PMMDP3: Introduction to Service Improvement in Healthcare

Module code: PMMDP3

Module provider: Pharmacy; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer / Semester 1

Module convenor: Ms Nicola Green, email: nicola.green@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have completed the PGCert Pharmacy Practice, or an equivalent course which is approved via RPL. (Open)When taking this module, you must be registered as a Pharmacist with the GPhC or PSNI, working at an approved pharmacy practice site and have an educational supervisor able to supervise your practice. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop core knowledge and skills in service improvement in healthcare through understanding approaches to change management. In addition, it allows practitioners to demonstrate systematic and critical understanding of the knowledge and skills required to work independently within a specific area of pharmacy practice.

A significant proportion of the module is workplace-based learning and practitioners are required to be working at an approved workplace with an educational supervisor to support them in their studies.  Practitioners will be supported to reflect on their experiences by developing a professional portfolio of their learning which is mapped to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Foundation Pharmacist Framework.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Strategically assess current service provision using appropriate tools, critically analyse service improvement approaches in relation to stakeholder needs and independently design a change management strategy, presenting the information using written and verbal communication.
2. Critically review the management and monitoring of patients with a range of common disease states, including critiquing the interpretation of pharmacokinetic and  pharmacodynamic principles and applying evidence-based medicine to make clinical decisions in complex situations.
3. Consult effectively with patients, carers and the multidisciplinary healthcare team, respecting diversity and confidentiality.
4. Continually advance own knowledge and understanding through continuing professional development and life-long learning to achieve safe and effective medication use.

Module content

This module will focus on supporting practitioners to build on their core knowledge to understand how to approach service improvement and use change management methods to support their advancing practice.  Practitioners can choose the therapeutic focus of their workplace-based learning, from within which they will apply a range of clinical and scientific knowledge to solve more complex medication-related problems.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will use a range of teaching and learning methods. The University teaching is based around three online workshops using a mixture of presentations and problem-based learning, facilitated by the programme team, specialist pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. The workshops are underpinned by directed learning via Blackboard and self-directed learning where practitioners are required to use a range of sources to gain information to support developing their knowledge and skills.

A significant proportion of the programme is workplace-based learning where practitioners will undertake activities to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours. This will be guided by the professional portfolio of learning.

This module is studied over six months, and there may be more than one cohort per year, therefore the distinction of hours by term is not possible. The hours shown for Semester 1 below are spread over the entire programme length.

Study hours

At least 12 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve all of the following to pass this module:

1. A mark of 50% in the professional portfolio. It must also contain all mandatory content. 
2. An overall module mark of 50%

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

1. Workplace-based assessments during experiential learning
2. Feedback on workplace-based learning from educational supervisor
3. Optional formative feedback on reflective writing
4. Optional formative feedback on draft service improvement project report
5. Portfolio viva

Reassessment

Additional costs