Six-year Accreditation Accomplishment

Pharmacy’s Residency Program Earns Honor From National Group 

NorthBay Medical Center’s General Pharmacy Practice Residency Program has been awarded a six-year accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

The six-year accreditation period represents the highest level attainable by a residency program and is reserved for institutions that exemplify the highest standards set by ASHP. 

ASHP is a 70-year-old organization whose advocacy efforts, publications and educational offerings are designed to advance healthcare practice, improve patient care and improve patient safety.

The accreditation is an external validation of the level of service NorthBay is committed to providing to its patients and community, says Jerry Gonzales, director of Pharmacy Services. “This is truly an organization-wide team effort and accomplishment,” says Jerry. “Everyone (nurses, physicians, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) is to be commended because the accreditation is a reflection of the integration of pharmacy services within an organization.”
The NorthBay program selects two residents yearly from an extremely competitive list of applicants. The selected candidates rotate through multiple learning experiences and interact with all members of the healthcare team at the Coumadin Clinic on both the Vacaville and Fairfield hospital campuses.

By the end of their residency, these individuals have met a rigorous list of predetermined goals and objectives and continue to contribute to NorthBay with their newly attained skill sets. In addition, each resident develops and delivers individual residency projects, which are presented at regional conferences and add to the knowledge of the healthcare profession.

Notably, residents who have completed the program have gone on to take key positions as clinicians and supervisors in well-known institutions throughout California.

NorthBay has established a Residency Advisory Committee that provides direction and continual quality improvement for the program. It is comprised of all residency preceptors, the residency program coordinator, and the residency director.