Comparison and enlightenment of emergency specialist clinical pharmacists training programs between China and the United States
- VernacularTitle:中美急诊专科临床药师培训项目的比较与启示
- Author:
Zhihuan RONG
1
;
Yacong ZHANG
2
;
Jilong LI
2
;
Haozhe ZHANG
2
;
Xinping ZHANG
1
Author Information
1. Medical Education Collaborative and Medical Education Research Center，Hebei Medical University，Shijiazhuang 050017，China
2. School of Pharmacy，Hebei Medical University，Shijiazhuang 050017，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
clinical pharmacist;
emergency department;
specialty training program;
PGY2
- From:
China Pharmacy
2025;36(23):2906-2911
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To compare the emergency specialist clinical pharmacist training programs between China and the United States， providing valuable insight for the development of specialized clinical pharmacist training in emergency departments within China. METHODS By reviewing the official website of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists （ASHP）， the websites of some training institutions offering PGY2 emergency medicine （EM） residency programs in the United States， the official website of China’s National Health Commission， and the website of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Committee of the Chinese Hospital Association， relevant materials and data on the training of emergency medicine clinical pharmacists were collected. Microsoft Excel and NVivo software were utilized to analyze the implementation status of these training programs. Literature searches were conducted via Chinese （CNKI） and English （PubMed） databases， followed by screening， categorization， and thematic analysis aligned with research objectives. RESULTS As of now， there are 115 accredited PGY2 EM residency programs in the United States， which provide 120 specialized pharmacist training positions. These programs are distributed across 35 states and are hosted by a variety of institutions， including hospitals， medical centers， and universities. The predominant training model follows a hospital+acute care framework. Eligibility requirements for PGY2 EM residency programs include possession of a doctor of pharmacy （Pharm.D.） degree， pharmacist licensure， and completion of a PGY1 residency. The training standards are structured into three tiers： competency areas， competency goals， and learning objectives. The curriculum typically includes core rotations， elective rotations， and longitudinal training components. Assessment is conducted through a combination of formative and summative evaluations， with results categorized into four proficiency levels. In China， there is only one training base currently for emergency clinical pharmacist specialty training with an annual enrollment of three trainees. Applicant eligibility primarily involves requirements regarding academic degree， professional background， years of experience， and professional title. The training content covers four domains： general competency， clinical theoretical knowledge and skills， pharmacological knowledge and application， and clinical medication practice skills. The training process centers on rotations within emergency departments. Assessment methods include theoretical examinations， daily performance evaluations， and final completion assessments. CONCLUSIONS PGY2 EM residency programs in the United States emphasize inclusivity and professionalism in their implementation. Program admission involves a rigorous selection process， and they offer attractive incentive structures for trainees. The training content focuses on competency-based approaches and pragmatic applicability， while assessment methods are closely aligned with defined competence objectives. In contrast， specialist clinical pharmacist training in emergency medicine in China is currently in the exploratory and nascent stages. Admission criteria tend to be less stringent， and incentives for trainees are often insufficient. The training content appears relatively stereotyped and superficial， with assessment methods still primarily reliant on quantifiable metrics. In expanding and popularizing China’s emergency specialist clinical pharmacist training programs， it is essential to draw on advanced experiences from developed countries like the United States， particularly in areas such as training base distribution， application requirements， training content， and assessment methods. Aligned with the realities of emergency clinical practice in China， efforts should focus on enhancing program accessibility and training efficacy.
