IPG Course Descriptions and Block Schedule

Canadian Pharmacy Skills 1 (CPS 1)

 Pharmacotherapy 1

Pharmacotherapy 1 (PCT 1) is designed to enhance the pharmacist’s core knowledge of pharmacotherapy and integrate it with acquired problem-solving skills. This course begins with two online introductory sessions, which will introduce learners to the philosophy of Pharmaceutical Care, review the Patient Care Process, and apply the foundational steps in the Therapeutic Thought Process for identifying and resolving Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs). Throughout the course, learners will complete assigned readings and online lectures to develop an understanding of specific chronic disease states and the management of DTPs commonly encountered in pharmacy practice. Online lectures reinforce the pathophysiologic and pharmacotherapeutic issues required to identify and solve actual and potential DTPs. Topics are sequenced within modules organized by medical discipline. Synchronous online tutorial sessions provide learners the opportunity to ask questions, practice and discuss patient cases with course coordinators. Through virtual facilitated workshops learners will practice their skills in identifying DTPs and developing care plans for patient case scenarios. These sessions will give learners further opportunity to verbally demonstrate their therapeutic knowledge and problem-solving skills to create and justify care plans with considerations of efficacy, safety, cost and/or convenience.

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions.
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, practice patient case scenarios, synchronous workshops, and synchronous tutorial sessions.
Activities: Interactive workshops and scenario-based learning & case studies. 
Course hours: 47 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Quizzes, pharmaceutical care workshop case care plans, and exams.

Clinical Skills in Medication Management 1

Clinical Skills in Medication Management 1 (CSMM 1) introduces the learner to various components of the patient interview including: an interview framework and professional communication skills. Fulfilling these course outcomes will require the application of material from other CPS courses such as Pharmacotherapy 1 and Foundations of Pharmacy Practice 1. CSMM 1 is designed to integrate many aspects of these courses. By the end of CSMM 1, learners will be prepared for providing direct patient care and the advanced communication strategies and patient care approaches required in CSMM 2. 

 This course is comprised of synchronous online virtual role-plays with simulated patients. The course is designed to allow learners to integrate profession-specific language skills within the context of pharmacy practice, to integrate an interview framework and develop effective approaches for gathering information. Later in the course, learners will examine how to best identify, prevent and resolve drug-related problems. Learners are assessed on their patient care skills during role-play interactions. Learners will be required to write professional documentation following each role-play, another important assessment element in this course. An online synchronous workshop on Motivational Interviewing will provide more advanced techniques for communicating with patients.

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. 
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, synchronous lectures and workshops, synchronous feedback sessions.
Activities: Interactive workshops, roleplays, debrief sessions and tutorials.
Course hours: 29 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Roleplay assessments and lab documentation.

Foundations of Pharmacy Practice 1

The Foundations of Pharmacy Practice 1 (FPP 1) course is a series of online lectures, tutorials, and self-study modules that will expose learners to pharmacy practice in Ontario and the healthcare system in Canada. Completion of this course will enable learners to practice as registered pharmacy students with an understanding of legal responsibilities, patient care skills, pharmaceutical calculations and other key aspects of pharmacy practice. The material in this course is considered foundational; completion of all modules is essential to deepening one's understanding of the profession, current issues in pharmacy practice. Modules are designed to develop critical skills and attitudes.

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. 
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, and synchronous lectures and workshops.
Activities: Interactive workshops, lectures, and self-directed learning modules.
Course hours: 61 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Drug information timed assessment and exams.

Professional Practice Laboratories 1

Professional Practice Laboratories 1 (PPL 1 )  provides learners with practical experience as a pharmacist through online virtual activities to simulate skills required in a community pharmacy setting. Successful completion of this course requires application of material from other courses, including Foundations in Pharmacy Practice 1 and Pharmacotherapy 1. Learners are introduced to a remote pharmacy dispensary entry system and must receive, process, and verify the accuracy of written and verbal prescriptions. Learners will respond to simple drug information requests to familiarize themselves with references available in pharmacy practice.  

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. 
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, and synchronous feedback sessions.
Activities: Lectures, labs and debrief sessions. 
Course hours: 47 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Quizzes and labs.

Canadian Pharmacy Skills 1 (CPS 2)

Pharmacotherapy 2

Pharmacotherapy 2  (PCT 2) continues with the previous structure and objectives of Pharmacotherapy 1. The course is designed to build on prior knowledge and skills. The course is designed to further enhance the learner’s core knowledge of pharmacotherapy and integrate it with acquired problem-solving skills. Pharmacotherapy 2 begins online with an introductory topic, a review of the Patient Care Process and the foundational steps in the Therapeutic Thought Process for identifying and resolving Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs). Throughout the course, learners will complete assigned reading and online lectures. Online lectures reinforce the pathophysiologic and pharmacotherapeutic issues required to identify and solve actual and potential DTPs. Topics are sequenced within blocks and organized by medical system and/or discipline. Synchronous online tutorial sessions provide learners the opportunity to ask questions and take up patient cases with course coordinators. Through virtual facilitated workshops learners will practice their skills in identifying DTPs and developing care plans for patient case scenarios. These sessions will give learners further opportunity to verbally demonstrate their therapeutic knowledge and problem-solving skills to create and justify care plans with considerations of efficacy, safety, cost and/or convenience.

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. 
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, practice patient case scenarios, synchronous workshops, and synchronous tutorial sessions.
Activities: Interactive workshops and scenario-based learning and case studies. 
Course hours: 41 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Quizzes, pharmaceutical care workshop case care plans, and exams.

Clinical Skills in Medication Management 2

Clinical Skills in Medication Management 2 (CSMM 2) continues with the previous structure of CPS 1, focusing on the provision of comprehensive patient care and is founded on the philosophy of pharmaceutical care. This course is comprised of synchronous online virtual role-plays with simulated patients. CSMM 2 provides learning opportunities to apply and integrate material learned from all courses in the program to date, using simulated practice-based interactions (role-play sessions) with patient actors and Clinical Instructors to enhance learners' patient care, decision-making, and documentation skills. Simulated interactions will focus on developing effective patient-centered management of multidimensional drug-therapy problems anchored in a professional context. This course emphasizes the pharmacist’s roles as a communicator, care provider, scholar, professional, leader-manager, collaborator, and health advocate. CSMM 2 focuses on developing and enhancing skills needed to work closely with the patient and other health care professionals in order to achieve optimal drug therapy outcomes for the patient.

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. 
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, synchronous lectures and workshops, synchronous feedback sessions.
Activities: Interactive workshops, roleplays, debrief sessions and tutorials.
Course hours: 29 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Roleplay assessments and lab documentation.

Foundations of Pharmacy Practice 2

The Foundations of Pharmacy Practice 2 (FPP 2) course continues from CPS 1 as a series of lectures, tutorials, and self-study modules that will continue to expose learners to pharmacy practice in Ontario and the healthcare system in Canada. Completion of this course will enable learners to practice as pharmacy students with an understanding of legal and ethical responsibilities, pharmacy management, cannabis and cannabinoid regulations and other key aspects of pharmacy practice. Completion of all modules is essential to deepening the learner's understanding of the profession, current issues in pharmacy practice. Modules are designed to develop critical skills and attitudes.

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. 
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, and synchronous lectures and workshops.
Activities: Interactive workshops, lectures, and self-directed learning modules.
Course hours: 56 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Clinical queries assignment and exams.

Professional Practice Laboratories 2

Professional Practice Laboratories 2 (PPL 2)  provides learners with practical experience as a pharmacist through online virtual activities to simulated skills required in a community pharmacy setting. Successful completion of this course requires assimilation of material from other courses, including Foundations in Pharmacy Practice 2 and Pharmacotherapy 2. Learners are expected to be proficient with the remote pharmacy dispensary management software and must receive, process, and verify the accuracy of complex written and verbal prescriptions. Learners will communicate and collaborate with other individuals involved in the provision of patient care to ensure safe and appropriate medication use.

Method of delivery: Online, instructor-led, combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. 
Learning assets: Required and supplementary readings, asynchronous lecture videos, and synchronous feedback sessions.
Activities: Lectures, labs and debrief sessions. 
Course hours: 45 hours of course activities.
Assessments: Quizzes and labs.

Spring 2025 Block Schedule

The following schedule outlines the activities for the IPG program for the duration of the 25 weeks. Learners enrolled in the program will receive a detailed schedule of activities.