Patient Centered Care and Pharmacy Benefit Management Fellowship: A Joint Venture (UMSOP and MDH OPS)
Description: The Patient Centered Care and Pharmacy Benefit Management Fellowship is a two-year fellowship based at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and the Maryland Department of Health’s Office of Pharmacy Services Program. The fellow will have the opportunity to develop their patient care skills in ambulatory care, while learning about health insurance benefits management.
Purpose: The Patient Centered Care and Pharmacy Benefit Management Fellowship will build on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop the fellow for work in a variety of practice settings that could include but are not limited to; state Medicaid operations, health plans, health systems, pharmacy benefit management companies, and Medicare.
Outcomes:
- Provide evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy management for diverse patient populations in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams in various ambulatory care practice settings.
- Manage and improve the medication-use process within the Maryland Medicaid Office of Pharmacy Services Program.
- Provide drug utilization review and prior authorization review for members.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the application of drug information and evidence-based medicine to specific patient encounters.
- Conduct research and prepare a poster
- Communicate effectively to patients, students, health care providers, payers, and the public about matters related to appropriate medication use.
Learning Experiences:
Patient Care/Staffing (20-30%)
Medicaid Based Programs and Services (60%)
Research, Teaching, and Other (10-20%)
Professional Meetings: 1 or 2 meetings (local or national) per year as agreed upon
Educational Activities:
- Monthly case conference (attendance at 50%)
- Monthly pharmacy literature update (attendance at 50%)
- Monthly professional development seminars (attendance at 10 over two years)
- Monthly current events discussion
- Pharmacotherapy rounds (attendance at 25 over two years)
- Teaching certificate (optional)
- Quarterly reflections as an opportunity to tie concepts together and/or think about how the intersections between what the fellow is seeing in clinical settings that could be challenges or opportunities to consider making changes at a managed care level
Teaching: The fellow receives an appointment as a clinical instructor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. This experience allows the fellow to build precepting skills with pharmacy students on rotations and in the classroom setting. The fellow will be required to teach 10 hours each semester. The primary teaching responsibilities for the fellow will be in the courses related to medical information/evidence and managed care pharmacy.
Number of positions: 1
Qualifications: The resident must be a graduate of an accredited college of pharmacy with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (requirement waived if completed a pass/fail curriculum). The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and eligibility for Maryland pharmacy licensure are required.
Application Process: Applicants should email their full complete application packet as a PDF file to Dr. Lauren Hynicka. The application should include a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, transcripts from the school or college of pharmacy attended, and three letters of reference. Letters of reference should be sent from the letter writer directly to the program direction at lhynicka@rx.umaryland.edu. The application deadline is Jan. 2.
Program Director:
Lauren M. Hynicka, PharmD, BCPS, RYT-200
Associate Professor
Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Phone: 410-706-8072
Email: lhynicka@rx.umaryland.edu
Program Coordinator(s):
Catherine Cooke, PharmD, BCPS, PAHM
Research Associate Professor
Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Phone: (410) 706-1451
Email: ccooke@rx.umaryland.edu
Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP
Professor
Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Phone: 410-706-6066
Email: mehret@rx.umaryland.edu