16 PHRM3101/PHRM3102 Aged Care Observational Placement

Purpose

The purpose of the Aged Care Interprofessional activity is to provide opportunities for you to learn with, from and about other members of the healthcare team in the context of residential aged care facilities. We would also like you to observe and gain knowledge of the medicine management processes in the aged care facility.

Learning outcomes

• Engage with consumers, clients, carers, pharmacy staff and other members of the healthcare team.
• Describe the roles, responsibilities of the people shadowed during the placement visit.
• Discuss how the different health care professionals collaborate in the aged care facility.
• Describe the medicine management processes at the aged care facility.
• Identify potential roles and opportunities for pharmacists in the residential aged care context.

Placement Structure

• Two-day placement.
• You will shadow up to 3-4 different people at the facility to observe what they do. This will include staff and if possible, a visiting health professional.
• You are encouraged to ask questions to gain further insight about the roles.
• Where appropriate, have a chat with some of the residents about their stay and who looks after their health.
• You can participate or help with any activities that the residents are doing.
• You will observe the medicine management processes in the facility.
• You are encouraged to ask questions about the specific roles and responsibilities of the different staff members. Some examples to help you are listed below; note this is not an exhaustive list.
  • How would you describe the role you play in caring for the residents?
  • What do you consider the biggest challenges in enacting your role?
  • How and when do you collaborate with others in the care team? With whom do you collaborate most closely on this team and why?
  • What are the strategies you use to communicate with residents who have cognitive dysfunction?
  • What do you do if a resident is agitated?
• We also want you to observe and ask questions about the medication management process at the aged care facility. Some things for you to consider that might help you are listed below; note this is not an exhaustive list.
  • Who is the pharmacy that supplies medicines to the nursing home?
  • How are medicines obtained when a new medicine is started?
  • Also consider asking what happens if they run out of a prescription for a regular medication, what does the pharmacy/aged care facility/doctor have to do?
  • What happens if a resident’s medication is changed?
  • What IT system does the aged care facility use and what functions does it provide around the medicines supply and administration, if any?
  • Is it linked to the pharmacy supplier or general practice?
  • How are medicines administered and their administration recorded. Are electronic medication charts used or paper charts?
  • Who can administer and prepare injectable medicines vs oral medicines.
  • What happens to medicines that have been stopped or a resident who has passed away?
  • Are there residents who self-medicate. If so, could you talk with one or two of these residents about their experiences with medications.

  You might discuss with the staff that you are covering urinary tract infections this semester at university and ask them if they have any policies around antibiotic use for UTIs and if they could tell you how UTIs effect residents (e.g. behavioural, cognition).

  You may have opportunity to engage in conversation with some of the residents and discuss with them their experiences with their medicines in the residential aged care facility.

  You may also be asked to help or participate in activities that the residents are doing.

Assessment

• You will complete pro-forma to identify the people (their profession) you shadowed, their roles and responsibilities and how they collaborated, and the medicine management processes they observed or were informed about.
• You will also complete a reflection on your experience over their placement.

To Know

• These placements are sourced by the School of Pharmacy and students will be allocated to the sites based on their term address.
• Students will usually attend placements in pairs.
• There are strict compliance requirements to protect the safety of vulnerable residents. Be sure to read and action all communication from the HaBS Placement Ready Team.
• Students who are not compliant will forfeit their placements and jeopardise their ability to successfully complete the course.
• Students must not attend their placement if unwell. Communicate your absence to your preceptor asap and follow absence procedure outlined in Your Responsibilities During Placement.