Postgraduate - UnitPGC5002 - Patient data and pharmacotherapy I

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Quota applies

This unit is quota restricted. Selection is on a first-in, first enrolled basis. For more information please contact the faculty at http://www.pharm.monash.edu.au/courses/pg-coursework/contact.html

Synopsis

This unit examines aspects of clinical laboratory data, monitoring patient signs and symptoms and issues in therapeutics. Areas covered include pharmacokinetics, clinical pharmacy, cardiology and topics in general medicine. The focus of these topics is acute care; cases will be hospital rather than community based. Students must be working in a clinical position to undertake this unit and will be required to contribute their own cases.

Outcomes

At completion of this unit it is expected that students will be able to:

• Describe the pathophysiology of selected disease states and explain the rationale for drug therapy.
• Describe the therapeutic approach to management of these disease states including reference to the latest available evidence.
• Discuss the controversies in drug therapy.
• Comment on new (investigational) approaches to drug therapy.
• Identify the patient-specific parameters relevant in initiating drug therapy, and monitoring therapy (including alternatives, time-course of clinical and laboratory indices of therapeutic response and adverse effects).
• Explain clinical interpretation of selected laboratory results in the context of patient monitoring.
• Understand, define and calculate pharmacokinetic parameters to optimise drug dosing for specific patients.
• Demonstrate clinical skills relevant to each therapeutic area being studied.

Assessment

Participation in on-line discussion(s): 30%
Assignments: 70%
Submission of a learning portfolio: pass/fail. A pass in this assessment task is required for an overall pass in this unit.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Rochelle Gellatly

Contact hours

Students are expected to allow 10-12 hours per week over the semester in study time.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy

Prerequisites

PGC5001 (VCG5011)

Prohibitions

VCG5021