Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

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 explores medication management for elderly patients in community, residential aged care and hospitals settings, through readings, case studies, online small group discussions and fieldwork as outlined below.

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

Patient medication history interview and medication review to be conducted in students' workplace. Home Medicines Review to be conducted under the supervision of an accredited consultant pharmacist or hospital outreach pharmacist (assistance is available with organising this for students located in Victoria, if the student does not have access to a suitably experienced pharmacist).

Assessment

Case studies, online discussions, written medication management review reports

Chief examiner(s)

Rohan Elliott