Pharmacy Internship in Managed Care - UTMB   INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION This TSHP approved program is a joint internship with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the University of Texas Medical Branch Correctional Managed Care.   The managed care student internship is an organized, directed training program designed to provide pharmacy students with exposure to pharmaceutical care in a managed care environment.  The intern is required to meet general goals that are further segmented into specific learning activities during the program.  Upon completion of the 10-week internship, the intern will have received orientation and training in all areas within the Department of Pharmacy.  The philosophy behind the program's structure is to provide the intern experience in time and resource management and provide a realistic practice model for managed care practitioners.   DEPARTMENTAL DESCRIPTION Healthcare services for offenders within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) are provided through an interagency arrangement with two universities:  University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC).  The UTMB Correctional Managed Care Department of Pharmacy provides statewide pharmacy distribution services from a centralized facility in Huntsville, Texas.  Services are provided to approximately 145,000 TDCJ patients , Texas Youth Commission patients, and Federal Bureau of Prison patients.  The Department also provides clinical pharmacy services to the population served by UTMB.     The state-of-the-art facility incorporates automated technology and is the first pharmacy of its kind in the country.  The implementation of a prototypic robotic system has eliminated pharmacist final check allowing pharmacists to perform in-depth prospective profile review.  Pharmacists resolve problems identified during profile review in consultation with health care providers.  Pharmacy services include drug distribution, formulary management, clinical pathway development, disease management evaluations, continuous quality improvement and educational programs.  Clinical program highlights include pharmacotherapy, non-formulary and pharmaco-economic consultations.  Pharmacist-operated chronic care clinics have also been implemented to include prescriptive authority under physician protocol.  The Department serves as a clinical internship site for pharmacy students, has a TSHP summer internship program, and offers an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency.  The staff includes 30 pharmacists (9 clinical, 1 resident) and 65 support personnel.   The Program There will be three primary practice areas completed during the internship.  They include:   Practice Management Organization of the Department Policies and Procedures Personnel Management Drug Purchasing and Inventory Control Compliance with Local, State and Federal Laws Computer Technology Automated Drug Distribution Quality Assurance Programs   Drug Information and Policy Development Drug Policy Development Drug Use Evaluation Disease Management Guidelines Drug Information Activities Formulary Management Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee Activities In-service Presentation   Direct Patient Care Patient Education and Counseling Patient Medication History Pharmacist Clinical Interventions Participation in Clinical Pharmacist Operated Ambulatory Care Clinics   Practice Areas often overlap during the course of the program.   Program Schedule & Specifics To be arranged by the Specific Site   Program Period 10 Weeks   Stipend To be arranged by the Specific Site   Application Process Interested applicants must participate in TSHP's internship matching program.  There is a link to the TSHP internship application off the website and through most colleges of pharmacy.  Applicants may contact the Internship Coordinator after the results of the TSHP matching program have been announced to determine in there are any unfilled positions still remaining.  In addition, a security background check will be required prior to employment.  UTMB is an AA/EO Employer M/F/D/V.   Application Deadline February 8, 2008   The intern will also be required to complete an article suitable for publication in the TSHP newsletter about their internship experience   Return to Internship Homepage.