1999 Pharmacy Handbook - Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Introduction
Fees

Introduction

Ms Kirstie Galbraith
The Victorian College of Pharmacy commenced teaching the former Graduate Diploma in Hospital Pharmacy in 1978. A new Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy commenced in 1995. The course is conducted on a part-time basis over two academic years (one day per week with four one-week clinical pharmacy placements over the two years). It is the student's responsibility to arrange the necessary release time from her/his employer.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy is designed for the student to establish a knowledge base of pathophysiology and therapeutics; develop skills in critical literature evaluation; discuss issues in research methodology; and develop and demonstrate clinical practical skills.
The structure of the course combines didactic sessions at the college or hospital sites, and clinical experiential sessions, including tutorials, seminars, case histories and ward rounds.
Modules include statistics, research methodology, interpretation of clinical/laboratory data, pharmacokinetics, drug literature evaluation, drug induced disease, pathophysiology, therapeutics and clinical pharmacy.
Great importance is placed on the active participation of each of the students in seminar presentations and discussion groups. The student's performances at these seminars and tutorials is closely monitored; marks are allocated on degree of participation in session, on rapport established with colleagues, on information contributed and communication skills.
In addition to the timetabled activities, the student is expected to spend another eight to twelve hours per week on personal private study. This involves library and literature assignments, preparation of case histories, and reviewing material for upcoming lectures.

Reference books

DiPiro J T and others (eds) Pharmacotherapy: A pathophysiologic approach 3rd edn, Appleton and Lange, 1997
Evans W E and others (eds) Applied pharmacokinetics: Principles of therapeutic drug monitoring 3rd edn, Applied Therapeutics, 1992
Fauci A S and others (eds) Harrison's 'Principles of internal medicine' 14th edn, McGraw-Hill, 1998
Koda-Kimble M A and Young L Y Applied therapeutics: The clinical use of drugs 6th edn, Applied Therapeutics, 1995

Fees

Australian students - $8000 for whole course; ie $2000 per semester.