Cardiology in Clinical Pharmacy Practice Module

Duration: 12 weeks contact time. This course is wholly online.
Closing Date: 5th January for February intake: 30th July for September intake
Course Co-ordinator: Asst. Prof. Theo Ryan
Helen Thornbury (Administrator)
Email: cardioclinpharm@tcd.ie
Telephone: Please use the email above

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Ireland. As a result, the Health Service Executive has placed a high priority on tackling this issue and has put a national strategy in place, with clinical care programmes specifically designed to address the key areas of concern. The aim of this module is to equip pharmacists with the requisite knowledge and skills to optimise management of cardiovascular patients in both the hospital and community settings and in doing so improve patient safety and pharmaceutical care of this patient group.

Course objectives

The course is intended to help pharmacists to:

Identify and critically assess the relevant factors for the management of patients with cardiovascular disease.
Optimise drug therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease
Integrate drug therapy into an overall cardiovascular disease management plan.
Provide appropriate advice to patients and other healthcare professionals regarding disease prevention, risk reduction and disease management, including drug therapy.
Manage drug therapy for a broad range of cardiovascular conditions in both hospital and community pharmacy settings.
Satisfy requirements for Continuing Professional Development.

Course structure & content

The course is primarily delivered online by distance-learning (via Blackboard 9.1 and podcast lectures). The course was developed by pharmacists and doctors from hospital and community backgrounds and will carry 5 credits under the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The course is structured as follows:

No.	Topic
	Orientation and introduction
1	Hypertension
2	Lipid lowering therapy
3	Ischaemic heart disease
4	Acute coronary syndromes and myocardial infarction
5	Anticoagulation
6	Cardiac arrhythmias - focus on atrial fibrillation.
7	Stroke and transient ischaemic attacks
8	Heart failure
9	Pharmaceutical care of cardiology patients in the community Practice dilemmas Part 1
10	Practice dilemmas Part 2
	Summary - drawing on all the above topics with emphasis on applying principles to practice

Students undertake all topics, for each of which there is a podcast lecture (with lecture slides), directed reading material, online activities and guidance for practice.

Assessment

Assessment of the course includes:

Online assignments (multiple choice questions, case studies etc.)
Casework (including online discussion fora)
Reflective portfolio

Admission requirements

Candidates must be registered (or eligible to be registered) with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Work on a regular basis in community or hospital pharmacy practice (full/part-time).