Courses
Community Pharmacy Assistant-2024/2025
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| PSYC-1044 | Personal & Working Relationship | 3 | ||
| This course is designed for students to understand the principles and dynamics of personal and working relationships. Emphasis will be on perception of self, attitude and interpersonal problems. The principles introduced from this course will be used in various teaching methods to give students the opportunity to reflect on the processes relevant to their normal personal and professional relationships. | ||||
| PHRM-1047 | Community Pharmacy Practice 1 | 4 | ||
| This course will connect core pharmacy concepts to their practical application, with a specific focus on the community pharmacy practice setting. The student will be introduced to pharmacy workflow and terminology, including Latin/medical abbreviations, dosage forms, routes of administration, and packaging systems such as medication adherence aids. Emphasis will be placed on drug interchangeability, non-proprietary names, brand names, and therapeutic classes of common pharmaceutical products. Ontario's provincial healthcare program, Ontario Drug Benefit, will be introduced, including various plans (Seniors Plan, OHIP+, Trillium, etc.) that fall under the provincial umbrella. With an emphasis on patient safety, the student will practice submitting medication incidents through the provincial error-reporting system, and discuss prescription forgeries, pharmacy robberies and Canada's burgeoning opioid crisis. Practice within the retail pharmacy simulation labs will include interpretation and processing of prescriptions using pharmacy software systems, interactions with simulated patients, professional communication in practice, utilization of pharmaceutical resources, and various simulated scenarios. | ||||
| PHRM-1001 | Pharmacy Fundamentals | 3 | ||
| The student will be introduced to the practice of pharmacy including historical, ethical, professional and legal issues that influence pharmacy technicians and their practice. An overview of relevant federal and provincial legislation including regulation of drugs and controlled substances will be presented. The evolving role of the pharmacist and pharmacy technician as part of the intra and interprofessional health team will be explored. | ||||
| MATH-1051 | Pharmaceutical Mathematics | 3 | ||
| The student will review basic fundamental math skills necessary in dosage calculations. Students will learn to convert within and between the systems of measurement in order to prepare prescriptions for administration. Dosage calculations for special populations and parenteral administration will be introduced. In addition, calculations required for compounded products will be introduced and practiced. Emphasis will be on increasing the students analytical skills to ensure accuracy in the calculation of medication orders. | ||||
| COMP-1549 | Computers in Pharmacy | 1 | ||
| In this introductory course, an overview on the use of computers and information technology in the pharmacy will be presented. The student will practice basic and advanced word processing skills for document creation, utilize graphics presentation software to create and organize effective presentations and create spreadsheets, charts and reports. Pharmacy software processes will be reinforced and expanded upon to include report functionality with respect to patient care, and reduce the potential for medication error. Students will be expected to communicate professionally with their peers, technologists and faculty that is in line with current pharmacy practice standards. | ||||
| WRIT-1048 | Reason & Writing 1 for Health Sciences | 3 | ||
| This course will introduce health sciences students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
| Level 2 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| PHRM-1075 | Compounding in Community Practice | 3 | ||
| In this course the pharmacy assistant student will learn how to accurately calculate, weigh, measure and mix ingredients for compounded pharmaceutical products. In conjunction with the NAPRA standards for pharmacy compounding of non-sterile preparations, the student will gain practical experience in preparing a variety of products (suspensions, lollipops, lip balms, rectal suppositories, animal treats, troches, capsules, creams/ointments/gels, etc.) typically prepared in a community pharmacy practice setting. Students will also take part in a mandatory two-day workshop provided in partnership with Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA), where the student will have the opportunity to work with specialized compounding equipment and receive a certificate from PCCA upon completion. | ||||
| PHRM-3034 | Immersive Learning Experiences | 1 | ||
| As a complement to community field placement, this culminating course will facilitate dynamic and immersive simulation experiences for pharmacy assistants. Students will elevate their patient communication skills by navigating difficult conversations, ethical dilemmas, and de-escalation tactics through authentic patient scenarios and use of immersive technologies. Through various interdisciplinary sessions, students will experience challenging practice settings to promote collaboration within diverse healthcare teams. Patient advocacy will also be emphasized, with a particular focus on marginalized populations and the promotion of pharmacy practice models that respect and support Indigenous healthcare, and other equity-deserving groups. Hands-on learning will include experience with various medical devices, home diagnostic tests, and other supportive devices utilized in activities of daily living (ADLs). Students will also take part in VR-based interviewing sessions, to facilitate practice opportunities in otherwise daunting interview scenarios, and implement rich feedback as preparation for entry-to-practice in the field of pharmacy. | ||||
| PHRM-1076 | Pharmacologic & Non-Pharmacologic Ther | 3 | ||
| The course introduces students to the supportive role of the pharmacy assistant within both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment pathways. The physiology of prevalent health conditions and associated disease states will be explored with a focus on understanding the pharmacotherapeutics of various treatment options. The discussion of both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) products will foster an understanding of available options within the Canadian healthcare market, such that students recognize opportunities to empower patient autonomy over their health, while also appropriately identifying instances requiring pharmacy technician and pharmacist intervention. | ||||
| PHRM-3029 | Applied Community Practice | 2 | ||
| This advanced community practice course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in various aspects of pharmacy operations, reimbursement systems, and professional ethics. This course integrates theoretical learning with practical experiences, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary pharmacy practices. Students will learn the intricacies of navigating provincial and federal reimbursement systems (Ontario Drug Benefit, Non-Insured Health Benefits, Interim Federal Health, Medavie Blue Cross, WSIB, etc.) and gain an understanding of third-party claims processing for both public/private claims, coordination of benefits, and professional services. Various simulations will be explored to support the community placement experience, enabling students to strengthen their understanding of pharmacy workflow, analyze various ethical scenarios and explore strategies for maintaining patient privacy while adhering to professional standards. The course also includes a dedicated session on long-term care processes and associated pharmacy automation; students will take part in a structured tour at MediSystem (London) to observe these processes and engage in specialized medication management within this unique healthcare setting. This culminating course provides students with a strong foundation for success in the dynamic field of pharmacy, preparing them for future professional practice and continued growth in the pharmacy profession. | ||||
| FLDP-1027 | Community Placement | 3.6 | ||
| The Pharmacy Assistant student will apply pharmacy theory in a practical hands-on training in a community pharmacy practice environment. Communication, pharmacy business practice, prescription processing and compounding skills will be reinforced during this field placement course. Emphasis will be on accuracy and completeness of all processes. | ||||
| Program Residency | ||||
| Students Must Complete a Minimum of 8 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program | ||||