Program Essential Competencies
General Program Essential Competencies
Learner Outcome
What is expected that a student will know or be able to do as a result of a learning activity; a learner outcome must be measurable and quantifiable.
Competency Number 1: Demonstrate Critical Thinking and Decision-Making Skills
Learner Outcome
Identify and prioritize problems.
Evaluate possible solutions for feasibility and appropriateness.
Assess choices and make modification based on the outcomes.
Apply critical thinking skills to solve complex problems and make responsible decisions.
Competency Number 2: Demonstrate Communication Abilities
Learner Outcome
Read, listen and verbalize effectively.
Collaborate with physicians, other health care professionals, patients, and/or their caregivers to formulate a pharmaceutical care plan.
Provide counseling to patients and/or caregivers relative to proper therapeutic self-management.
Educate Patients and/or Caregivers and Health Care Professionals regarding prescription medications, nonprescription medications and, medical devices
Competency Number 3: Demonstrate Ethical Behavior
Learner Outcome
Make decisions that are ethical, rational and legal with the understanding of the liability and responsibility associated with the profession.
Understand and apply federal, state and local laws and regulations associated with the profession of pharmacy.
Competency Number 4: Illustrate Effective Leadership
Learner Outcome
Apply the principles of managements listed below throughout pharmacy practice experiences.
- Ability to prioritize
- Time management
- Good Interpersonal skills
- Effective communication
- Accountability
- Advocacy for change
Competency Number 5: Demonstrate Cultural Competency
Learner Outcome
Display awareness and sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic diversity.
Utilize compassion when dealing with multicultural populations.
Competency Number 6: Exhibit Professional Demeanor
Learner Outcome
Display professional habits, attitudes and values in the classroom and on experiential experiences.
Maintain self-control and discipline.
Demonstrate interactive behaviors that are aligned with the profession.
Competency Number 7: Demonstrate Lifelong, Self-Directed Learning Abilities
Learner Outcome
Evaluate and self-assess knowledge, skills and abilities.
Design and set goals that will promote continuous professional growth and development.
Professional Program Essential Competencies
Competency Number 8: Evaluate drug orders or prescriptions
Learner Outcome
Interpret prescriptions for accurate preparation of medication orders.
Accurately compound medications.
Evaluate medication prescriptions for errors and interactions.
Competency Number 9: Manage systems for storage,
preparation, and dispensing of medications
Learner Outcome
Apply guidelines and standards of practice for preparation, storage, in process quality control, and administration of sterile dosage forms and enteral and parenteral nutrition products in various pharmacy practice settings.
Incorporate personnel, marketing and financial principles to foster the development, utilization and management of medication distribution and control systems.
Competency Number 10: Conduct Patient Assessment
Learner Outcome
Collect relevant patient-specific information to use in decision-making concerning all drug therapies.
Analyze the assessment data to determine
- If the patient’s needs related to drug therapy are being met
- If all the patient’s medications are appropriately indicated
The most effective available and the safest possible treatment - The patient is able to obtain, understand and process basic health information.
- Assess the need for non-pharmacological interventions
Monitor patient reactions to medication therapy to identify, prevent and manage problems related to drug therapies in order to optimize positive patient outcomes.
Competency Number 11: Design a Patient-Specific Care Plan
Learner Outcome
Identify goals of therapy that incorporate belief systems, values, socioeconomic status discrepancies and the health literacy of patients.
Develop a care plan that includes interventions to achieve goals of therapy, resolve and prevent drug therapy problems.
Develop a schedule to follow-up and evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapies and assess any adverse events experienced by the patient.
Design a care plan that empowers patients to take ownership of their healthcare; thus, improving individual health outcomes.
Identify, order, and interpret appropriate medical tests where applicable.
Design a care plan utilizing pharmacogenomic principles.
Competency Number 12: Conduct Follow-up Patient
Evaluation and Document Interventions
Learner Outcome
Evaluate the patient’s actual outcomes and determine the patient’s progress toward the achievement of the goals of therapy.
Determine if any safety or compliance issues are present.
Assess whether any new drug therapy problems have developed.
Document pharmaceutical care activity in the patient’s medical record to facilitate communication and collaboration among providers.
Competency Number 13: Provide Drug Information
Learner Outcome
Provide pharmaceutical information to patient and/or caregivers, healthcare professionals and the general public.
Develop and offer customized educational materials to the public that are based on its demand, need and educational background.
Assess patient and/or caregiver understanding of drug information provided.
Use available resources to ensure patient comprehension of information.
Competency Number 14: Integrate Basic and Pharmaceutical Sciences Knowledge
Learner Outcome
Apply knowledge and concepts learned in the basic and pharmaceutical sciences as it pertains to making medication therapy related decision.
Integrate knowledge of basic and pharmaceutical sciences when developing and formulating, determining product bioavailability and dosage forms of drugs and their related products.
Competency Number 15: Promote Public Health and Welfare
Learner Outcome
Educate the public and other healthcare professionals about prevention and treatment of diseases and other health related conditions.
Educate the public about proper utilization of medical devices.
Educate the public about the importance of adherence.
Promote wellness and healthy lifestyle modifications.
Provide initial patient assessment and triage patients to determine the most appropriate course of treatment.
Competency Number 16: Conduct Pharmacoeconomic Assessments
Learner Outcome
Evaluate relevant data to help design appropriate treatment regimens.
Describe the mechanisms for implementing and sustaining pharmaceutical care in diverse practice settings.
Demonstrate awareness of financial management as it relates to operating a pharmacy practice site.
Evaluate data to devise the most cost effective therapeutic options for patients.
