Montana Pharmacy Continuing Education

Montana Registered Pharmacist Continuing Education Package

• Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Pharmacist's Perspective (2 hrs)
   Over the last decade, a new class of oral anticoagulant agents, now referred to as the direct oral anticoagulants, has changed clinical practice significantly. These new agents are used for a variety of indications, including treating deep vein thrombosis and non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The agents are pharmacologically different than warfarin, the traditional oral anticoagulant. This course will review individual anticoagulant agents in detail with regards to pharmacology, dosing, adjustments, and utilization in special populations. It will also discuss bleeding management for patients taking direct oral anticoagulants by focusing on reversal agents and antidotes.
• New Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension (3 hrs)
  This course will help distinguish between primary and secondary hypertension, characterize the different stages of high blood pressure and identify factors implicated in the development of hypertension.
• Addiction Medicine: When Patients Can’t “Just Quit” (2 hrs)
  Course expiration date: 7/18/2021
  
  This course will offer insight into the impact of substance use disorders in the United States and help pharmacy professionals identify patients suffering from these diseases. After completing this course, pharmacy professionals will understand the pharmacologic treatments for addiction to opioids, alcohol and tobacco. The course will discuss the mechanisms, dosing, major side effects and drug interactions, and patient counseling points for these medications.
• Patient Safety and Medication Errors (3 hrs)
  This course is for all pharmacists and pharmacist technicians with a need to better understand direct oral anticoagulants and the conditions that are best treated with these medications.
• Shingles Disease Process and Vaccination for Pharmacists & Pharmacy Technicians (2 hrs)
  This course serves to review the disease process of shingles and the  use of vaccinations to prevent shingles. Treatment typically focuses on antiviral therapy and symptom control. Shingles can be prevented through vaccination, which is typically recommended for adults over 50 since the immune system weakens with age.
• Treatment of Hospital-Acquired Infections in Adult Inpatients (2 hrs)

  Infection is asignificant concern for people admitted to an inpatient setting. Infectionsacquired in the hospital setting oftentimes are resistant to antimicrobialtherapy and more virulent in nature. Types of infections include pneumonia,central line- and catheter-associated infections, and infections after surgery.Pharmacists working in inpatient settings should be familiar with theseinfections, common pathogens, and preferred treatment. This continuingeducation module will review these infections, pathogens, treatment regimens,and prevention. 

• Managing the Unique Needs of Female Patients (3 hrs)

  Thiscourse covers women’s health management and medications used in this patientpopulation. It reviews the physiology of female hormones, and details thevarious hormonal and nonhormonal contraceptive methods available. Management ofpregnant and lactating patients and medication use in these populations isincluded. The course also discusses menopausal treatment and the currentrecommendations regarding hormonal use in this population. Additionally, the epidemiology,pathophysiology, risk factors, and diagnosis of osteoporosis will be discussed.This course gives detailed information on the medications used to treat theseconditions. 

• Pharmacological Treatment of Heart Failure (4 hrs)

  This course serves to review bothacute and chronic heart failure, including the risk factors for developingheart failure, signs and symptoms, and tests used in diagnosis of heartfailure. In addition, common medications used to treat both acute and chronicheart failure are reviewed, as well as current guidelines for the treatment ofchronic heart failure.

• Best Practices for Prescribing Opioids in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (3 hrs)
  This course focuses on best practices for prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. It will emphasize the importance of appropriate prescribing of opiates, as well as using patient education to promote the safe use of long-acting opiates. This course offers pharmacists a solid foundation for responsible and vigilant opioid use.
• Pain Management Awareness for Pharmacists (2 hrs)
  By adopting a general understanding of pain you will be familiar with the main sources of pain experienced by patients, the various treatment options available along with potential side effects, and be able to distinguish different sources and types of pain, along with the individuality of pain and its perception.
• Antibiotic Stewardship (2 hrs)

  The introduction of antibiotics into the practice of medicine has transformed the lives of millions of people. Infections that were once lethal are now easily treatable, and medical advances have been able to move forward through the use of antibiotics. Unfortunately, between 20 and 50 percent of all antibiotics administered in hospitals in the United States have been deemed either unnecessary or inappropriate. The misuse of antibiotics has contributed to increases in the rates of Clostridium difficile infections and adverse reactions to antibiotics, as well as the development of resistant strains of bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 23,000 deaths annually are caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms. 

• General Principles of Toxicology: A Review for Pharmacists (2 hrs)

  Toxicology has been described in literature for thousands of years. In the year 1230, the word “poison” first appeared in the literature, and was defined as a potion or draught that was prepared with deadly ingredients. Since then, poisons and toxicology have remained an important part of history. From intentional poisoning-related deaths to the significant increase in deaths related to drug abuse and overdose, toxicology remains a relevant topic in medicine today. This course will review general principles of toxicology as well as toxidromes and agents of toxicity. It includes specific discussion regarding antidotes and treating toxicologic emergencies with a focus on pharmacologic therapy.