VCP5015 - Geriatric pharmacy practice

Leader(s): Rohan Elliott

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Off-campus)
Parkville Second semester 2009 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Geriatric pharmacy practice is an elective unit in the Masters and Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice. The unit will help students develop specialist knowledge and skills in geriatric pharmacy practice and medication management reviews. The unit will explore medication management for elderly patients in community, residential aged care and hospitals settings. Students undertake a Home Medications Review under the supervision of an accredited pharmacist and a patient medication history interview and medication review in their own workplace.

Objectives

To provide students with an understanding of:

• the demographics and epidemiology of older Australians
• the Aged Care health system
• medication use, medication-related problems and adverse medication outcomes in the elderly
• physiological changes that occur with ageing and their impact on drug therapy
• principles of prescribing for the elderly
• ability to undertake medication management reviews for elderly patients, as part of a multidisciplinary team, in community, residential care and hospital settings

Fieldwork

Home Medication Review under the supervision of an accredited consultant pharmacist or hospital outreach pharmacist. Assistance is available with organising this, if the student does not have access to a suitably experienced pharmacist.

Assessment

Case studies, online discussions, written medication management review reports