96815 Advanced Medication Management
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Subject handbook information prior to 2024 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
Advanced practice pharmacists are required to perform advanced medication management roles.
These include medication history taking and reconciliation, comprehensive medication review, addressing drug-related problems and adherence issues and adjusting therapy under protocol.
In addition, internationally, pharmacists are responsible for repeat and independent prescribing.
Through the use of problem-based learning this subject provides students with the knowledge and skills to make appropriate clinical decisions to perform advanced medication management roles.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 01. | Accurately take comprehensive medication histories and perform medication reconciliations. |
|---|---|
| 02. | Conduct comprehensive medication review on complex patients with multi-morbidity and/or complicating factors and develop a treatment plan or medication review report. |
| 03. | Apply the principles of motivating and facilitating behavioural change in patients. |
| 04. | Address and correct medication adherence issues and encourage lifestyle change for patients. |
| 05. | Discuss principles for effective communication with patients, carers, general practitioners and other health care professionals. |
| 06. | Counsel patients to promote self-management of medicines (where appropriate). |
| 07. | Discuss principles for achievement of effective collaborative working relationships with general practitioners, community pharmacists and other members of the healthcare team. |
| 08. | Identify, resolve and prevent actual or potential medication-related problems. |
| 09. | Adjust therapies under protocol for patients with defined medical conditions. |
| 10. | Prescribe appropriate medication for a patient. |
| 11. | Interpret laboratory tests, establish gaps in testing and request appropriate laboratory tests. |
| 12. | Follow an established protocol to provide medication and disease management services. |
| 13. | Counsel, educate and improve the health literacy of patients and their families in relation to medication management and medical conditions. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
The learning outcomes for this subject are as follows:
- Demonstrate safe and competent operational, interpersonal and clinical skills for the benefit and care of patients and the wider community. (.01)
- Reflect on the 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. (.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. (.03)
- Engage in team undertakings adopting a range of roles in diverse teams, building cohesion and maximising team contributions. (.04)
- Demonstrate sound, ethical, compassionate and respectful patient-focussed care, taking responsibility for personal health and wellbeing. (.05)
- Capably communicate to patients, their families, carers and members of the health care team, contribute to wider health education and promotion, choosing and adapting communication modes to address cultural and linguistic diversity. (.06)
- Represent pharmacy perspectives in multidisciplinary environments, and optimise patient outcomes through self- awareness and acknowledgement of the contributions of other health care disciplines. (.07)
- 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. (.08)
- Demonstrate respect and value for diverse ways of knowing, being and doing, in particular recognising the diversity of indigenous Australians, while critically reflecting on the impact of ongoing colonisation and its pervasive discourse on their health and wellbeing, and integrating this knowledge into practice. (.09)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice by providing students with an understanding of advanced medication management. This subject contributes to the following graduate attributes
Lifelong learning
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice 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 Graduate Certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice are client-focussed, ethical practitioners with the understanding and proficiency to be leaders in their profession, capable of effectively researching and communicating solutions in a global context.
Cultural competence
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice are culturally competent professionals, able to reflect on and explain their own cultural perspectives, accommodate cultural differences and achieve optimal outcomes through the adoption of a consultative approach to health care with indigenous Australians and other cultural groups.
Teaching and learning strategies
This Subject takes a patient- and health care professional case-focussed approach, supported by learning activities dealing with the theoretical underpinnings of advanced medication management and review. At the start of semester students will attend a three-day online intensive component for workshops, activities and assessments. During semester students will engage and collaborate with other students via posting on discussion boards, contributing to group activities and attending online Zoom workshops.
Strategy One Core learning:
Core learning material, activities and readings are undertaken in Canvas prior to fortnightly live and online workshops. Students will be provided with learning activities each week, including readings, discussions, reflection questions, case studies and videos that prepare them for the live and online sessions. Please ensure Canvas work is carried out prior to the live and online session so that you have spent time accessing and making sense of ideas.
Attending the live and online workshops will allow you to test these ideas and get feedback from the academic staff and peers which will further consolidate your learning.
Live and online workshops:
Fortnightly live and online workshops provide students with opportunities to participate in
discussions, role play and case-based learning activities. The activities in the workshops build on the Canvas work and allow time to clarify and ask questions on content learning. Students will work collaboratively in pairs, small groups and as a class during the workshops. Group discussions will often involve case-based learning activities.
Students will participate in role-play and learning activities to assist with the development of communication skills in preparation for clinical placement. Feedback will be provided by the teacher and by peers.
Online intensive workshops:
Students will attend a three-day intensive online block, during which they will participate in workshops that will include discussion, role play, simulation, problem-based learning activities, and practice of core medication review skills for general practice pharmacists. When medication review skills are practised, the faculty member will provide live guidance on how feedback should be provided, so that students receive immediate constructive feedback from peers and from the faculty member.
Content (topics)
The subject will cover these key areas:
- Patient centered communication and collaboration.
- Comprehensive medication review with a focus on:
- Complex cases
- Indigenous populations.
- Advanced medication review
- Principles of de-prescribing.
- Pharmacist prescribing.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Ongoing Assessable Activity
| Intent: | Throughout the semester you will have the opportunity to check your understanding of the course content via graded assessments through the Canvas platform. |
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| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 and 13 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: .01, .02, .03, .04, .05, .06, .07, .08 and .09 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Length: | Online tasks will vary in length. Details will be provided in Canvas for each assessable activity. 500 word medication review reports x 4 |
| Criteria: | Tasks are marked online or by the teacher according to the specific requirements of each task. The tasks are designed to allow assessment of the student’s ability to apply and evaluate the principles taught. |
Assessment task 2: Comprehensive Medication Review Case Report
| Intent: | To assess student abilities to conduct a comprehensive medication review and prepare a report for consideration by a GP. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 01, 02, 04, 08, 09, 10, 11 and 12 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: .01, .02, .03, .04, .05, .06, .07, .08 and .09 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | 2000-4000 words |
| Criteria: | Assessment marking criteria are available under the Assignment tab in Canvas. |
Assessment task 3: National Prescribing Curriculum Reflections
| Intent: | Completion of the NPS modules will help to develop the pharmacist’s prescribing skills and reflecting on the modules will contribute to the pharmacist’s reflective portfolio of evidence. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 05, 07, 10 and 12 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: .01, .02, .03, .04, .05, .06, .07, .08 and .09 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | 5 x 500-1000 word reflections |
| Criteria: | Assessment marking criteria are available under the Assignment tab in Canvas. |
Assessment task 4: Final Exam
| Intent: | This examination will assess student’s ability to conduct a patient medication review interview and develop a treatment plan for a patient. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 and 13 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: .01, .02, .03, .04, .05, .06, .07, .08 and .09 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 1.5 hours including 10 minute reading time:
|
| Criteria: | Assessment marking criteria are available under the Assignment tab in Canvas. |
Minimum requirements
Students are required to attend 85% of scheduled online classes
Note: Students must achieve an overall grade of 50% in the subject and submit all assessment tasks.
Required texts
Policy for Assessment of Coursework Subjects
Procedures for assessment of Coursework Subjects
Graduate School of Health Policy, Guidelines and Procedures (login required)
See weekly information on subject Canvas site.