Module Description
This module provides an introduction to the layout of pharmacy in Ireland and its place within the Irish Healthcare System. The Pharmacy Act 2007 which provides the overarching legislative framework for pharmacy in Ireland will be covered along with reference to the Irish Statute Book including the various legal classifications of medicines in Ireland. The role of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) as the regulator of pharmacy will be covered along with reference to PSI guidelines. The module will develop the counselling and communication skills of the students and will have a particular focus on conditions that present at the OTC counter and medicines used to treat them. The importance of recognising warning signs and conditions which need to be referred to the pharmacist will be a core goal of the module. Develop the student's pharmaceutical calculations skills by working through examples from both community and hospital pharmacy.
Module Aims
To give the students a deep understanding of the structure of pharmacy in Ireland and its place within the healthcare system. To develop the students understanding of the role the PSI play as the regulator of pharmacy in Ireland and how to understand and adhere to guidelines issued by them. To enable students to comprehend how medicines are regulated and licensed in Ireland and the EU including understanding the role of the HPRA (Human Products Regulatory Authority) and the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in this process. To enable students to develop their communication skills so as to allow them to interact with other healthcare professionals and to develop their patient counselling skills. To ensure safe and accurate collection of information so as to allow appropriate product recommendations but also to recognise warning signs and conditions which require referral to the pharmacist. To enable the students to give suitable and appropriate counselling and advice on the wide range of conditions that present at the OTC counter. To instruct students in dispensing procedures and practices, pharmacy computer systems and interpreting prescriptions. To ensure a high level of engagement with pharmaceutical calculations and a high proficiency in numeracy.
Contemporary role of the pharmacy technician within healthcare framework.
Medical terminology.
Recognition of common illnesses
Distinction between minor illness and major disease
Referral of therapeutic problems to the pharmacist
Common conditions that present at the OTC counter and drugs used to treat them and patient counselling.
Legislation relating to pharmacy, to include Medicinal Products, Misuse of drugs act and regulations
Poisons legislation, Animal remedies legislation, Family Planning Legislation and Methylated SpiritsLegislation. Legal classification of medicines in Ireland and the Irish Statute Book
Dispensary theory, procedures and protocols.
Verification and submission of prescriptions for payment from government schemes
Pharmacy IT System Solutions ' McLernons and Helix Quick Script.
Maintaining patient medical records
Structure of a prescription
Pharmaceutical abbreviations.
Calculations relating to dosage, frequency, quantity, total volume required, mg/kg doses etc
Medicine labelling; record keeping; packaging and containers.
Appropriate and inappropriate ethical and professional behaviour.
Communications
Identifying patient needs. Listening .Questioning .Explaining .Sensitivity and Confidentiality.
Practical Sessions
Set up pharmacy with OTC products and prescription medication
Presentations on product groups including indications, contraindications and dosage etc
Role plays on different scenarios - different illnesses different types of people - children, elderly, special needs.
Different symptoms-warning symptoms. Supervisor plays the part of the customer.
Introduce a questioning structure to ascertain whether to recommend an appropriate product or refer to Pharmacist.
WWHAM method of questioning a patient/customer to gain suitable information in order to treat or refer used at the OTC counter. (Who is it for, What are the symptoms, How long have they had the symptoms, Action already taken to treat symptoms, Medicines being taken for other medical conditions)
Calculations quiz
Latin abbreviation quiz.
Legal requirements of a prescription
Legal requirements of a label, Producing accurate labels
Classroom analysis or video to study peers to discuss whether correct course of action was followed.
Mock prescriptions some with missing legal requirements. Students to annotate to make them legal.
Students have two prescriptions which they have to complete an exercise on, from annotating missing legal requirements right through to producing labels, dispensing the product and recording necessary information.Could follow this up with some basic counselling for certain types of common prescription medicines eg. Antibiotics
Presentations on product groups including indications, contraindications and dosage etc
Context based learning. Reflection, Role Plays, Mock Prescriptions, Case Studies
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |