Section

  • About EMIT

    Providing medicines information is an essential part of pharmacy practice. SHPAs Electronic Medicines Information Training course is an interactive resource to help pharmacists provide expert advice about medicines. Especially suitable for students, interns and early career pharmacists, it provides an introduction to the specialty practice area of medicines information. The course is also suitable for any pharmacist seeking to enhance their daily practice and impact on patient care.

    Comprising two foundation modules and 22 subject modules this course will help you:

    • Understand the process of receiving a medicines information enquiry and providing medicines information
    • Know what questions to ask to obtain further information
    • Find the most appropriate sources of information
    • Evaluate the information available
    • Use clinical knowledge and critical thinking to apply the information to the context of a question or problem
    • Communicate a response in plain language, that has an appropriate level of detail and is tailored to the needs of the enquirer
    • Understand legal and ethical issues that may affect the provision of information about medicines

       

       

    COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

    Copyright Regulations 1969

    WARNING

    These materials have been reproduced and communicated to you by or on behalf of The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia pursuant to Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act).

    This content is protected by copyright laws. Unauthorised use, reproduction or sharing of any part of this content without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.  Any further reproduction or communication of this content by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act.

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      Acknowledgements

      The hard work and dedication of all contributors to EMIT and to the Australian Medicines Information Training Workbook 1st edition is gratefully acknowledged. The time spent reviewing and writing content and the contribution of real enquiries is also gratefully appreciated. The production of EMIT would not have been possible without the efforts of the Medicines Information pharmacists who have so generously shared their knowledge and experience.

      Editorial Committee

      Elizabeth Anderson
      Principal Medicines Information Specialist Pharmacist, Westmead Hospital, NSW

      Glen Bayer
      Medicine Information Pharmacist, Tasmanian Medicines Information Centre, Tas.

      Caitlin Hardman
      Education and Training Pharmacist, University of Queensland and Ipswich Hospital, Qld

      Christopher Hidayat
      Lead Pharmacist in Operations, Calvary Public Hospital, Bruce, ACT

      Shalini Kassam
      Senior Pharmacist, Perth Children's Hospital, WA

      Jeanie Misko
      Senior Medicines Information Pharmacist, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA

      Alyssa Pidgeon
      Pharmacist, Epic Pharmacy Lismore – St Vincent's Private Hospital, NSW

      Lisa Pont
      Associate Professor, Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW

      Keli Symons
      Publications Manager, SHPA

      Past members of the Editorial Committee

      Sally Brooks
      Senior Pharmacist, Medicines Information, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Vic.

      Claire Keith
      Senior Medicines Information Pharmacist, Austin Health, Vic.

      Judy Longworth
      Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Psychological Medicine, Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, NSW

      Leone Snowden
      Clinical Engagement & Education Coordinator, CIAP, eHealth NSW

      Jane Ermer
      Publications Pharmacist, SHPA

      Julia Hruz
      Education Pharmacist, SHPA

      The Australian Medicines Information Training Workbook 1st edition is the basis for this revised and renamed version. It was adapted from the UKMi Training Workbook, copyright University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, UK. This version was produced with permission and subject to copyright. For further information about the first edition contact Elizabeth Anderson.

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        Contributors

        Elizabeth Anderson
        Principal Medicines Information Specialist Pharmacist, Westmead Hospital, NSW

        Glen Bayer
        Medicines Information Pharmacist, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tas.

        Jane Booth
        Formulary and Business Development Pharmacist, Monash Health, Vic.

        Corey Borg
        Medicines Information Senior Pharmacist, SA Pharmacy

        Sally Brooks
        Medicines Information Senior Pharmacist, Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, Vic.

        Jared Brown
        Department Head, NSW Poisons Information Centre

        Elaine Chan
        Renal Specialist Pharmacist, Westmead Hospital, NSW

        Christine Coorey
        Pharmacist, Westmead Hospital, NSW

        Adam Cunningham
        Lead Pharmacist Clinical Trials, Alfred Health, Vic.

        Yvette Haselden
        Pharmacist, Cairns Hospital, Qld

        Alanna Huynh
        Medicines Information Specialist Pharmacist, Westmead Hospital and NSW Poisons Information Centre

        Katie Jodrell
        Pharmacist, WA Poisons Information Centre

        Pathma Joseph
        Senior Pharmacist Medicines information and QUM Pharmacist, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW

        Claire Keith
        Senior Medicines Information Pharmacist, Austin Health, Vic.

        Catherine Leggett
        Medicines Information Manager, SA Pharmacy

        Lucy Min Li Lin
        Clinical Pharmacist, Westmead Hospital, Vic.

        Judy Longworth
        Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Psychological Medicine, Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, NSW

        Jeanie Misko
        Medicines Information Senior Pharmacist, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA

        Michelle Nalder
        Senior Renal Pharmacist, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic.

        Yee Ching Ng
        Medicines Information Pharmacist, Canberra Health Services, ACT

        Christine Plover
        Senior Pharmacist, Medicines Information Centre, The Royal Children’ Hospital, Vic.

        Felicity Prior
        Director, Hunter Drug Information Service, Calvary Mater, NSW

        Julie Taylor
        Senior Surgical Pharmacist, Barwon Health, Vic.

        Belinda Theobald
        Deputy Director of Operations, Alfred Health, Vic.

        Helen Trenerry
        Director of QMAIS, Queensland Medicines Advice and Information Service

        Karene Yap
        Senior Pharmacist, Alfred Health, Vic.

        Angela Yui
        Pharmacist, Westmead Hospital, NSW

        Grace Wong
        Drug Information/ADR Pharmacist, Footscray Hospital, Vic.

        Laura Zanin
        Medicines Information Senior Pharmacist, SA Pharmacy

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          How to use this resource

          Step 1: Complete the two free foundation modules.

          Step 2: Decide which of the 22 individual modules you wish to complete, or access all 22 modules (discounts apply).

          Step 3: Access and read the Core content of the module

          Step 4: Access and attempt the multiple choice questions in the Test yourself section of the module. You will have two attempts to achieve a pass mark of 75% or more.

          Step 5: Read through the example enquiry and the real enquiries, in the Test yourself section.

          Step 6: Record your CPD points.

          All EMIT modules will automatically track your progress. Each time you log in you can pick up where you left off.


          EMIT modules

          The foundation modules Communication and Resources must be completed before accessing the 22 subject modules.

          Each subject module comprises two sections:

          1. Core content
          • Introduction
          • Information about the subject including the most commonly asked questions
          • Questions to ask the enquirer for further information
          • Resources
          2. Test yourself (CPD)
          • Subject knowledge multiple choice test questions; successful completion allows you to claim accredited CPD Group-2 points
          • An example enquiry and corresponding answer
          • Real enquiries; in this section we'll ask you to consider further questions for the enquirer and the resources you might use to answer each enquiry.
          • Each module includes learning objectives mapped to the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia, 2016. Each subject is accredited for Group 1 CPD & almost all modules are also accredited for Group 2 CPD.

          Which modules should I complete?

          EMIT modules are grouped into three broad categories:

          Essential toolkit: Administration of medicines, Pharmacokinetics, Drug interactions, Adverse drug reactions, Medicines in renal disease, Medicines in liver disease, Paediatrics, Compatibility of parenteral medicines, Drugs in pregnancy, Drugs in breastfeeding, Complementary and alternative therapies, Excipients, Availability and regulatory processes.

          Specialist subjects: Mental health, Palliative care, Substance misuse and dependence, Immunisation, Travel, Hormonal contraception, Toxicology.

          Skill set: Critical evaluation, Ethical dilemmas.

          We recommend that students, interns and early career pharmacists complete, at a minimum, the two foundation modules and all of the essential toolkit subjects.

          Pharmacists undergoing training to work in Medicines Information will be required to complete all subjects.

          Experienced pharmacists wishing to enhance their practice may wish to complete subjects for which they need a refresher or would like to improve their knowledge and skills.

          Specialist subjects can also be selected depending on the place of work and patient mix. For example:

          • a community pharmacist may wish to complete Immunisation, Travel Medicine, Palliative Care and Hormonal Contraception
          • a pharmacist working in a tertiary hospital may elect to complete Mental Health, Palliative Care, Substance Misuse and Dependence and Toxicology.