P6002 - Master of Clinical Pharmacy - 2017

The course is designed to enable students to advance their skills in the provision of clinical pharmacy services to patients with complex clinical needs. It has a focus on evidence based practice and quality use of medicine. The learning experience is student driven and patient focused. It allows students to select units related to various areas of pharmacy practice or to select a more research focused stream where they will undertake a practice based research project.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students, in the context of patients with complex clinical needs, will be able to:

1. integrate a high level of knowledge, critical analysis, problem solving, and evidence based decision making into clinical practice
2. implement principles of quality use of medicines
3. critically evaluate literature to develop research questions
4. synthesise clinical and research information to communicate with a range of health care professionals and patients
5. demonstrate leadership and innovation in clinical practice
6. reflect on learning and performance to formulate ongoing professional practice development.

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Core master's studies and Part B. Advanced studies.

Part A. Core master's studies

In these studies you will gain an understanding of evidence based practice and develop the skills for incorporating evidence into patient care. You will develop knowledge and skills for patient care including aspects such as clinical laboratory data, monitoring patient signs and symptoms and issues in therapeutics. You will also gain the ability to reflect on your level of performance on practice and identify means to further advance your practice.

Part B. Advanced studies

In these studies you will choose a stream to suit your interests and career aspirations. You have two options:

1. a coursework stream where you select the units to suit your own interest. These studies cover aspects of pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacy, economics related to health care and wound care relevant to pharmacy.
2. a coursework and research stream where you will follow a set study plan that will help you gain specialist clinical knowledge in addition to advanced skills in research and clinical pharmacy practice.

   Students completing option b. must have achieved a minimum grade of 65 per cent in PGC5101 (Evidence based practice) during core master's studies. You must also achieve a minimum grade of 65 per cent in MPH5020 (Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics). In addition, you will be required to demonstrate that you are engaged in patient care activities and have appropriate research support from your workplace which will enable you to engage fully with the program.

The course comprises 72 points structured into two parts: Part A. Core master's studies (18 points) and Part B. Advanced studies (54 points).

• Students admitted at entry level 1 complete 72 points, comprising Part A (18 points) and Part B (54 points).
• Students admitted at entry level 2 complete 48 points, comprising Part A (18 points) and 30 points from Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete the higher credit-point option.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/maps/map-p6002.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Part A. Core master's studies (18 credit points)

All students complete:

Within the first three units of study:

• PGC5101 Evidence based practice*
• PGC5102 Patient data and pharmacotherapy 1

Within the final two units of study:

• PGC5119 Advanced practice portfolio

Part B. Advanced studies (54 credit points)

Students complete either a. or b. below:

a. Coursework

Students complete:

• 30 or 54 points (depending on their entry level) from the elective lists A and B below.

b. Coursework and research

Students complete:

• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics*
• PGC5107 Introduction to clinical research
• PGC5108 Clinical research 2
• PGC5109 Clinical research 3
• 6 or 30 points (depending on their entry level) from the elective lists A and B below

* Students who do not achieve a minimum grade of 65 per cent in PGC5101 and MPH5020 will be automatically moved into the coursework stream.

Elective list A

Note: Students cannot undertake more than 12 points of electives from list A without prior approval from the course director.

• ECC5970 Introduction to health economics
• ECC5971 Pharmaceutical economics
• ECC5973 Economic evaluation in healthcare
• ECC5975 Principles of health economics for developing countries
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics

Elective list B

• PGC5103 Patient data and pharmacotherapy 2** or PGC5110 Infectious diseases pharmacotherapy
• PGC5104 Patient data and pharmacotherapy 3**
• PGC5107 Introduction to clinical research
• PGC5113 Dermatology
• PGC5115 Geriatric pharmacy practice
• PGC5116 Geriatric disease state management
• PGC5117 Mental health
• PGC5118 Palliative Care
• PGW5201 Principles of wound healing
• PGW5202 Wound assessment
• PGW5203 Wound management principles
• PGW5204 Acute and chronic wounds
• up to 12 credit points of complementary units***

** Enrolment into this elective is subject to approval. Students are also required to be working in an Australian or a New Zealand hospital clinical setting. Other applicants must contact the course director.

*** Units will be assessed by the course director, to ensure the proposed units are not substantially similar to units offered within the faculty and offer equivalency of content and learning outcomes, and whether there is significant educational advantage for the proposed program of study.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in the master's course:

• Graduate Certificate of Clinical Pharmacy after successful completion of 24 points of study including PGC5101 and PGC5102
• Graduate Diploma of Clinical Pharmacy after successful completion of 48 points of study including PGC5101 and PGC5102.

Students completing the coursework and research stream may be eligible to progress to a higher degree by research program.