Learning Outcomes for the Pharmacy Technology Program
First: Knowledge
This refers to the theoretical and practical knowledge that students must acquire, be able to recall, and explain:
♦ Basic Medical Knowledge:
• Understanding the principles of anatomy and physiology to understand how medications affect different body systems.
• Understanding the fundamentals of microbiology and immunology to understand the nature of infectious diseases and the mechanisms of action of antibiotics and vaccines.
♦ Specialized Pharmacological Knowledge:
• Pharmacology: Knowledge of drug classes, their scientific and trade names, indications for use, and common side effects.
• Pharmaceutics: Understanding different pharmaceutical forms (topical, oral, injectable) and drug physics (solubility, stability, and absorption).
♦ Administrative and Organizational Knowledge:
• Professional Laws and Ethics: Knowledge of local and international regulations governing the dispensing of medications, especially controlled and psychotropic drugs.
• Drug Inventory Management: Understanding scientific storage systems (such as the cold chain for biological drugs), inventory methods, and expiration date assessment.
Second: Skills
This refers to the ability to apply theoretical knowledge and translate it into practical applications. It encompasses several aspects:
♦ Cognitive and Mental Skills
• Pharmaceutical Calculations: The ability to calculate dosages with extreme accuracy based on weight or age, and to calculate dilution ratios for concentrated solutions.
• Rapid Verification and Analysis: Reading and decoding complex prescriptions, and identifying potential dosage errors or drug interactions before dispensing.
♦ Practical and Professional Skills
• Pharmaceutical Compounding: Preparing compounded medications (such as emulsions and specialized ointments) accurately and according to good laboratory standards.
• Sterilization Techniques: Assisting in the preparation of intravenous solutions, artificial nutrition, and oncology drugs within hospital sterilization rooms.
• Technical Operations: Using modern software for pharmacy management and electronic patient medical records.
♦ Communication and Interaction Skills
• Patient Guidance: Simplifying complex medical information for the patient (method of use, dosage schedules, and symptoms that necessitate discontinuing the medication).
• Inter-Medical Communication: The ability to communicate professionally and clearly with doctors and nurses to resolve any issues related to the prescription.
Third: Values
These are the emotional, ethical, and behavioral aspects that ensure the safe and humane practice of the profession, and are considered paramount in the healthcare sector:
♦ Honesty and Professional Responsibility:
• Absolute commitment to accuracy; a dosage error can be life-threatening.
• Immediate acknowledgment of medication errors (if they occur) and adherence to correction protocols without hesitation.
♦ Maintaining Confidentiality and Privacy:
• Protecting patients’ secrets and medical data and not sharing them except within the context of official treatment.
♦ Empathy and Patient-Centered Care:
• Demonstrating good listening skills and patience, especially with the elderly, people with disabilities, or patients experiencing severe anxiety.
♦ Integrity and Resistance to Pressure:
• Refusal to dispense controlled medications (narcotics or psychotropic substances) without a valid, officially approved prescription, regardless of the pressure exerted.
♦ Self-Development and Continuous Learning:
• Belief that the field of pharmacy is constantly evolving, and a commitment to staying informed about new drug updates, recalls, and medical warnings.