Pharmacy Outcomes & Healthcare Analytics

Program Purpose

The purpose of the VISN 17 Pharmacy Benefits Management PGY2 Pharmacy Outcomes and Healthcare Analytics Residency Program is to develop clinically proficient healthcare data analysts who will improve the quality, and outcomes of patient care services. The Residency Program promotes the integration of informatics and data analysis with the practice of evidence-based medicine and medical treatments and process improvement.

Program Vision

Healthcare data analytics is an evolving area within the healthcare industry. Over the next five years, as the prevalence of electronic health records and the integration of health systems increases, the need to monitor health outcomes and the demand for clinically competent healthcare data analysts will escalate.  The VISN 17 Pharmacy Benefits Management PGY2 Pharmacy Outcomes and Healthcare Analytics Residency Program will help to meet this demand through its innovative approach to training and education. This PGY2 program is designed to develop accountability, expert knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities to meet the needs of this advanced area of pharmacy practice.

Program Information

The primary goal of the PGY-2 Pharmacy outcomes and healthcare analytics residency program is to develop and foster the resident’s skills in data analysis, change management, clinical pharmacy, organizational acumen, and leadership with the ultimate goal of developing the next generation of pharmacy leaders: who are able to create pharmacoeconomic proposals, reports and dashboard tools, manage formularies, and develop and implement criteria for use on certain drugs. The VISN 17 PBM provides a unique practice environment that is dynamic and challenging. By concurrently using data analysis and evidence based medicine, outcomes measurement, and process improvement we strive to provide our 1,000,000+ Texas Veterans with the best care found anywhere in the country by supporting and encouraging evidence-based prescribing. Gaining proficiency in SQL programming, metric reporting software tools, and pharmacoeconomic principles will enable graduates to optimize quality and outcomes within various health care management systems or policy organizations. Pharmacists completing the Pharmacy Outcomes & Healthcare Analytics Residency Program will be positioned to serve as experts in outcome and analytics, and pharmacoeconomic clinicians. These clinicians will promote best pharmacotherapy care practices, safety initiatives, and cost effective prescribing for all levels of patient populations from the individual patient to large regional populations.

Residents will gain experience creating multi-facility metrics and dashboards and will develop leadership skills by actively participating in national and regional taskforces and committees comprised of interdisciplinary teams. Residents will present a formal continuing education lecture and complete a quality improvement research project. Residents will have the opportunity to participate in a teaching certificate program offered through The University of Texas at Austin, as well as precept students and PGY1 residents if interested.

For more information, please visit: https://www.heartoftexas.va.gov/careers/residency/pbm.asp