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    Overview

    Provides students with the principles and applications that underpin pharmacist prescribing with a special focus on healthcare access and equity.

    This paper will begin equipping pharmacists to take on the role of an independent prescriber in their area of practice.

    You will learn from doctors, pharmacists, and nurses from a range of backgrounds and discover how to apply core prescribing skills including history taking, physical assessment and clinical reasoning. Our course content and assessments will reflect the most up-to-date practice which will support you as a newly qualified pharmacist prescriber in your workplace.

    We offer a blended learning model comprising of flexible e-learning with work-based education that fits around you.

    About this paper

    Paper title Special Topic: Pharmacy Prescribing: Access and Equity
    Subject Pharmacy
    EFTS 0.2500
    Points 30 points
    Teaching period(s) Semester 1 (Distance learning)
    Semester 2 (Distance learning)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $3,103.25
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Eligibility

    This paper is for practicing pharmacists, looking to extend their role and scope of practice. There is a requirement that you have at least two years of post-registration patient-focused experience in a hospital, community or a primary care setting.

    Contact

    pharmacy.postgrad@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff

    Paper coordinator: Associate Professor Alesha Smith

    Paper Structure

    The paper is made up of five modules:

    • Health Assessment and Clinical Skills
    • Clinical Decision-Making Skills
    • Equity in Health
    • Monitoring
    • Prescribing
    Teaching Arrangements

    This paper will be using a blended learning model, offering virtual lectures/workshops, self-paced online learning, and face-to-face workshops.

    Textbooks

    Text book list is available at Home - Pharmacy - LibGuides at University of Otago

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised

    Communication, Critical Thinking, Cultural Understanding, Ethics, Information Literacy, Research, Teamwork.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete the paper will:

    • Optimise medicines related health outcome.
    • Explain the responsibilities of the pharmacist prescriber.
    • Demonstrate methods of effective communication.
    • Develop and maintain therapeutic and collaborative relationships.
    • Undertake a relevant clinical examination.
    • Integrate clinical knowledge into prescribing behaviour.
    • Use and interpret basic diagnostic aids.
    • Competently use diagnostic aids and monitor response to therapy.
    • Formulate a treatment plan.
    • Apply clinical assessment skills to:
      1. inform a working/confirmed diagnosis
      2. formulate a treatment plan
      3. prescribe one or more medicine/s if appropriate
      4. conduct a checking process to ensure patient safety
      5. monitor response to therapy, review the working/differential diagnosis and modify treatment or refer / consult / seek guidance as appropriate
    • Demonstrate a shared approach to decision making by assessing patients’ needs for medicines, taking account of their wishes and values and those of their carers when making prescribing decisions.
    • Recognise, evaluate and respond to influences on prescribing practice at individual level.
    • Prescribe safely, appropriately and with awareness of costs.
    • Maintain accurate, effective and timely records.
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the public health issues related to medicines use.
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the legal, ethical and professional framework for accountability and responsibility in relation to prescribing.
    • Work within clinical governance frameworks.

    Timetable

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught through Distance Learning
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Semester 2

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught through Distance Learning
    Learning management system
    Blackboard
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