Pharmacy Internship program outline

The key components of the Monash University Pharmacy Internship program are:

• Seminars and small group workshops;
• Small group pharmacist-moderated online discussion forums;
• Open discussion forum;
• Computer assisted learning packages;
• Continuing Professional Development activities;
• Open discussion forum;
• Practise exams.

Seminars and workshops

Approximately eight days of seminars and workshops are held during the year. These occur in blocks of two days each, to minimise travel and accommodation costs for interns working in rural areas.

Topics include, but are not limited to: pharmacy law and ethics, privacy, competencies, primary healthcare and OTC medicines, communication and counselling, problem-solving, clinical pharmacy and therapeutics, new drugs, paediatrics, geriatrics, dermatology, and evidence-based practice.

Topics are addressed using a combination of lectures and interactive small group workshops, with the small group activities making up a major part of the program. The small group workshops are run in groups of 8 to 16 interns with an experienced practising pharmacist tutor for each group, giving all interns ample opportunity to participate, ask questions and raise issues that concern them.

Innovative learning methods are used in some of the workshops, such as ‘simulated patients’ (real-life ‘patients’ who participate in role play exercises to assist with development of communication and other pharmacy practice skills).

“Seminars delve deeper into certain topics such as evidenced based practice and primary care that cannot be covered so well on-line. The Seminars also allow for small group interaction in which more problem solving is undertaken.”
Marijana Putnikovic, Pre-registrant

“I found all of my tutors at the seminar to be of very high standard. They were approachable and discussions were informal enough to raise individual concerns that may not be heard in a larger setting.”
Simone Findlay, Pre-registrant

“An aspect that impressed me with the seminar was the small group settings with 'real life' patients. Great opportunity to practice counselling skills, clarify what we already know and confirm that we are in fact giving correct advice.”
Simone Findlay, Pre-registrant

Small group pharmacist-moderated online discussion forums

Small group online discussions occur in blocks over two to four weeks each. Each group consists of 10-12 interns (from a mix of hospital and community settings) and is moderated by an experienced practicing pharmacist.

The discussions address case studies and scenarios, focussing on professional practice issues and current controversies in health and pharmacy practice. Participants in each group interact with each other and the pharmacist moderator several times each week to discuss and debate the scenarios and related issues.

The discussion groups are asynchronous, which means participants contribute to them at any time rather than at a set time as occurs in a face-to-face tutorial. This allows busy people to contribute at a time that is convenient for them. The discussion groups also allow all participants to have an equal voice, which may not occur in face-to-face tutorials, and they reduce the isolation for interns working in rural areas.

“I have found the online discussions extremely useful. I can log in when I feel like it, and when it's my choice to log on I feel I am more likely to get something out of it. A broad range of topics are covered and topics can easily be revisited if there is a lack of understanding. It's also good because each pre-registrant has their own opinion on the topic and we can ask each other questions that are specific to our fields (hospital, community or other).”
Frances Walsh, Pre-registrant 2004

“On-line delivery means I can do the work at home or at work when there is a spare moment. I can spend as much or as little time on the case studies.”
Marijana Putnikovic, Pre-registrant 2004

Computer assisted learning packages

Computer-assisted learning packages and online quizzes are available for pharmaceutical calculations and pharmacy law. These allow participants to work through the topic at a time and pace that suits them, with immediate assessment and feedback. These can be used to help you prepare for the Pharmacy Board written examination.

“The online calculations and law modules were both excellent. They provided immediate feedback as to my progress at that time. I felt well prepared for the Pharmacy Board exam.”
Frances Walsh, Pre-registrant 2004

“You can do as much or as little work of the (calculations) module as you wish and it may be worked through at your leisure. Ample time is provided to complete both modules.”
Marijana Putnikovic, Pre-registrant 2004

Continuing Professional Development activities

As part of the Monash Pharmacy Internship program you need to undertake at least 20 hours of ‘approved’ Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This must include the following:

• at least 3 hours of ‘contact activity’ i.e. personal attendance at a continuing education activity where a lecture, seminar, workshop, conference, satellite broadcast or other face-to- face activity is conducted
• at least one National Prescribing Service (NPS) case study (this counts as 1 hr)
• the NPS Pharmacy Practice Review–(this counts as 4hrs).

The remaining hours can be made with ‘approved’ CPD of your choice.‘Approved’ CPD is that which is provided or accredited by a reputable professional organisation or education provider such as PSA, SHPA, ACPPM, NPS, Rural Health Education Foundation, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, or the Divisions of General Practice.

Open discussion forum

In addition to the small group online discussions, there is an open discussion forum that can be accessed by all Monash University pharmacy interns . This is great for asking questions of your colleagues, sharing ideas or experiences and discussing issues as they arise over the year. It also allows for timely course updates and notification of special events such as continuing education lectures offered by professional pharmacy organisations as well as social functions.

Practise exams

Two practise oral examinations, in a format similar to the Pharmacy Board of Victoria oral examination, are provided to each intern's preceptor prior to the Pharmacy Board examination. Instructions on how to administer the exam, and an answer guide, are also provided.

The purpose of this is to provide interns with an opportunity to do a practise exam under exam-like conditions so they can become more comfortable with the examination process, and identify strengths and weaknesses to focus on in the lead-up to the Pharmacy Board oral examination.

Many hospital pharmacy interns already have the opportunity to do a practise exam, whereas most community interns do not. Provision of this exam ensures all interns have the opportunity to do a practise exam.

An online practise APCAT exam is also provided.