Program Overview

PHM315 Professional & Business Pharmacy Practice

The focus of this subject is on further developing professional practice and identity as a pharmacist. Students will enhance the skills and knowledge acquired during PHM215 (Pharmacy Practice 1) and prepare for PHM407 (Professional Pharmacy Practice). This involves exploring self-limiting disease conditions and their management, counseling, and patient education. Students will also explore the principles of business management and marketing and apply this by developing a business plan.

Subject Information

• Grading System: HD/FL
• Duration: Two sessions
• School: School of Biomedical Sciences
• Enrolment Restrictions: Restricted to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Pharmacy course
• Prerequisites: PHM215

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to supply, counsel, dispense, and conduct business according to ethical and legal standards in the practice of pharmacy
• be able to competently compound extemporaneous products and supply proprietary non-prescription products to ensure patient safety and quality use of medicines
• be able to competently counsel and motivate patients to change health-destructive behaviors
• be able to evaluate pharmacy business practice and operations and design potential strategies to optimize outcomes
• be able to analyze their learning needs, plan, and implement a strategy to address those needs and reflect on their performance in pharmacy practice

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Disease states and management
  • Differential diagnosis of self-limiting conditions and treatment
  • Evidence for the quality use of medicines
  • The psychology of health and disease, health belief models, and adherence
  • The impact of chronic diseases on treatment of self-limiting conditions
• Professional practice
  • Legislation relevant to the procurement, storage, supply, and sale of pharmaceutical products
  • Protocols for pharmacy only and pharmacist only medicines
  • Ethics and standards of practice
  • Complementary treatment modalities
  • Protocols for dispensing extemporaneous products
  • Communication theory and practice
  • Continuing professional development
  • Professional conduct and identity development
  • Conflict management and teamwork
• Business practice
  • The changing role of the pharmacy in Australian community health care
  • Principles of developing effective business operations: personnel, products, inventory, legislation, and risk
  • Consumer behavior
  • Key performance indicators used in pharmacy practice
  • Pharmacoeconomics

Workplace Learning

This subject contains a 20-day compulsory Workplace Learning component. Students are required to undertake Professional Placements in a Community Pharmacy environment. The student must complete placements in 2 different community pharmacies, with each placement being a minimum of 70 hours completed over 10 working days. The aim of these placements is to provide an insight into professional practice and to assist students in applying their clinical and business knowledge.

Special Resources

As workplace learning is a compulsory requirement of this subject, students will be expected to organize the following:

• Workplace learning sites complying with the School of Biomedical Sciences and CSU workplace learning guidelines and policies
• Funding for expenses related to accommodation, travel, food, etc., as part of this mandatory requirement of workplace learning.