharmacy and hospital administration
  • Pharmacy Research Center (Investigational Drug Services)
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
  • Anticoagulation Stewardship Program
  • Pharmacy Informatics (Medication Management Team)
  • Quartz Pharmacy Benefit Management Program
  • University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy
  • Clinical pharmacy teams
  • Interdisciplinary teams (nursing, medicine, nutrition support, allied health)

The program is designed as a 12-month longitudinal experience in four core domains: Medication Use Policy, Safety and Formulary Systems; Leadership and Practice Management; Drug Budgeting, Forecasting and Supply Chain; and Research and Project Management. Residents may select up to three additional focused elective rotations based on practice interests and individual goals.

RotationStatusDescriptionDuration
Medication Use Policy, Safety and Formulary SystemsRequiredResidents will gain experience in the following:
– Assessing Safe and Effective Medication-Use Systems and Policies
– Designing Safe and Effective Medication-Use Systems/Policies
– Medication-Use Technology
– Teaching, Education and Dissemination of Knowledge
Longitudinal
(12 months)
Leadership and Practice ManagementRequiredResidents will gain experience in pharmacy and health-system leadership, clinical and administrative team management, and implementing change within an organizationLongitudinal
(12 months)
Drug Budgeting, Forecasting and Supply ChainRequiredResidents will gain experience in:
– Researching, managing and presenting practice-related projects
– Medication-use data collection and analysis
Longitudinal
(12 months)
Research and Project ManagementRequiredResidents will gain experience in:
– Researching, managing and presenting practice-related projects
– Medication-use data collection and analysis
Longitudinal
(12 months)
Pharmacy InformaticsElectiveResidents will gain practical experience in medication-use technology related to formulary management and the medication-use system4-6 weeks
Managed Care PharmacyElectiveResidents will gain practical experience in:
– Drug budget and drug price forecasting
– Organizational decision-making for pharmaceutical contracts and pharmacy services
– Cost containment and/or revenue capture enhancement activities
4-6 weeks
Investigational DrugsElectiveResidents will gain practical experience in the use of investigational drugs according to established protocols and the organization’s policies and procedures4-6 weeks
Medication Safety IntensiveElectiveResidents will have the opportunity to further concentrate on medication safety principles and practice within the health system4-6 weeks

ASHP Midyear

Interested residents are encouraged to contact program director Philip Trapskin to set up a PPS interview to learn more about the program.

Program Contact

Philip Trapskin, PharmD, BCPS
Director, Medication Use Policy, Safety, Compliance, and Informatics
3185 Deming Way
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 263-1328