UTS Virtual Clinic Placement
January 18, 2013
IN an Australian first, UTS
Pharmacy has developed a
cutting-edge Virtual Clinical
Placement using clinical simulation
mannequins or “robotic patients”
for its Master of Pharmacy
program.
The Virtual Clinical Placement
allows students to interact with
“patients” in real life acute and
primary care scenarios as well as to
practice critical patient
communication skills ahead of
clinical placements in hospitals,
specialist clinics, and industry.
Developed by Associate Professor
Beata Bajorek, the program is run
over a two week period with the
sessions focusing on
“consolidating the discreet skills
learnt throughout the semester,
mimicking the competencies
required in a clinical environment”.
During the course, students also
experience simulated ward rounds
and medication chart reviews in
UTS' new $5 million simulated
hospital facility.
In addition students also attend
workshops conducted by experts
such as Jane Luddington, a
specialist hospital pharmacist at St
Vincent's Hospital who leads a drug
administration session, and a
practical workshop on blood sugar
and anticoagulation point-of-care
testing devices led by a specialist
team from Roche Diagnostics.
“The virtual placement gives our
students an opportunity to develop
complex technical and communication
skills across transitions of care.
“They're gaining experience in a
safe and supported environment
that allows the freedom to make
mistakes and then learn from them
so that they practice safely when
they reach a clinical setting,” said
Bajorek.
“Working with the simulation
mannequins gives them an
unprecedented degree of realism.
“Our students are placed in
hospitals like Royal North Shore,
Westmead Children's, Prince of
Wales and Wollongong so it's a
huge advantage to have this
experience before dealing with
patients and colleagues in these
fast-paced clinical environments,”
Bajorek added.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 18 Jan 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 18 Jan 13
