PGC5116 · Geriatric disease state management

Overview

Upon completing this unit, you will develop specialist knowledge and skills in the management of common medical syndromes affecting older people. The unit will focus on pharmacotherapeutics, medication-related problems and the role of pharmacists in the management of older patients with common geriatric syndromes. This unit assumes that you have a pre-existing understanding of the basic principles of medication management and pharmacy practice for older people. If you have not completed PGC5115 Geriatric Pharmacy Practice, some pre-reading will be provided by the unit coordinator.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

This unit contains one or more competency hurdle assessment tasks that you must successfully complete to be able to pass the unit. You have one attempt, plus an additional assessment capped at 50% of the available marks for the task, to demonstrate your competency in the competency hurdle assessment task. If you fail to meet the hurdle requirement, you will receive a fail grade for the unit regardless of the total marks you achieve.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Identify effects of ageing, disease and medications on cognitive function, falls and balance, bone health, bladder and bowel function and pain
2. Provide evidence based recommendations and interventions to prevent and manage: cognitive disorders, falls, dizziness, osteoporosis, bladder and bowel problems and pain in older people in the context of best evidence
3. Communicate effectively (oral and written) with patients, carers and other health professionals to complete clinical medication reviews and develop and implement medication management plans.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled online learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average 10-12 hours of learning activities per week, including teacher directed learning, independent study and reading time, participation in online discussions, research and preparation for assignments.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.