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.

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.

The course is primarily delivered online by distance-learning (via Blackboard 9.1 and podcast lectures), with face-to-face evening workshop sessions at the start and end of the programme. 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:

• Initial face-to-face session: Orientation and introduction
• Hypertension
• Lipid lowering therapy
• Ischaemic heart disease
• Acute coronary syndromes and myocardial infarction
• Anticoagulation
• Cardiac arrhythmias - focus on atrial fibrillation.
• Stroke and transient ischaemic attacks
• Heart failure

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.

Closing date:

31st July 2013, for admission in September; 31st December for admission in February (biannual intake)

Contact information:

Ms. Niamh McMahon, Email: nmcmahon@stjames.ie or Cynthia Mannion cmannion@stjames.ie, Telephone: +353 1 416 2586 / 2467 Fax: +353 1 473 0596

Admission Requirements

Candidates must be registered (or eligible to be registered) with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland http://www.thepsi.ie/gns/home.aspx and work on a regular basis in community or hospital pharmacy practice (full/part-time).

Duration

12 weeks part-time