Self Regional Healthcare (SRH), founded in 1951, is a 358-bed rural community teaching hospital located in Upstate South Carolina. SRH’s PGY1 pharmacy residency program is home to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 2024 New Preceptor Award recipient, the first awardee in South Carolina history, and a physician family medicine program that is ranked among the top 5 in the nation. The hospital features a level III trauma center in the emergency care center, intensive and cardiac care units, a family-oriented birthing center, a level III neonatal ICU, a behavioral health unit, and a Medical University of South Carolina–affiliated cancer center. In addition, SRH serves as a safety net hospital serving the 7 counties surrounding Greenwood, providing care regardless of insurance status. Pharmacy residents grow into well-rounded clinicians at SRH through the variety of rotation experiences in different areas of pharmacy practice.
Required Rotations (1-Month Learning Experiences)
- Orientation
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Ambulatory care—medication management clinic
- Critical care medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Internal medicine—adult teaching service
- Preceptorship
- Pharmacy administration
Elective Rotations (1-Month Learning Experiences)
- Adult outpatient oncology
- Transitions of care
- Psychiatry
- Repeat rotation with a different focus
- Cardiology
- Perioperative medicine
- Public health and medical missions
Staffing
Residents are expected to staff two 8-hour shifts every fourth weekend and one 4-hour weekday evening shift each week in the central pharmacy. In addition, residents assist Greenwood’s free medical clinic at least once a month.
Code Coverage
PGY1 residents participate in a yearlong code call rotation that includes responding to code blues, neuro/stroke alerts, level 1 and 2 traumas, STEMIs, and intubations on non-ICU floors. Code coverage rotates between residents every week, with each code call lasting 1 week per resident. Code call is from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the week of their coverage.
Teaching and Education
SRH requires a teaching certificate through the Presbyterian College of Pharmacy (PCSP) in nearby Clinton, South Carolina. Residents have many opportunities to precept IPPE and APPE students during their residency year, both on rotations and in the classroom. In addition, residents develop and present a didactic lecture and create a laboratory session for PCSP students.
Committee Involvement
PGY1 residents alternate between recording minutes for P&T meetings and presenting medication event trends in the hospital at a P&T meeting. In addition, residents can serve on committees of interest such as the Critical Care, Stroke Operations, and Infection Prevention and Control committees. Residents are also required to serve on a South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SCSHP) committee.
Research
PGY1 research projects follow a traditional model with a focus on quality improvement. This model allows residents to complete a meaningful project during the year, giving them experiences directly applicable to their future clinical practice. Projects are usually started with a medication use evaluation (MUE), which then expands to an implementation phase according to the results on the MUE.
Professional Organization Membership
PGY1 residents receive complementary membership with SCSHP and ASHP. Residents are sponsored by SRH to attend 1 or 2 in-person SCSHP meetings, the ASHP Midyear, and the Southeastern Residency Conference.
Mentoring Program
PGY1 residents can participate in a formal mentoring program. Residents are matched with a preceptor on the basis of both personal and professional interests and goals. In addition, residents will have an adviser to guide them on all assigned major projects.
Why SRH?
SRH offers a unique learning environment, given its population of patients living in rural areas and their complex conditions, which challenges and strengthens residents’ foundational knowledge across many disease states. Our small residency class and preceptor group allow residents to form great relationships with their core residents and preceptors. There is a strong sense of family within the organization overall, and everyone values and respects the expertise of the pharmacy department, regardless of their role. In addition, SRH provides valuable opportunities to give back to the population that is medically underserved, not only through our involvement in the free medical clinic but also through our medical mission trip to Guatemala.
I chose Self Regional for its welcoming atmosphere, strong involvement in pharmacy organizations, and flexibility of rotations. I’m excited to complete my PGY1 here, knowing that it will help shape me into a well-rounded clinician, ready to pursue any path I choose after residency.
Submitted by: Johny Nguyen, Pharm D., PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, Self Regional Healthcare