PharmTechX Certificate I: Leadership & Patient Care

PharmTechX Certificate I: Leadership and Patient Care

Certificate I: Leadership & Patient Care is the first certificate in the PharmTechX Program offered by the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.  The PharmTechX Program is a practice-based certificate training program developed in collaboration with three local health systems — the University of Maryland Medical System, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and MedStar Health — and taught by pharmacist educators with experience in health-system, community, and specialty pharmacy practice. This program will prepare pharmacy technicians for advanced clinical practice and leadership roles within their organizations. Using online content along with self-study, practical experiences, and interactive assessments to help pharmacy technicians advance their career at their own pace and at times most convenient for them.

In this certificate, pharmacy technicians will learn the vital role they can serve in patient care, including obtaining a comprehensive medication and allergy history, completing medication reconciliation, understanding their role in the transitions of care process, and monitoring laboratory values and understanding how these values may affect drug dosing.  Technicians will gain valuable knowledge and skills related to accreditation and safety standards, as well as federal regulations, to ensure medication safety and regulatory compliance.  Technicians will also obtain the skills needed to become an effective manager and to identify and develop their personal leadership style.  This certificate prepares technicians for the roles needed to advance not just their career but to also advance pharmacy practice.

This certificate offers up to 19.5 hours of ACPE accredited continuing education (offered in three segments) and utilizes an interactive, online learning platform allowing technicians to gain immediate access to all of the course materials once enrolled in the program, which they can complete at their own pace.

Learning Format

This program uses online content along with self-study, practical experiences, and interactive assessments to help individuals already employed as pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies to advance their practice at their own pace and at times most convenient for them.

Courses within the Program

  • Segment A
    • General Patient Management Part 1
    • General Patient Management Part 2
  • Segment B
    • Medication Safety and Regulatory Compliance
    • Transitions of Care and Practice
  • Segment C
    • Leadership

Fees & Registration:

To register, select the appropriate registration option from the drop-down menu in the right-hand column of this page. To cost for the certificate program is $40 per credit hour. The program offers two payment options from which students can choose:

  • Option 1: One-time payment covering all costs.
  • Option 2: Pay-as-you-go payment plan in which students can purchase the certificate program in segments. Certificate 1 includes three segments: A, B, and C, where Segment A includes Modules 1 and 2, Segment B includes Modules 3 and 4, and Segment C includes Module 5.
Registration Fee
Segments A, B, & C $780
Segment A Only $250
Segment B Only $325
Segment C Only $225

Visit our FAQ Page for information on Frequently Asked Questions

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.



 

Segment A

General Patient Management Part 1 and Part 2

Activity Outline:

  • General Patient Management Part I
    • Chapter 1: Effective Communication and Interviewing Skills
    • Chapter 2: Collecting a Comprehensive Medication and Allergy History
  • General Patient Management Part II
    • Chapter 1: Medication Reconciliation: The Advanced Pharmacy Technician’s Role
    • Chapter 2: Calculating Creatinine Clearance
    • Chapter 3: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this application-based activity, the learner should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate effective patient interviewing and motivational interviewing skills.
  2. Address barriers to communications with attention to verbal and nonverbal indicators.
  3. Given a patient case, conduct a patient interview to elicit accurate and relevant patient information.
  4. Record a comprehensive medication history, allergy history, and pertinent patient-specific information.
  5. Differentiate between a medication allergy and a medication intolerance.
  6. Perform a medication reconciliation given a patient narrative and prescription information collected from another source or sources.
  7. Demonstrate the appropriate role of the advanced practice pharmacy technician in identifying "Red Flags", documenting the interview, and performing a medication reconciliation.
  8. Given laboratory results correctly interpret the peak, trough, and random levels for two or more cases.
  9. Accurately identify the abnormal range for creatinine clearance and how this relates to renal dosing for two or more drugs.
  10. Given laboratory values for a patient case, calculate the creatinine clearance of that patient using both the Cockcroft-Gault equation and 24 hour urine creatinine collection methods.

Instructors:

  • Katie Kiser, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
    • Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice
    • South College School of Pharmacy
  • Amy Ives, PharmD, BCPS
    • Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
    • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Drs. Kiser and Ives, instructors for this activity, have no financial relationships to disclose.  None of the planners for this activity have financial relationships to disclose.

Segment Details:

  • Contact Hours: 6.0 Contact Hours (0.6 ECU)
  • Universal Activity Number (UAN): 0025-0000-21-021-H04-T
  • Activity Type: Application
  • Target Audience: Pharmacy Technicians
  • Initial Release: 2/17/2021
  • Anticipated Expiration: 2/17/2024
  • Successful Completion: Completion of this activity assumes participation in all activity components, including the audiovisual presentations, active learning questions, graded assessments, and activity evaluation. To successfully complete this activity and to receive CE credit, a score of 70% or greater MUST be achieved on EACH assessment. Each assessment may be taken 3 times, if needed, to obtain a passing score.

Segment B

Medication Safety and Regulatory Compliance; Transitions of Care and Practice

Activity Outline:

  • Medication Safety and Regulatory Compliance
    • Chapter 1: Principles of Medication Safety
    • Chapter 2: Management and Prevention of Medication Errors
    • Chapter 3: Key Regulations and Standards Governing Pharmacy Practice
    • Chapter 4: Guidance for Sterile and Non-sterile Compounding
    • Chapter 5: Handling Controlled Substances
  • Transitions of Care in Practice
    • Chapter 1: The Issue with Readmissions to a Hospital
    • Chapter 2: Barriers and Models for Safe Transitions of Care
    • Chapter 3: Pharmacy Technicians and Transitions of Care – How Can You Help?
    • Chapter 4: A Step-by-step Process for Transitions of Care

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this application-based activity, the learner should be able to:

  1. Describe United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapters <797> and <795> requirements.
  2. Identify federal and state regulations pertaining to pharmacy practice, as well as the agencies who enforce regulations in ambulatory and hospital settings.
  3. Discuss the role of the advanced pharmacy technician in achieving the Joint Commission quality standards and the National Patient Safety Goals.
  4. Accurately describe a culture of compliance and identify organizational strategies to prevent and mitigate medication errors.
  5. Sequence the advanced pharmacy technician's actions related to Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) at the time of dispensing.
  6. Sequence the advanced pharmacy technician's response to various levels of medication errors in the hospital and community settings, including completion of an accurate medication error report to the FDA.
  7. List 5 "high alert" medications and 5 examples of common medication errors.
  8. List the benefits to key stakeholders, including: the patient, provider, payer, and health care organization related to transitions of care services.
  9. Identify barriers to a safe, error free transition of care from the provider's pharmacist's and patient's perspective.
  10. Compare transition of care models and the pharmacy technician's role in these models.
  11. Practice step-by-step transition of care process with a patient.

Instructors:

  • Agnes Ann Feemster, PharmD, BCPS
    • Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
    • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
  • Sara Eltaki, PharmD, BCPS
    • Clinical Coordinator – Transitions of Care
    • Memorial Regional Hospital
  • Lauren Hynicka, PharmD, BCPS
    • Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
    • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Drs. Feemster, Eltaki, and Hynicka, instructors for this activity, have no financial relationships to disclose.  None of the planners for this activity have financial relationships to disclose.

Segment Details:

  • Contact Hours: 8.0 Contact Hours (0.8 ECU)
  • Universal Activity Number (UAN): 0025-0000-21-022-H04-T
  • Activity Type: Application
  • Target Audience: Pharmacy Technicians
  • Initial Release: 2/17/2021
  • Anticipated Expiration: 2/17/2024
  • Successful Completion: Completion of this activity assumes participation in all activity components, including the audiovisual presentations, active learning questions, graded assessments, and activity evaluation. To successfully complete this activity and to receive CE credit, a score of 70% or greater MUST be achieved on EACH assessment. Each assessment may be taken 3 times, if needed, to obtain a passing score.

Segment C

Leadership

Activity Outline:

  • Chapter 1: Becoming a Leader
  • Chapter 2: Mentoring and Communication for the Workplace
  • Chapter 3: Understanding a Multi-Generational Workforce
  • Chapter 4: Conflict Management
  • Chapter 5: Project Management
  • Chapter 6: Teamwork

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this application-based activity, the learner should be able to:

  1. Apply supervisory and communication skills, conflict resolution abilities and emotional intelligence in simulated work tasks and challenges.
  2. Sequence the steps in work place conflict resolution in an environment with generational and cultural differences.
  3. Apply knowledge of teams and supervision to manage projects case scenarios.
  4. Reflect on your leadership style, core values, personal strengths, and professional development goals.
  5. Using your leadership style and core values, explain how mentoring can assist you to attain your professional goals.

Instructors:

  • Ashlee Mattingly, PharmD, MPH, BCPS
    • Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
    • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
  • Agnes Ann Feemster, PharmD, BCPS
    • Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science
    • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
  • Joey Mattingly, PharmD, PhD, MBA
    • Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research
    • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Drs. Ashlee Mattingly, Agnes Ann Feemster and Joey Mattingly, instructors for this activity, have no financial relationships to disclose.  None of the planners for this activity have financial relationships to disclose.

Segment Details:

  • Contact Hours: 5.5 Contact Hours (0.55 ECU)
  • Universal Activity Number (UAN): 0025-0000-21-023-H04-T
  • Activity Type: Application
  • Target Audience: Pharmacy Technicians
  • Initial Release: 2/17/2021
  • Anticipated Expiration: 2/17/2024
  • Successful Completion: Completion of this activity assumes participation in all activity components, including the audiovisual presentations, active learning questions, graded assessments, and activity evaluation. To successfully complete this activity and to receive CE credit, a score of 70% or greater MUST be achieved on EACH assessment. Each assessment may be taken 3 times, if needed, to obtain a passing score.

Technology Requirements & Disclosures

These activities are accessed through Blackboard(R).   Unless otherwise noted in the course materials, the following are required to access online courses: A computer or mobile device with a stable internet connection and the ability to view and update Microsoft Word® and PowerPoint® documents.  

Supported Internet Browsers
  • Chrome 49 and above
  • Edge 20 and above
  • Firefox 48 and above
  • Internet Explorer 11 and above (Windows only)
  • Safari 9 and above (MacOS only)
Minimum Memory 3 GB of RAM
Minimum Storage 20 GB (or more)
Minimum Processor 2 GHz or faster
Minimum Internet Speeds Broadband internet connection
Other Participants must be able to play audio (either through speakers or headphones) as well as ability to open PDF files and view and edit Word, and PPT documents.

Privacy and Confidentiality: The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is committed to protecting the privacy of our learners. All enrollees are protected under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) (FERPA). The UMB Policy on Confidentiality and Disclosure of Student Records can be found at: https://www.umaryland.edu/policies-and-procedures/library/academic-affairs/policies/iii-630a.php.   

In order to submit your continuing education credit record to National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) CPE Monitor, we must collect personal information including, but not limited to, name, NABP ID, and date of birth. Additionally, Maryland-licensed pharmacists seeking a Contraceptive Prescribing credential must allow for submission of their activity completion record to the Maryland Board of Pharmacy.

Copyright: Resources are provided for the educational benefit of our learners and are not for distribution. All information and materials provided are the property of and have been prepared by the University of Maryland Baltimore or have been granted permission for use by the copyright owner.  No portion of this module may be reproduced or transmitted without written permission.  All rights reserved.

Use of Trade Names:  The trade names of the drugs and delivery systems in this module are for the purpose of product identification only. This activity does not intend to imply endorsement for any commercial products discussed.

Refund Policy

  • A refund, less a $75 administration fee, will be made if cancellations are made within 15 days of purchase. Other restrictions may apply.
  • Refund requests must be submitted in writing to CEHelp@rx.umaryland.edu.
  • Refunds are not available in the following circumstances:
    • A learner has logged into a course or series;
    • A learner has launched course materials;
    • Course materials have been shipped; or
    • Request is made after 15 days of the ordering date.
  • Course registrations are non-transferrable.

Questions?  Review the Frequently Asked Questions page.  Can't find what you are looking for?  Contact Customer Service at CEHelp@rx.umaryland.edu or 410-706-3381.