Independent Prescribing Course for Pharmacists
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
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Aims
This course aims to deliver competent non medical prescribers who can provide an independent and supplementary prescribing service which is safe and effective and takes into account the needs of patients, the professions and the relevant health organisations.
We will:
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Meet the requirements of the GPhC indicative syllabus for pharmacist independent prescribing (Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing)
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Support experienced practitioners to review and reflect on their current practice, to enable them to determine what skills, knowledge and attitudes they personally need to develop in order to become independent prescribers.
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Enable practitioners to evolve an expertise in the art and science of prescribing.
This integrated multi-professional course will enable healthcare professionals to take on the role of an independent and/or supplementary prescriber. Pharmacists and nurses are taught together to facilitate multidisciplinary working. The GPhC and the NMC publish an indicative syllabus and learning outcomes which informs the curriculum. The indicative syllabus does not include teaching on specific clinical topics.
The professional bodies require that the course provide 26 days teaching and learning and a minimum of 12 (x 7.5 h) days in practice spent with a designated medical practitioner.
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Entry requirements
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Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
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At least two years appropriate patient orientated experience in a hospital, community or primary care setting following their pre-registration year.
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Have the agreement of a medical practitioner (doctor) to act as their Designated Medical Practitioner/mentor during their twelve days in practice.
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Written endorsement of the employer and/or sponsor whose patients they are going to prescribe for to indicate they have identified an area of clinical practice where independent/supplementary prescribing is required. In the acute sector, this would be the NHS hospital or private hospital that employs them. In primary care/community pharmacy this would be their local PCT.
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Written endorsement from their employer and/or sponsor that they have up to date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to their intended prescribing area.
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Able to demonstrate how they reflect on their own performance and take responsibility for their CPD.
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Requirements for being the Designated Medical Practitioner
The Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) has been defined as a medical practitioner, usually a doctor, but can also be a dentist.
The DMP must be recognised by the employing / Health service commissioning organisation. The DMP needs to work within a GP practice and be either vocationally trained or in possession of a certificate of equivalent experience from the Joint Committee for Post-graduate Training in General Practice or is a specialist registrar, clinical assistant or a consultant within a NHS Trust or other NHS employer.
The DMP must also be experienced in the relevant field of practice with normally at least three years recent clinical experience for a group of patients or clients in the relevant field of practice. They must have had training and experience in the supervision and assessment of trainees.
The DMP needs to agree to provide, supervise and support the period of learning in practice (12 x 7.5h) to allow the pharmacist to develop competence in prescribing practice. They must be willing to participate in the assessment process of the pharmacist independent prescriber. They must have the support of the employing organisation or GP practice to act as the DMP.
Please note DMPs are required to attend a two-hour training session (please see dates below).
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Teaching and learning styles
The course uses self-directed learning, problem based learning and multi-professional seminar teaching. These teaching styles are considered to be suitable for independent professionals and clinical specialists.
The learning materials are divided into twelve modules and are delivered online. Participants can study this material in their own time either at home, in their workplace or in the university, thus providing a flexible approach to learning. Each module directs participants to web-sites and academic literature related to the topic under discussion and sets tasks for them to complete.
The compulsory multidisciplinary three-hour seminars take place within the first 12 weeks of the course. These are designed to further develop the learning experience by; discussion of points raised from the web-based exercises, the provision of further information relevant to the weekly module and the undertaking of group exercises. In order that the requirement of 26 days of teaching and learning are met, participants are advised that the time demands of the course are much greater than 3 hours per week. We strongly recommend that one to two days are put aside each week to complete the course learning materials and the portfolio.
The minimum of twelve days (12 x 7.5h) 'in practice' carried out under the supervision of the DMP must be undertaken during the six month course.
Participants sit the OSCE and two hour written exam after the first term. During the second term participants complete their required practice days and continue to have access to online materials and support. Within this period there are dedicated online seminars and one final half day’s College attendance to prepare for portfolio submission.
All participants are asked to complete a reflective practice portfolio relating to their time in practice, and it is suggested that within this document reference is made to both the theoretical as well as the practical aspects of their learning. This helps develop reflective practice skills, and supports the development of the practitioner’s CPD skills.
The course covers all aspects of independent / supplementary prescribing in relation to the following:
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Legal Aspects
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Clinical Decision Making
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Clinical Pharmacology
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Issues related to diagnosis
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Influences on prescribing and achieving concordance
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Clinical effectiveness
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Clinical governance
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Ethics in practice
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Professional accountability
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Medical examination/consultation skills
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Public health issues
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CMP writing
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Assessment
Participants are assessed in the following ways a pass mark must be achieved in all three elements.
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A two hour written examination
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An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
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The presentation of a reflective practice portfolio recording the individuals learning from their minimum 12 (x 7.5h) days in practice
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Attendance
Seminars are normally held on Tuesdays, mornings or afternoons (you will only need to attend one session). The seminars have a different theme each week which is related to the modules that are in the web based learning materials. Attendance at these seminars is COMPULSORY and it is expected that annual leave will not be taken throughout these days.
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Dates 2012/13
The next courses will commence in September 2012 and January 2013. Please see course dates below. Seminars are normally held on Tuesday mornings or afternoons (you will only need to attend one session). The seminars have a different theme each week which is related to the modules that are in the web based learning materials. Attendance at these seminars is COMPULSORY and it is expected that annual leave will not be taken throughout these days.
1st Occurrence
Annotation indicates full (F) or half (H) day
24 and 25 September, 2, 16, 30 October (F)
1, 9, 16 and 30 October; 6, 13, 20 and 27 November; 4 December 2012 and 21 March 2013 (H).
Online tutorials: 7 February and 7 March 2013.
Designated Medical Practioner training sessions
Tuesday 2 October 2012: 11.00 to 13.00
Tuesday 2 October 2012: 14.00 to 16.00
Key dates
OSCE: 4 January 2013
Written exam: week beginning 7 January 2013 (TO BE CONFIRMED)
Portfolio submission: 16 April 2013
2nd Occurrence
7, 8 and 15 January 2013 (F)
22 and 29 January; 5, 19 and 26 February; 5, 12, 19 and 26 March and 2 July 2013 (H).
Online tutorials: 21 May and 11 June 2013
Designated Medical Practioner training sessions
Tuesday 15 January - 11.00 to 13.00
Tuesday 15 January - 14.00 to 16.00
Key dates
OSCE: 10 May 2013
Written exam: week beginning 6 May 2013 (TO BE CONFIRMED)
Portfolio submission: 16 July 2013
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Fees
The current course fee is is £1,850
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How to apply
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All applicants should complete the relevant application form within the King's Applications Portal - http://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/pharmacy-practice:
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All applicants are also required to complete an additional information form and upload it to your application form. Please ensure all signatures are included on the form.
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Further information
For further information, please email Naomi Britton, Postgraduate Officer. naomi.britton@kcl.ac.uk
or
Dr Cate Whittlesea, Course Leader, Email: cate.whittlesea@kcl.ac.uk , Tel: 020 7848 4796