Pharmacy Residency Program

About Our Residency

Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) offers a competitive and rewarding PGY1 residency for applicants who are interested in pursuing a future career in ambulatory care. DOHC is an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited PGY1 program that offers experience in a myriad of different disease states which generally focuses on the adult and geriatric population. Our services include telephonic and in-person communication with our patients with the ability to independently order labs, initiate, discontinue and titrate medications. Come see what “Your Health, Your Life, Our Passion” means to us!

Our Motto: Your Health, Your Life, Our Passion

Our Mission Statement: Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) is committed to the provision and facilitation of the highest quality medical care to the residents of the desert communities.

Our Vision Statement: We strive to be an organization which provides excellence in every encounter. As a result, we are recognized by our patients as their caregivers of choice, our employees as their employer of choice, and our health plan partners as their health care network of choice.

Application

• Deadline to Apply: January 2nd
• Open House Dates: 1 virtual opportunity in November after CSHP and 1 in December after ASHP. Please contact us for more information.

Requirements:

• Three letters of recommendation
• Curriculum Vitae
• Official pharmacy transcripts
• Letter of intent
• Interview required

ASHP Code: 92177

NMS Code: 266013

Core Rotations

• Anticoagulation and Atrial Fibrillation
• Cardiometabolic and Weight Management
• Cardiology
• Infectious Disease and Hepatitis C
• Pulmonary
• Managed Care

Core Rotations (Longitudinal)

• Pharmacy Administration and Management
• Pharmacy Student Oversight
• Residency Project Development and Management
• Clinical Pharmacy Practice (Staffing)

Optional

• Teaching Certification and Pharmacy Education through Loma Linda University

Elective Rotations

• Advanced Core Rotation
• Specialty Clinics (Anemia, Testosterone, Migraine, Dementia, HIV, Priority Care)
• Behavioral Health
• Health Education 

Specific PHARxM™ Program Descriptions

Scope of Services:

Our mission is to ensure that all DOHC members receive maximum benefit from their medication therapy. Clinical Pharmacists work under a variety of collaborative practice protocols toward this end, targeting high cost and high risk medications, complex drug therapies and chronic disease states. We have various clinics throughout Coachella Valley to bring services to the patients to help with their chronic disease management.

Anticoagulation Services:

Available to all DOHC members receiving anti-coagulation therapy. Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol to manage INRs, patient procedure holds and heparin bridging. We also collaborate and manage warfarin and DOAC therapy for our sister medical groups at Regal, High Desert, Bakersfield Family Medical Center, and other sister medical groups throughout California, to provide care to their patient population. Currently serving population of 3500 active patients.

Atrial Fibrillation Services:

Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol to provide patient education and disease management to those who have been referred by their PCP, or other entities, with criteria of newly diagnosed or uncontrolled atrial fibrillation. Those who utilize for atrial fibrillation or are seen by DOHC Cardiology Provider and request more education for their disease as well as any cost assistance needed for DOACs.

Hepatitis C Services:

Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol to provide screening, education and active management of those members selected for antiviral therapy.

Antibiotic Stewardship Services:

Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol with an infectious disease Physician to ensure optimal use of antibiotics for DOHC members. The purpose of the program is to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance and ensures patients receive optimal and appropriate therapy for their specific indications. Clinical Pharmacist reviews 100% of IV antibiotics through Home Health services at DOHC.

Anemia Services:

Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol to review high risk patients post hospitalization. Clinical Pharmacists review labs, future transfusion therapy needs, or other medication regimen to help reduce hospitalization of anemia patients.

Cardiometabolic and Weight Management Services:

Cardiometabolic Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol to provide patient education and disease management to those who have been referred by their PCP, or other entities, with criteria of uncontrolled diabetes with A1C>8.9%, those diabetics with utilization for hypo or hyperglycemia, or those perceived to be at risk for utilization. If there is a need to triage to Endocrinologist, Clinical Pharmacist will refer internally to them for higher level of care.

Under a collaborative practice protocol, Clinical Pharmacists will provide management for those patients of DOHC who are being treated long term for obesity. Management of this disease state involves pharmacological (initiating, discontinuing and titrating medications) and non-pharmacological (education on disease state and referrals to other specialists) interventions. In addition, Clinical Pharmacists will order any pertinent labs. Our goal is to provide safe and effective treatment under the guidance of accepted national guidelines.

Cardiovascular Services:

Cardiology Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol with DOHC Cardiologists and Physicians to provide comprehensive medication reconciliation and review for members who are diagnosed with CAD or CHF. The Clinical Pharmacist will accomplish this objective by active participation in drug therapy evaluation, monitoring, education, and health promotion.

Post Stroke Clinical Pharmacists provide comprehensive management to patients who have had a stroke in the past three years through the multidisciplinary clinic, in collaboration with a neurologist. The new clinic aims to provide optimal care to minimize stroke risk and burden, manage chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hypercoagulable state), and modifiable risk factors (smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diet, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, etc.)

Managed Care Services:

Clinical Pharmacists provide concurrent review, authorization and coordination of delivery for all medical benefit injectables ordered for DOHC members. Such medications are typically high risk, high cost, or require prior authorization. They also assist patients and providers with application process for low income pharmacy benefit programs. We provide medication reconciliation, assist with identification of HCC risk adjustment codes for senior members, and assist the research department on an as needed basis.

Specialty Clinic Services (Including Dementia Care Clinic, Infusion Clinic, Migraine Clinic, Priority Care Clinic, and Testosterone Clinic)

• Infusion Clinical Pharmacists work as part of an interdisciplinary care team that includes registered nurses and certified medical assistants. The clinic is responsible for providing routine immunizations, testosterone injections, COVID19 immunizations, blood transfusions, IV antibiotic therapy and rheumatology/neurology related infusions.
• The Priority Care Clinic (PCC) Clinical Pharmacist will identify and assess high risk patients through post utilization medication reconciliation and reviews. They address any medication questions from providers including those related to dosing, formulary, and cost assistance, and introduce PHARXMTM programs to patients with new diagnoses and referrals. 

• Dementia Care Clinic: The goal of the Dementia Clinic is to provide optimal care to patients with both appropriate diagnosis and symptomatic complications of dementia, through education for patients, families, and caregivers, connecting patients, families, and caregivers to community resources, guidance and/or management of individual modifiable risk factors, reducing symptom burden, and slowing disease progression through medical or non-medical treatments. The dementia clinical pharmacist will coordinate care through collaboration of Neurology, Behavioral Health, Social Services, and Health Education to reduce disease-related burdens and improve quality of life.

• The Migraine Clinic serves to streamline the medication management process for members with migraines who are followed by a DOHC Neurologist and to provide said Neurologists with an additional resource for medication related inquiries. The migraine clinical pharmacist works with the Neurologist to have the opportunity to provide education on migraine pathophysiology and treatment in addition to managing and optimizing step therapies based on current guidelines. This ensures that members, in conjunction with their routine neurology appointments, are able to access their medications and are closely monitored for medication adherence, tolerability and adjustments.

• The Testosterone Clinic Pharmacist plays a key role within an interdisciplinary healthcare team focused on improving the quality of life for patients through testosterone replacement therapy. The testosterone clinic aims to address symptoms of testosterone deficiency and associated conditions like insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. While keeping quality of life in mind, the clinical pharmacist evaluates and manages drug therapy, monitors patient progress, promotes health education, ensures safe and effective treatment, and collaborates with patient’s providers for their care

Pulmonary Services:

Clinical Pharmacists work under collaborative practice protocol to initiate and titrate medications, monitor patient's labs, monitor medication side effects, and provide disease state education. We aim to reduce inappropriate Emergency Department utilization, acute hospital admissions, and support optimum quality of life for COPD, Asthma, and Pulmonary Fibrosis patients through the services of Medication Management. We collaborate with health programs to enhance patient-focused care and medication adherence using customized healthcare technology. If there is a need to triage to Pulmonologist for higher level of care we review with Pulmonologist Medical Director.

Behavioral Health Services:

Clinical Pharmacists work as part of an interdisciplinary care team that includes Social Workers, a Psychiatrist, a Therapist, and an addiction medicine specialist to help patients with multiple mental health diagnoses. Significant involvement with the Substance Use Disorder program within the Behavioral Health clinic.

Other Clinical Pharmacist Involvement:

We also work under collaborative agreements with various hospitals and several pharmacy schools throughout California to provide ambulatory care learning experiences for both IPPE and APPE Doctor of Pharmacy Candidates and Graduate Pharmacist Residents. Additionally, Clinical Pharmacists also provide help with medication review at the DOHC Immediate and Priority Care Clinics in triaging patients.

Residency Program Director

Erin Williams, Pharm.D., APh, BCACP
Phone: (760) 969-6560
Fax: (760) 328-2230

Email: DOHC-PGY1-Residency@MyDOHC.com

Residency Program Coordinators

Sherry Yang, Pharm.D., APh, BCACP

Michael Sun, Pharm.D., APh

Senior Director of PHARxM™

Jade Le, Pharm.D., APh, BCACP