Independent community pharmacies across the country continue to offer innovative programs and services that allow them to better serve their communities and set them apart from the competition.
Benzer Pharmacy, an independent community pharmacy chain that specializes in specialty drugs and chronic disease medication management with locations in 14 different states, is a perfect example.
The pharmacy recently introduced a pharmacy residency program in Florida to provide further training to pharmacy students after graduation, which is something the state currently lacks.
A unique opportunity
Benzer Pharmacy’s residency program will enable pharmacy students in Florida to receive post-graduation training with a focus in clinical care.
“Benzer Pharmacy is excited to initiate the pharmacy residency program, which will provide practitioners with a competitive edge over their peers,” Lindsay Wall, Benzer Pharmacy Chief Clinical Officer and Residency Program Director, said in a press release.
Currently, only three sites in Florida offer a community pharmacy residency program, making Benzer Pharmacy the only commercial pharmacy-based institution to offer such a program in the state, Wall said.
About the program
While the residency program will focus on clinical care, it will also show students the business-side of running an independent pharmacy.
The residency program will focus on four key areas:
- Medication therapy management (MTM)
- Chronic disease state management
- Asthma education
- Business development
Benzer Pharmacy will host one resident per 12-month period, with the first resident expected to start in July 2017, according to Wall. The pharmacy resident will receive a stipend at the end of the program.
Residents will be selected through a match program by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ (ASHP) Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS). Applications are currently being accepted.
By implementing programs like Benzer Pharmacy’s residency program, independent pharmacies can continue to make a difference in their communities and improve the business and practice of community pharmacy.
See how Bartell Drugs, a Seattle-based independent pharmacy chain, is making a difference in its community.
