Providence Pharmacy PGY2 Program at Providence Medical Group 2026

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  An Exploration of Positive Psychology Practices in an Integrated Primary Care Setting

  Rebecca Crowder

  Abstract : Positive psychology is a theory of well-being which scientifically studies factors that promote human flourishing (Seligman, 2018). The pillars of positive psychology are defined by the acronym PERMA, which is a framework for positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (Seligman, 2018). The Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions explores positive emotion and its role to promote physical, psychological, social, intellectual and personal well-being (Fredrickson, 2001). The theory suggests the capacity to cultivate positive emotion contributes to improved long-term psychological resilience, attention, flexibility, creativity and emotional well-being (Fredrickson, 2001; Fredrickson 2013). However, 57% of healthcare professionals report negatively valanced workplace emotions due to heavy work loads, limited resources, and ongoing exposure to suffering (Batanda, 2024; Kober, 2024; Rink et al., 2023). Through principles derived from Broaden-and Build Theory, this project aims to promote emotional well-being and subsequently psychological resilience in healthcare professionals in a primary care setting. A two-week program inclusive of a didactic in Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions, and a team-based digital exercise exploring 10 core positive emotions (joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe, and love) will be implemented. A pre and post assessment (i.e., Positive Wellness Scale (DPES), and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)) will be facilitated to evaluate the perceived level of positive emotion and subsequently, psychological resilience, in primary care professionals.

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  Optimizing Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care through a Targeted Didactic

  Ravneet Dhaliwal, M.A., Behavioral Health Intern

  Background: The integration of behavioral health into primary care settings is an essential strategy for improving patient outcomes, increasing access to mental health services, and achieving the Triple Aim of healthcare.1, 2 To maximize this integration and bridge the gap for primary care providers (PCPs), targeted didactic training and continued education are pivotal. National surveys indicate that PCPs often report low comfort levels in managing psychological concerns due to a lack of formal training, despite the high prevalence of these issues in primary care. 3, 4 Brief didactics facilitated by embedded behavioral health psychologists offer an accessible, adaptable method for disseminating evidence-based information.1 However, the success of this model hinges on its feasibility within a busy clinical environment and its acceptability to the providers. Method: This quality improvement project implements a targeted didactic on sleep health, a topic identified as a high-priority interest in a preliminary provider survey at PMG Sherwood Family Medicine. The 10-minute didactic will be delivered during a scheduled monthly provider meeting to minimize disruption to clinical workflows. Following the presentation, providers will complete a brief satisfaction survey assessing the relevance of content and satisfaction. The researcher will qualitatively evaluate the feasibility of this delivery model and the barriers to implementation. Anticipated Results: It is anticipated that the targeted didactic will be rated moderately to highly acceptable and relevant to primary care practice. Expected outcomes include high provider satisfaction and a stated interest in future didactics tailored to clinic-specific needs. Qualitative results are expected to highlight the value of having embedded behavioral health experts to provide "on-the ground" specialty training that is relevant and applicable to patient care and barriers. Conclusion: This project plans to demonstrate that brief, evidence-based didactics are an effective method for enhancing behavioral health integration in primary care. By addressing specific provider identified interest areas, such as sleep health, embedded psychologists can foster a culture of continuous learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.5 Future iterations of this model could serve as a blueprint for expanding behavioral health competencies across diverse primary care teams, ultimately contributing to more holistic patient care and improved population health outcomes.

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  Evaluating the Interrater Reliability for the Intern Selection Process Done at Providence Medical Group Psychology Training Program

  Vanoosheh Ferdousian, M.A.

  Interrater reliability (IRR) is an important component of evaluation processes that involve subjective judgments, as it reflects the degree of consistency among multiple raters. In training and hiring contexts, establishing adequate IRR helps ensure that applicant evaluations are fair, systematic, and minimally influenced by individual bias. The present program evaluation examines the interrater reliability of the intern selection process at the Providence Medical Group Psychology Training Program. Specifically, this project evaluates the consistency of raters’ scores assigned to internship applicants using the program’s standardized application rating forms. Numerical ratings from multiple reviewers were collected for each applicant and analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha to assess the level of agreement among raters. The analysis focuses solely on the application review stage of the selection process; interview ratings were excluded to minimize potential bias introduced through interpersonal interactions. By examining the internal consistency of application ratings, this evaluation aims to determine whether the current scoring procedures yield reliable assessments of applicants. Findings from this project may inform future refinements to the internship selection process, including clarification of rating criteria and improvements to reviewer training, ultimately supporting a more equitable and consistent evaluation system.

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  Evaluation of Clinical Pharmacist-Led Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Service and its Impact on Hypertension Outcomes in a Primary Care Setting

  Ariel Ford, PharmD; Justin Bachman, PharmD, BCACP; and Abby Frye, PharmD, BCACP

  Abstract: Based on current hypertension treatment guidelines, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is one of the preferred methods to obtain out-of office BP measurements for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. It is considered the gold-standard for identifying white-coat hypertension, masked hypertension, and resistant hypertension. ABPM is commonly underutilized due to cost and other factors, which has the potential to contribute to hypertension treatment disparities. In 2017, a pharmacist-led ABPM service was introduced at Providence Medical Group (PMG) at St. Vincent. During the first year of use at PMG at St. Vincent, 53 patients completed ABPM, and the results were positive: 87% of pharmacist recommendations were accepted and/or implemented and 84% of patients were at their HTN goal at follow-up. Since then, pharmacist-led ABPM services have been implemented at many other PMG primary care clinics in Oregon; however, the impact of this expansion has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led ABPM services on hypertension outcomes in the primary care setting. This is a multi-center retrospective chart review that used a Slicer Dicer report to identify the total number of ABPM exams completed at PMG Oregon Primary Care clinics from April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2025. One hundred and fifty patients were randomly selected for data collection. Patients whose ABPM results were not evaluated by a clinical pharmacist or did not complete ABPM were excluded. Data collection will include baseline characteristics and demographics, reason for referral, baseline blood pressure, ABPM findings, relevant medication changes, pharmacist clinical intervention, and blood pressure findings at least six months after ABPM. Collected data will be used to assess whether pharmacist recommendations were implemented and the impact that recommendation had on blood pressure control. Results and conclusions will be shared upon completion of this clinical inquiry. (IRB exempt) Learning Objectives: Describe the impact of pharmacist-led ambulatory blood pressure monitoring services on hypertension outcomes Presentation Category: Ambulatory Care/Disease State Management

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  Assessment of medication adherence and clinical outcomes in diabetes patients After enrollment in a health-system medication assistance program

  Joshua Wood, PharmD

  Background: Prescription drug cost prices have continued to rise in recent years, putting patients under significant financial pressure. This can result in patients with limited resources being unable to access and afford life-saving medications. Despite the growing need for financial assistance, most health systems do not offer a coordinated medication assistance service to patients. Patients, in these cases, are often forced to “go it alone.” However, accessing drug manufacturer assistance programs requires knowledge about which drugs have assistance programs available, the manufacturers involved, and qualification requirements. In addition, eligibility requirements may differ from one manufacturer to another and can change with little forewarning. The entire process can be very overwhelming for patients who may be sick, elderly, or confused about how to identify what resources are available to them. In response to these challenges, our health-system medication assistance program (MAP) was developed to help patients obtain much needed medication at little to no cost. Our MAP service helps alleviate the financial burden of patients who are struggling to afford their medications due to limited insurance coverage, high copayments, or other financial constraints, thereby playing a critical role in the healthcare safety net. In the case of diabetic patients, our MAP service allows patients, who otherwise cannot afford insulins, GLP-1 agonists, and SLGT-2 inhibitors, access to these medications. This can provide cost savings, increased adherence, and better patient outcomes--saving patients thousands of dollars a year in addition to the glycemic control these medications can provide. Objective: To track adherence and clinical outcomes for diabetes patients enrolled in our MAP program Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of patients with diabetes was performed for patients enrolled in our health-system MAP program (on MAP medications: insulins, GLP1s, SGLT2s) versus patients who filled antihyperglycemic medication prescriptions before receiving MAP assistance. Modified medication possession ratios (mMPR) were calculated for patients using insulin fill history data to assess adherence. Glycemic control was determined through comparison of A1c values in the electronic health record (EHR) before and after MAP enrollment to assess clinical outcomes. Results: Data analysis for this study is ongoing. ConclusionData analysis for this study is ongoing.

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  Analysis of Hospital Readmission among PACE Participants in Oregon

  Hanna Yoon, PharmD; Sharon Leigh, PharmD, BCPS; and Alyson Bell, PharmD

  Introduction: Older adults face an elevated risk of hospitalization-associated harms, including falls, cognitive decline, and functional loss. Unplanned readmissions affect 15%–30% of Medicare beneficiaries annually and contribute an estimated $12 billion in potentially preventable costs. For programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), understanding factors that contribute to repeat or medication-related hospitalizations is critical for improving patient care, and informing pharmacist-led interventions aimed at reducing avoidable admissions. Objective: This project seeks to identify trends and potentially preventable causes of hospital readmissions among PACE participants and to evaluate opportunities for targeted interventions. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted using data from EPIC and PACE internal systems. The study included Oregon PACE participants with more than one hospitalization between January 1 and December 31, 2024. Hospitalizations occurring before PACE enrollment and elective admissions were excluded. Results: A total of 583 admissions involving patients more than one hospitalization were initially identified. After applying exclusion criteria, 449 admissions among 160 patients were included. The mean age was 74 years, 107 (66.9%) were female, 63 (39.4%) resided in adult family homes, and 16 (10.0%) were receiving palliative care. Urinary tract infection was the most common discharge diagnosis (75 admissions, 16.7%), followed by heart failure (61 admissions, 13.6%). Medication-related causes accounted for 56 admissions (12.5%), most frequently involving central nervous system agents (16 admissions, 28.6%) and opioids (10 admissions, 17.9%). Admissions were evenly distributed by month with an average of 37 admissions per month; July had the highest number (45). Among the 449 admissions, 29 (6.5%) involved a fall prior to admission, 113 (25.2%) were 30-day readmissions, and 326 (72.6%) had at least one PACE encounter within 3 days prior to admission. The estimated total cost of hospitalization for these admissions was $7,237,500. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led interventions targeting urinary tract infection prevention, central nerve system medication optimization, and close follow-up may reduce preventable readmissions in PACE participants.