Course Information
Goal | Outcomes | Materials | Access | References | Decorum | Attendance | Dress Code | Grading | Feedback
Goal
The goal of this course is for students to be introduced to the practice of pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management (MTM) via lectures and practical lab sessions. Specifically, students will begin to develop skills in medication order problem-solving and patient education. In addition to the pharmacy practice knowledge learned, students will have opportunities to enhance their communication, decision-making, team interaction and time management skills. Development of professional responsibility and behavior are also goals of the course.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the course requirements will be able to:
1. Discuss proficiently numerous topics that impact pharmacy practice such as sterile
product preparation standards, patient education, prospective drug utilization review,
physical assessment, administration of injections, communication with other health care
providers, and medication therapy management.
2. Accurately describe features of the most commonly prescribed medications such as generic
and brand names, drug class, indications, mechanism of action, usual length of therapy,
and patient information such common side effects, administration instructions, time to
effect, and contraindications.
3. Articulate challenges of a patient with a chronic illness.
4. Determine strategies to improve patient adherence to therapies.
5. Use prospective drug utilization review (ProDUR) to assess appropriateness of individual
medication orders.
6. Accurately perform pharmacy-related calculations to optimize patient care.
7. Accurately and efficiently process new and refill prescriptions, sometimes using a
prescription software processing system.
8. Accurately check peers' filled prescriptions, as a pharmacist will check a technician's.
9. Effectively educate patients about a number of medications and devices using a variety of
methods.
10. Determine strategies to prevent medication errors.
11. Accurately receive and translate transferred medication orders.
12. Accurately interpret inpatient medication orders.
13. Aseptically prepare sterile products for intravenous administration.
14. Effectively administer subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
15. Accurately take a blood pressure from ambulatory patients.
16. Prepare a SOAP note.
17. Participate in MTM activities.
18. Use time management skills effectively in order to accomplish assigned tasks.
19.
Demonstrate professional behaviors expected in professional classroom and workplace environments.
Required Materials
· Internet access, and ability to download and print various handouts
· University e-mail account
· White lab coat with name
· Professional attire (see Dress Code below)
Access of Information
In addition to materials provided in class, other necessary information will be distributed using:
1. This website: It is expected that you will be able to download and print some materials for lectures and laboratory sessions. Other handouts will be provided in class.
2. University e-mail: It is expected that each students will regularly check his/her e-mail account and respond to messages if necessary.
These systems are mandatory communication modalities among faculty and students for this course. Most materials will be able to be accessed a few days prior to their occurrence via these systems.
References
Required References
· Sigler’s Prescription Drug Cards (available in UW Health Sciences Bookstore)
Recommended References (available in the PCLC)
· Medical dictionary/medical abbreviations manual
· Nonprescription Products Patient Assessment Handbook
· Facts and Comparisons
· APhA Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs
· Numerous on-line drug information databases used in PHARM 500
Class Decorum
This is a PROFESSIONAL practice course. Course faculty strive to create a positive educational environment so that all students can achieve their potential. In turn, students are expected to conduct themselves with honor and integrity, and behave and perform as professionals-in-training, ie, demonstrate respect for course instructors, their peers and themselves; participate in all course activities with purpose and a positive attitude; and abide by course and School of Pharmacy policies.
It is important to course instructors (ie, course faculty, lab instructors and EAs) that we articulate your expectations of us and ours of you. These were derived from your and previous classes' input:
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Instructors’ expectations for students
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Students’ expectations for instructors
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Act professionally
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Act professionally
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Be dedicated, resourceful, helpful to other classmates, optimistic, proactive, and open-minded to others' differences
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Articulate clear expectations
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Be prepared and ready to learn
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Be approachable
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Be punctual for class and assignments
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Be available and willing to help
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Demonstrate a good attitude in all that we do
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Be flexible and resourceful
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Demonstrate respect for classmates, instructors, and self
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Be organized, prepared and efficient
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If you use a laptop, use it to TAKE NOTES during class - not for other, distracting activities
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Be punctual, end lectures on time
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Learn enthusiastically, be willing to ask questions
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Create fair exams and assignments
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Learn from your mistakes
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Deliver information applicable to practice
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Make the most of the course
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Demonstrate a desire to help students
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Participate in class
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Demonstrate competence and accuracy of information
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Understand that professors are not perfect
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Demonstrate consideration, respect, compassion, patience, empathy and open-mindedness toward students, similar to how patients should be treated
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Use class time efficiently
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Demonstrate enthusiasm and have a sense of humor
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Use good communication skills
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Grade fairly
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Wear professional dress
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Maintain class decorum, ie, address inappropriate behaviors
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Work hard/diligently
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Provide constructive feedback and positive reinforcement
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Work well with team members, as well as independently
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Return graded assignments and exams to students in a timely manner
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Teach effectively
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Additionally, in lectures and lab sessions, the use of cellular phones and pagers will not be allowed without the prior consent of the presiding faculty member. Students using phones during class or participating in other disruptive activities will be asked to leave out of respect for fellow students and faculty. Eating or drinking during laboratory activities, reading the newspaper, working on other courses' material, or other activities that distract from course activities are not allowed. A specified number of points ("professional points") in each lab session will be allocated toward assessment of students' professional behaviors based on the faculty and teaching assistants' observations. These points will be earned by:
· arriving and being prepared by the time class begins,
· turning in homework before class begins,
· having necessary lab documents ready to use,
· wearing proper attire (refer to Dress Code),
· efficiently working on lab activities, and
· demonstrating respect for oneself, peers, EAs and instructors.
Students determined not to have met these expectations will be made aware of that status as soon as possible and notified of the loss of the specified professional points. Additionally, students demonstrating frustration, anger, stress or other nonproductive behaviors will be asked to meet with the course coordinators to discuss the observed behaviors. Students found to have violated any of the School of Pharmacy Standards of Academic and Professional Conduct (see Student Handbook, School of Pharmacy Policy on Student Misconduct) will be dealt with accordingly.
Participation Policy
Students are expected to participate in all laboratory sessions in order to achieve learning outcomes for the course. The faculty realizes, however, that certain extenuating circumstances may occur which would prevent participation. This policy addresses those circumstances, the procedures for making-up work and allocation of points. Please read through this material carefully and direct any questions to Drs Gardner or Nowak.
Tardiness policy: It is essential that all students are physically and mentally prepared at the time class begins so that we may begin and end class on time. Just as you would for a job, if you know you may be late prior to the lab session, contact the head instructor for your lab (Tues = Dr. Nowak, Thurs = Dr. Gardner). Tardiness without prior contact will result in the loss "professional points" for that lab session.
Switching Lab Sections: SWITCHING SECTIONS IS NOT PERMITTED without the prior consent of the course coordinators, and is only allowed under extenuating circumstances.
Anticipated absences: The student must notify your head lab instructor of an anticipated absence as early as possible prior to absence. If possible, the student will be scheduled to make-up the laboratory during an alternative session the week of the absence. In the event the student will be unable to attend an alternative session, it is the student's responsibility to contact your head lab instructor about making up the laboratory assignments. Make-up assignments not completed 7 days after the absence will not be accepted.
Unanticipated absences: The student must contact your head lab instructor as soon as possible to schedule a make-up lab or to receive make-up assignments. Make-up assignments not completed 7 days after the absence will not be accepted.
Dress Code
Almost all professional pharmacy practice environments have a minimum dress code, whether it is written or unwritten. Students, instructors and education assistants in this course will be expected to dress in a professional manner while participating in lab sessions. Students not wearing clothing deemed appropriate will lose that lab session's professional points. Appropriate dress includes: blouses/shirts, non-denim pants, sweaters, dresses, skirts, closed-toed shoes (NICE tennis shoes are OK). Inappropriate dress includes: blue jeans (denim skirts OK), any type of casual hat (eg, baseball caps, fisherman hats, stocking hats), shorts, tee-shirts, any type of sweat pants or sweatshirts, short skirts, revealing blouses, halter tops, tank tops, midriffs, backless tops, fatigues, gangster apparel, tight-fitting leggings, spandex, open-toed shoes.
Grading Policies
The grading policies for this course were designed to reflect the nature of the course material and where time is spent in the course. Labs consist primarily of pass/redo assignments, graded homework assignments and professionalism points. Pass/redo assignments will be repeated until a passing score is achieved. Also, students may redo homework assignments if they achieved less than 85%. Some assignments will be graded as Honors/Pass/Redo; students will receive 2 points extra credit for each assignment in which they receive Honors. There are 8 quizzes, 1 midterm exam, 1 laboratory final exam, and 1 written final exam. The approximate distribution of points is below:
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ACTIVITY
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Approx. % of total points
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Most lab activities
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P/F
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Lab professionalism points
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10%
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Homework Assignments
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20%
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Quizzes
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15%
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Midterm Exam
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15%
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Lab Final
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20%
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Written Final Exam
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20%
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TOTAL
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100%
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Final grades will be determined using the UW Graduate School's criteria. Thus, minimum passing grade for this course is 2.7. Refer to table below:
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%
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Grade
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%
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Grade
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97-100
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4
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90-90.9
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3.3
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96-96.9
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3.9
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89-89.9
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3.2
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95-95.9
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3.8
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88-88.9
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3.1
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94-94.9
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3.7
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87-87.9
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3.0
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93-93.9
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3.6
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86-86.9
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2.9
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92-92.9
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3.5
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85-85.9
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2.8
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91-91.9
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3.4
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84-84.9
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2.7
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Course Feedback
Students will have the opportunity to provide the faculty and teaching assistants with feedback about the course in several ways:
· Make appointment with course coordinators
· "1-minute" feedback papers after most lectures
· A comprehensive course evaluation at the end of the quarter
Goal | Outcomes | Materials | Access | References | Decorum | Participation | Dress Code | Grading | Feedback
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