Geriatric pharmacy training requirements: A survey of residency programs

Purpose. Results of a survey assessing opportunities for geriatrics training currently available to pharmacy residents and residency directors' views on the concept of a defined slate of required geriatrics rotations are reported. Methods. Directors of postgraduate year 1 (PGY1)-pharmacy residency programs (n = 368) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) geriatric pharmacy residencies (n = 13) were surveyed regarding current training opportunities in geriatrics. PGY2 residency directors were invited to participate in a follow-up survey to identify high -priority areas for possible standardization of residency requirements on clinical rotations in geriatric practice settings. Results. About 21% of the PGY1 residency directors who responded to the survey indicated that their program required a geriatrics rotation, and 47% reported elective geriatrics rotations. All 13 PGY2 geriatric pharmacy residencies represented in the survey offered a long-term care rotation, with 12 offering rotations in mental health and outpatient geriatrics, 11 offering a hospice/palliative care rotation, and 10 offering a rotation in inpatient geriatrics. All 11 PGY2 directors who responded to the follow-up survey supported requiring a long-term care rotation in future revisions of the ASHP accreditation standard for geriatric pharmacy residencies; 10 supported required rotations in inpatient and outpatient geriatrics, and 9 supported requiring a hospice/palliative care rotation. Conclusion. Geriatrics-oriented training in PGY1 pharmacy residencies is limited, with only about one in five programs requiring a geriatrics rotation. The survey results indicated broad support among PGY2 program heads for required rotations in various geriatric healthcare settings.