Overview

Students will learn essential practices with our Pharmacy Syringes, Compounding Medications and Communication course. Through the first lesson on insulin and syringes, students build an understanding of the intricacies of insulin administration techniques and syringe utilization for optimal patient care. Next, they will discover the regulatory landscape and crucial considerations in compounding medications, ensuring compliance and safety in the lesson on compounding regulations and considerations. Students then dive deeper into compounding techniques in the compounding medications lesson, honing skills in preparing specialized medications tailored to patient needs. Beyond technical expertise, this course emphasizes the human aspect of pharmacy. Students learn how essential empathy is in patient interactions through lessons focusing on patient empathy, as well as communication and telephone techniques. This course integrates technical proficiency, regulatory understanding, patient-centricity, and effective communication, empowering pharmaceutical professionals with a holistic skill set crucial for exceptional patient care and successful pharmacy practice. Course Objectives included: -Explain the various types of insulin strengths and additives, syringe and needle sizing, injection sites, and insulin pumps -Discuss compounding medications, as well as the associated regulations and manufacturing guidelines -Identify the principles of compounding solids, semi-solids, powders, coloring, flavoring, ointments, and other dosage forms -Explain the importance of empathy when dealing with patients by discussing the pathophysiology of disease -Explore the communication process, the various aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, open-ended questions, and motivational interviewing

Syllabus

Module 1 - Insulin and Syringes and Compounding Regulations and Considerations

Learn about the chronic metabolic disease of Diabetes, its treatment with insulin, various types of insulin strengths and additives, syringe and needle sizing, injection sites, and insulin pumps. Additionally, become familiar with compounding medications, the associated regulations and manufacturing guidelines, ingredient standards, quality assurance and control, packaging, temperature, storage and labeling, stability and beyond-use dates, and other considerations.

Module 2 - Compounding Medications

Explore further topics related to the principles of compounding, solids, semi-solids, powders, coloring, flavoring, ointments, and other dosage forms, as well as the calculations needed for mixing specific drugs in exact dosage and strength.

Module 3 - Patient Empathy, Communication and Telephone Techniques, and Project

Convey the importance of empathy when working with patients by discussing the pathophysiology of disease and how disease processes affect the patient, as well as the ways the pharmacy technician can show empathy, acknowledge the patient's point of view, and identify and addressed the needs of the patient. Additionally, become familiar with the communication process, the various aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, open-ended questions, and motivational learning. Learn about the importance of effective telephone communication, tips for excellent customer service, and handling difficult communication. Finally, complete a Peer Review experience which serves as a capstone experience for MedCerts' Pharmacy Technician Intermediate Specialization on Coursera.