Pharmacy Practice/Therapeutics (RXTH)

RXTH 529. Strategies for Achieving a Successful Career in Pharmacy. 2 Units.

Explores factors that determine job satisfaction and success in the pharmacy workplace, as well as contemporary changes in the pharmacist job market that directly affect pharmacist employability. Guides students in the development of strategies that will enable them to effectively compete in a highly competitive job market, optimizing their chances of achieving job satisfaction and success once employed.

RXTH 560. Pharmacist-Guided Self Care. 5 Units.

Introduces students to pathophysiology, pharmacologic, and nonpharmacologic management of conditions indicated for self-treatment. Enables students to provide patient-centered care through gathering pertinent information by patient interviewing, assessing the appropriateness of self-treatment or referral, recommending over-the-counter (OTC) products, and developing a patient-specific treatment plan--including patient education, counseling, and follow up.

RXTH 570. Introduction to Disease Management. 2.5 Units.

Introduces students to medical terminology, physical examination, interpretation of major diagnostic tests/laboratory results, and important patient safety considerations. Familiarizes students with various disease states—such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, urinary incontinence, glaucoma, gout, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Prepares students to assess patients and determine the appropriate nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment options for specific conditions.

RXTH 603. Interprofessional Dental Clinic. 2 Units.

Provides opportunity for pharmacy and dentistry students to work and learn together in the setting of an urgent care dental facility. Students interview patients and collect data (chief complaint, medical history, medication history, etc.) pertinent to the patients' dental care. Emphasizes the collaboration of different professions to deliver health care and improve the health of patients. Develops communication skills between health care providers.

RXTH 604. Medical Missions. 3 Units.

Prepares students to participate in an organized, interprofessional, cross-cultural medical mission trip, health-care experience, or international health program. Includes hands-on, experiential learning that enhances competence in physical assessment. Reviews major chronic diseases encountered in select medical mission destinations, including the appropriate role for student pharmacists in diagnosis and treatment.

RXTH 605. Advanced Diabetes Management. 2 Units.

Advances students’ knowledge and skills applicable to issues regarding personalized treatment of diabetes. Topics include lifestyle management, social issues, mental health issues, type 1 DM, type 2 DM, and diabetes management technology. Challenges students to use guidelines, literature, personalization, and professional judgment in approaching patient care.

RXTH 606. Antimicrobial Stewardship. 1 Unit.

Develops an understanding of the role of the pharmacist in antimicrobials stewardship programs (ASP), as well as the process of ASP. Includes hospital practice and administrative duties associated with ASP.

RXTH 608. Viral Infections Evidence-Based Therapy. 2 Units.

Introduces students to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, focusing on evidence-based treatment of these viral infections. Students interpret clinical data for various available therapies that allow them to select patient-specific treatments based on evidence. Students examine issues of internal, external, statistical, and clinical validity as they relate to specific patient cases in HCV and HIV.

RXTH 609. Advanced Literature Evaluation. 1 Unit.

Provides an opportunity for students to critically evaluate journal articles in a systematic format. Introduces students to the journal club format of presenting literature and learning how to assess the merit of studies with respect to design, statistical methods, and potential applications.

RXTH 610. Introduction to Pharmacy Informatics. 1 Unit.

Provides a foundation for understanding health information technology (HIT) and pharmacy informatics. Presents the HIT and specific informatics language that make up the infrastructure for real-world information management and health information exchange.

RXTH 614. Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 1.5 Unit.

Provides a comprehensive review of malnutrition in critically ill patients, and discusses the treatment approach based on patient's medical and nutritional status and requirements. Introduces students to therapy-related complications and discusses how to prevent and manage them.

RXTH 615. Nuclear Pharmacy Concepts. 1 Unit.

Provides an overview of nuclear pharmacy for P1, P2, and P3 students, including but not limited to: the history of nuclear medicine, an overview of radiation basics, production methods, the regulatory environment, applications of nuclear medicine, and industry direction.

RXTH 619. Clinical Pharmacokinetic Dosing and Monitoring. 3 Units.

Integrates the principles of pharmacokinetics--including factors affecting the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and binding of drugs--into the process of monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting a specific dosing regimen. Teaches students to interpret laboratory results, assess clinical findings, and apply pharmacokinetic principles to determine an individualized dosing regimen for a specific patient, based on drug serum concentrations and clinical circumstances.

RXTH 671. Fluids and Electrolytes. 2 Units.

Covers the pathophysiology and management of conditions related to fluid, electrolyte, anemia, acid-base, and nutritional disorders. Discusses pharmacotherapy, dietary requirements, and sources of electrolytes . Enables students to manage these disorders, establish and employ rational treatment, and provide parameters to monitor progress of recommended therapies.

RXTH 674. Renal and Respiratory Diseases. 3.5 Units.

Covers the pathophysiology, management, and drug therapy of conditions related to renal and respiratory diseases. Prepares students to manage renal and respiratory diseases, establish and employ rational treatment, and provide parameters to monitor progress of the regimens.

RXTH 683. Endocrine. 3.5 Units.

Introduces students to the pathophysiology and disease-state management of common endocrine disorders. Introduces students to pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of agents used in the treatment of these common endocrine disorders. Prepares students to integrate their current knowledge and skills of therapeutics to formulate individualized therapeutic plan for patients.
Prerequisite: Completion of all P1 and Autumn Quarter P2 courses.

RXTH 684. Cardiovascular I. 3.5 Units.

Teaches the pathophysiology, management, and drug therapy of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery diseases. Includes the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of agents used in the treatment of these diseases. Emphasizes evidence-based medicine and national guidelines for the management of these diseases. Prepares students to determine the most appropriate treatments and monitoring parameters.

RXTH 685. Cardiovascular II. 3.5 Units.

Teaches the pathophysiology, management, and drug therapy of thromboembolic disorders, arrhythmia, stroke, transplantation, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure. Includes the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of agents used in the treatment of these diseases. Prepares students to determine the most appropriate treatments and monitoring parameters.

RXTH 686. Cardiology Clinic Medication Reconciliations. 1 Unit.

Teaches pharmacy students to conduct medication reconciliation to ensure that the medical team has a complete record and understanding of prescription and non-prescription medications taken by a patient during transition points of care (e.g., admissions, discharges, clinic visits, and moving between institutions or providers).
Prerequisite: Third-year student.

RXTH 701. Pediatric Pharmacotherapy. 2 Units.

Expands the student’s therapeutic knowledge regarding common pediatric disease states and prepares students to identify and address common drug-related problems in pediatric patients.
Prerequisite or concurrent*: RXTH 704*, completion of winter quarter of PY3 year.

RXTH 702. Advanced Topics in Neurology and Therapeutics. 2 Units.

Develops the knowledge and skills necessary for scientific inquiry and promotes an enduring attitude of self-learning. Elements include creative and critical thinking, literature analysis, and discussion of findings. Students assigned projects and activities.
Prerequisite: RXTH 771.

RXTH 703. Advanced Topics in Critical Care. 2 Units.

Presents disease states and treatments in critically ill patients in the clinical environment. Preparation for clinical rotations and inpatient pharmacy practice.

RXTH 704. Special Populations. 3 Units.

Introduces students to the core concepts involved in the care of pediatric and geriatric patients. Expands students’ knowledge base of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of drugs. Includes anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapy, and clinical trial evidence. Students integrate knowledge, attitudes, and skills in a variety of ways to accomplish the course outcomes.

RXTH 708. Mental Health in the Movies. 2 Units.

Evaluates the depiction of mental health conditions in various media, including books and movies.

RXTH 709. Home Infusion Pharmacy. 1.5 Unit.

Provides a comprehensive overview of the management of intravenous therapy to improve clinical competency and reduce the risk of negative outcomes for safely delivering care to patients outside of the hospital or clinic setting.
Prerequisite: P3 standing.

RXTH 757. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. 3 Units.

Focuses on the development of skills necessary for the management of patients with acute cardiovascular emergencies.

RXTH 771. Central Nervous System II. 3.5 Units.

Introduces students to management (evaluation, treatment, monitoring, and follow-up) of patients with neurological conditions (Table I). Describes basic pathophysiology of common neurological conditions, along with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the most common therapeutic agents. Provides practical experience in managing patients with neurological conditions, along with additional comorbid conditions, through case-based activities.

RXTH 773. Central Nervous System I. 3.5 Units.

Introduces students to management (evaluation, treatment, monitoring, and follow-up) of patients with psychiatric illnesses (Table I). Describes basic pathophysiology of common psychiatric illnesses, along with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the most common therapeutic agents. Provides practical experience in managing patients with psychiatric illness, along with additional comorbid conditions, through case-based activities.

RXTH 774. Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2.5 Units.

Introduces students to the pathophysiology and management (assessment, evaluation, treatment, monitoring, and patient education) of common gastrointestinal disorders, liver diseases, hepatitis; and other topics such as stress ulcer prophylaxis. Covers the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of agents used in the treatment of these diseases. Assimilates relevant literature and current guidelines into treatment plans.

RXTH 775. Oncology. 2.5 Units.

Introduces student pharmacists to the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and therapeutic management of common hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Students gain an understanding of the management of adverse side effects due to chemotherapy. Provides an avenue for student pharmacists to practice critical- thinking skills and clinical decision making using interactive, case-based lecturing and recitation cases.

RXTH 776. Infectious Diseases. 7 Units.

Introduces pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of anti-infective agents, as well as the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process, to manage patients with common infections.

RXTH 782. Special Topics in Pharmacy Practice. 1-4 Units.

Lecture and discussion on a current topic in pharmacy practice. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.

RXTH 783. Special Topics in Pharmacy Practice. 1-4 Units.

Lecture and discussion on a current topic in pharmacy practice. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.

RXTH 784. Special Topics in Pharmacy Practice. 1-4 Units.

Lecture and discussion on a current topic in pharmacy practice. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.