American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Grants Health Net Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Residency Program Full Six-Year Accreditation On First Attempt

LOS ANGELES. – The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Commission on Credentialing approved a full six-year accreditation for the postgraduate year one Health Net Managed Care Pharmacy Practice Residency Program. This was the first attempt for accreditation by Health Net Inc.’s (NYSE: HNT) pharmacy business unit, Health Net Pharmaceutical Services (HNPS), which developed and directs the program.

“This is outstanding news for Health Net, particularly for our associates in Health Net Pharmaceutical Services and the other departments of the company who helped develop the program,” said John Sivori, HNPS president and Health Net Inc. president of Regional Health Plans. “As a result of their hard work we earned full accreditation our first time out, which ASHP gave to only 26 percent of all new pharmacy residency programs it reviewed this accreditation cycle.

“I am proud of how well our program leaders have built a process that gives pharmacy residents an opportunity to gain valuable clinical and business experience as they complete their education and consider a variety of options to launch their careers,” Sivori added. “We couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.”

HNPS will welcome a new pharmacy resident in July. Johanna Liu, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, in Stockton, Calif.. Liu is from West Sacramento, Calif.

About the Program
The one-year paid residency provides directed training in a defined area of practice, enhancing the resident’s recent doctor of pharmacy degree with approximately 1,500 hours of experience. Guided by 15 Health Net preceptors or instructors, the resident must complete three concurrent yearlong rotations in drug information, clinical programs and pharmacy operations, plus 12 consecutive four-week rotations. The resident focuses on professional development while working on Health Net projects that provide the opportunity to apply his or her recently acquired knowledge.

The resident works with associates primarily at HNPS’ Rancho Cordova, Calif., location on the Clinical Pharmacy Services, Formulary Management, Prior Authorization, Pharmacy Benefits, and Medication Therapy Management Program teams, and with associates across the state in Regional Pharmacy Operations, Trade Relations, Benefit Design, and other Health Net teams. The resident also presents a project at the annual Western States Conference for Pharmacy Residents, Fellows and Preceptors in Asilomar, Calif.

Impressing the Surveyors
ASHP accreditation surveyors performed a two-day onsite review of the residency program. In their subsequent report, the surveyors provided feedback that incorporating preceptors outside of the pharmacy department helped HNPS develop a well-rounded, integrated program that gives residents a comprehensive learning experience unique to Health Net.

Health Net Medical Management preceptors Mary Beth Govier, R.N., BSN, director, Decision Power Health and Wellness, and Eileen O’Connor, R.N., FNP, vice president, HEDIS Measurement & Reporting, are two such individuals who helped develop the program and serve as mentors to the residents.

“As a nurse I know the value of practical experience as an overlay of clinical experience,” said Govier. “This type of experience provides a ‘face’ to the health plan and supports the understanding of our members as people with conditions who desire the highest quality of life, rather than simply as a condition or a medication with a person behind it.”

Added O’Connor, “When HNPS put out the call for associates interested in the program, I thought it would be good to participate because more HEDIS measures are tied to pharmacy each year, and we could help the residents understand the concept of performance measurement and whether we’re being effective.”