96132 Advanced Clinical Pharmacy 1
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
In a world of increasing complexity, there is a need for pharmacy practitioners who are able to focus on patient-centred care in balance complex multidisciplinary environments, such as hospitals, general practice and aged care. Students acquire skills in navigating medication supply, evaluation of new medicines in complex environments, medication reconciliation, medication chart and patient review, strategies to improve quality use of medicines, antimicrobial stewardship, medication safety, provision of medicines information and clinical decision making in complex settings. Multi-faceted learning strategies include face-to-face workshops, small group learning and online modules where students develop and practice skills and knowledge relevant for applying advanced clinical pharmacy. This subject is for students looking to position themselves for future careers in specialist roles within complex hospital, general practice and aged care settings.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 0004. | Communicate health and medication management information to patients and health care professionals in a useful and context-relevant way |
|---|---|
| 0008. | Obtain a complete medication and medical history for a patient |
| 0031. | Identify and describe key health policies relating to medicines supply and use |
| 0043. | Apply principles of medication safety to patient management |
| 0046. | Demonstrate an understanding of the essential processes involved in evidence-based practice |
| 0086. | Demonstrate an understanding of the benefits of interprofessional learning and teamwork and its potential for improving health outcomes |
| 0099. | Describe the patient-related factors affecting clinical management |
| 0100. | Integrate relevant patient, drug, disease and system factors in the selection and management of appropriate therapy for populations and individual patients |
| 0102. | Employ an evidence-based approach to patient care |
| 0106. | Apply a systematic process of inquiry to understand the patient's health problem(s) |
| 0113. | Implement practice decisions using evidence-based guidelines and/or rational therapeutic decision-making |
| 0144. | Apply a critical understanding of the process of problem-solving |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
The learning outcomes for this subject are as follows:
- Reflect on knowledge, skills and attributes required for the evaluation and integration of emerging evidence into practice, promoting the growth of personal and professional learning and the education of others (01.02)
- Analyse and synthesise knowledge of health science concepts and theory, and apply skills of scientific research and clinical reasoning to support decision-making in pharmacy practice. (01.03)
- Demonstrate safe and competent operational, interpersonal and clinical skills for the benefit and care of patients and the wider community. (02.01)
- Capably communicate to patients, their families, carers and members of the healthcare team; contribute to wider health education and promotion, choosing and adapting communication modes to address cultural and linguistic diversity. (02.06)
- Integrate into daily practice knowledge of health systems and concerns in national and global communities, with awareness of the social and cultural contexts of health to meet the diverse needs of individuals and communities. (03.07)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Lifelong learning
Graduates of the Master of Pharmacy are lifelong learners, committed to and capable of reflection and inquiry in their quest for personal development and excellence in professional practice.
Professional capacity
Graduates of the Master of Pharmacy are client-focused, ethical practitioners with the understanding and proficiency to be leaders in their profession, capable of effectively researching and communicating solutions in a global context.
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students learn through active lectures and practice-oriented learning, project-based activities and online modules. The subject consists of 5 clinical blocks, with each block comprising active lectures, online modules and practice-oriented learning. In addition, students complete a medicines information project.
Student preparation for learning: Prior to each clinical block, students complete online learning modules in Canvas to prepare for their participation in both the active group learning and practice-oriented learning sessions during the clinical blocks.
Active group learning: The group learning sessions provide foundation knowledge and preparatory material for practice-oriented learning. Attending the group learning is crucial to a full understanding of the subject content. Each clinical block includes 2 group learning sessions covering a range of topics.
Online modules: Students complete online modules that supplement the information provided via the lectures and provide background information for the practice-oriented learning activities. Students complete the modules as preparation for practice-oriented learning sessions. Students have the opportunity to discuss the modules and their role in clinical pharmacy during the corresponding active practice-oriented learning sessions
Active practice-oriented learning: Working in small groups, the active practice-oriented learning sessions give students the opportunity to practice and develop patient-focused clinical and communication skills. Each clinical block includes 2 practice-oriented learning sessions.
Project-based learning: In the clinical setting, students undertake and present a ‘real-word’ medicines information inquiry for a new medicine requested for use in a hospital setting. A two-step approach to the project is used, with students planning their approach for evaluating a new medicine to be listed on a local formulary and then following feedback on their plan, giving an oral presentation regarding their recommendations.
Structure:
- Preparation for class is approximately 3 hour per clinical block
- The course includes 5 x 2 day (6 hour) clinical blocks. Each block includes:
- 2 active group learning sessions
- 2 practice-oriented learning sessions
Content (topics)
This subject concentrates on the introduction and development of knowledge and skills relevant for clinical practice in hospital and general practice settings. Students consolidate and extend their clinical reasoning and medication review skills to encompass patient and chart review.
Topics include:
- pharmacy practice in complex pharmacy settings
- clinical decision making
- medication history taking
- reconciliation evaluation of new medicines
- clinical review and communicating with the health care team
- finding medicines information and evaluating medicines in complex settings
- medication safety and improving quality use of medicines
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Clinical Pharmacy Portfolio
| Intent: | Recognition of advanced pharmacy practice within the pharmacy profession is demonstrated through submission of a professional portfolio providing evidence of advance practice across a range of domains. The intent of this activity is to provide students with experience in the collation of a professional portfolio based upon their engagement with workshop activities. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 0031, 0046, 0086, 0102, 0106 and 0144 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 01.02 and 03.07 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
Assignment marking criteria are available under the Assessment tab in Canvas. |
Assessment task 2: Oral Presentation Plan
| Intent: | The task draws on the knowledge and skills developed in providing medicines information, evaluating medicines in complex healthcare settings and clinical decision making. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 0008, 0043, 0099, 0100, 0102, 0113 and 0144 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 01.03 and 02.01 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
Marking criteria are available under the Assessment tab in Canvas. |
Assessment task 3: Oral Presentation
| Intent: | The task builds on assessment task 2 and focuses on Communicating health and medication management information to health care professionals in a useful and context-relevant way. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 0004, 0008, 0043, 0099, 0100, 0102, 0113 and 0144 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 01.03, 02.01 and 02.06 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Length: | 10 minute presentation |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
Marking criteria are available under the Assessment tab in Canvas. |
Minimum requirements
Students are required to attend a minimum of 85% of classes.
To pass this Subject, students must achieve a minimum grade of 50%.
Required texts
Australian Medicines Handbook (available via UTS Library)
Also:
Coursework Assessments Procedures
Graduate School of Health Policy, Guidelines and Procedures (login required)
Other resources
SHPA Standards of Clinical Pharmacy Practice available at www.shpa.org.au (with complimentary student registration)
Students will have access to CIAP, the NSW Health Clinical Information Access Portal during clinical blocks.