Kent Hospital Announces New Pharmacy Residency Program

 

Kent Hospital has established a pharmacy residency program affiliated with the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy. The hospital's first class of pharmacists began in July and will take part in a one year residency offering competency development in a broad area of pharmacy practice.

Kent's pharmacy residency program is one of four post-graduate, year-one pharmacy residency programs in the state of Rhode Island. Pharmacy residents contribute to the hospital's mission by providing patient care rounds, target drug monitoring and patient monitoring.

"We are very excited to announce our new pharmacy residency program which is a tremendous benefit to not only the new pharmacists taking part, but to the clinical staff here at Kent Hospital," said Michael J. Dacey, president and COO, Kent Hospital. "The program allows us to grow as a teaching hospital, while enriching educational opportunities for pharmacists, physicians and nurses. This residency will allow the opportunity for increased pharmacy presence and expanded clinical services within the hospital."

Areas of rotations/learning experiences include: cardiology, critical care, infectious disease, internal medicine, neonatology, psychiatry, outpatient oncology, practice management and drug information. Pharmacists who comprise the program are:

Kristen Butler, Pharm.D.: obtained her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2016, from Eastern Tennessee State University and an undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. Kristen's career interests include clinical pharmacy in cardiology.

Sarah Hendrick, Pharm.D.: obtained her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2016 from University of New England. Her career interests include emergency medicine, critical care and infectious disease.

The Kent Hospital Pharmacy Department is comprised of 27 pharmacists, 28 pharmacy technicians and inventory support personnel, and a department director. The pharmacy provides a wide range of clinical services including:

  • Therapeutic drug monitoring.
  • Antimicrobial stewardship.
  • Interdisciplinary care team rounding.
  • Various hospital committees.
  • Rapid response and code blue situations.

Pharmacists staff the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, and multiple medical floors. In addition, the department has a clinical coordinator information technology and infectious disease specialist pharmacists. On average, the pharmacy processes 2,400 orders daily.

For more information on the Kent Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program, please contact Michelle Kelley, Pharm.D., clinical coordinator of pharmacy services, director of Kent Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program, at (401) 737-7000 ext. 31762.

About Kent Hospital

Kent Hospital, a Care New England Hospital, is a 359-bed, acute care hospital. It is Rhode Island’s second largest hospital, serving approximately 300,000 residents of central Rhode Island.

A teaching affiliate of The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kent offers programs in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Fellowship. Kent’s redesigned Emergency Department (ED) sees approximately 70,000 patients a year and ranks Kent’s ED volume among the top 10-percent nationally. It was the first hospital in the state to eliminate the practice of ambulance diversion.