Pharmacotherapy Review Course and Practice Exam (No Recert Credit) (Cert # L249007)

This course consists of 26 activities (see table below) and provides up to 31 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit. The Review Course includes case-based presentations for application to real-life scenarios, a practice exam along with correct answers, and links to the reference sources, and domains, tasks, and knowledge statements. To help you further prepare, this package includes a compilation of practice questions in the same format and rigor to help you prepare for the BPS Specialty Examination.          

After participating in this CPE activity, learners should be able to: 

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-23-622-H04-P

Research Methods and Data Analysis

• Analyze biomedical literature with regard to study methodology, statistical analysis, and significance.
• Explain the use of evidence-based treatment guidelines and protocols.
• Interpret the biomedical literature and its application to clinical practice.

Evidence-based Practice and Resources

• Identify sources of information to use to answer questions in one’s practice, or from patients and healthcare professionals.
• Explain how to provide education regarding evidence-based practice to current and future health care professionals.

Providing Safe and Effective Pharmacotherapy: Key Regulatory and Quality Approaches

• Explain the regulatory and accreditation requirements of a comprehensive medication use program.
• Describe methods to develop and maintain a medication use system.
• Discuss technology used to promote safe and effective medication use.
• Apply national regulations and evidence-based practices for medication safety and quality.
• Interpret results from pharmacotherapy-related quality improvement activities.

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-23-623-H01-P

Cardiovascular Disease: Primary Prevention Case

• Select the appropriate treatment and monitoring for a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity.
• State the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for adult immunizations.
• Determine how to advise a patient on point-of-care testing to measure response to drug therapy.
• Discuss national benchmarking standards and implications to patient care.

Cardiovascular Disease: Secondary Prevention Case

• Select the appropriate treatment and monitoring for a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including atrial fibrillation (AF), acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Develop a plan to address continuity of care issues.
• Formulate a medication therapy plan for smoking cessation.
• Determine how to manage drug – drug and drug-induced disease interactions in a patient with ischemic heart disease.
• Discuss quality of life in this population.
• Discuss national benchmarking standards and implications to patient care.

Complex Heart Failure Case

• Select optimal treatment and monitoring for a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including heart failure, electrolyte disturbances in acute decompensated heart failure, diabetes, and a thyroid disorder.
• Discuss the medications that should be avoided in heart failure.
• Identify safety issues in this population.

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-23-624-H01-P

Complex HIV/AIDS Case

• Select the appropriate treatment and monitoring of a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including HIV infection, dyslipidemia, and hepatitis B.
• Identify and manage common drug interactions experienced by HIV-treated patients.
• Identify and manage common adverse drug reactions experienced by HIV-treated patients.
• Determine appropriate medication choices for the treatment and prevention of common opportunistic infections.
• Discuss quality of life issues in terms of medication therapy for HIV-infected patients.
• Discuss recommendations for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Complex Pediatric Asthma Case

• Select optimal treatment and monitoring for a complex patient-case with acute asthma exacerbation, acute otitis media, and seasonal allergies.
• Apply methods for counseling a patient and/or caregiver in asthma self-management with comprehensive documentation of the patient counseling.
• Develop a plan for childhood vaccinations in a child who has been delayed in receiving them.
• Implement principles of shared-decision making and culturally effective care when using complementary/alternative medicine in a pediatric patient.

Complex Pneumonia Case

• Select the appropriate treatment and monitoring for a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including pneumonia, acute renal insufficiency, sepsis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dehydration.
• Interpret clinical data, including lab, physical examination and vital signs.
• Determine and prioritize pneumonia-related treatment goals.
• Determine approaches to manage drug allergies and select next best drug therapy when primary drugs are precluded.
• Discuss approaches to limiting antimicrobial over use by stewarding antibiotic usage appropriately.
• Discuss safety issues in patients receiving treatment for pneumonia.

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-23-625-H01-P

Complex Nursing Home Patient Case

• Select the appropriate treatment for a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including stroke, depression/anxiety, dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and pain.
• Discuss complementary/alternative medicine and safety issues in older adults.
• Discuss quality improvement initiatives and regulations in the nursing home setting.

Oncology and Supportive Care Case

• Select the appropriate treatment and monitoring of a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including breast cancer, febrile neutropenia, and cancer-associated thromboembolism.
• Compare and contrast current cancer screening recommendations.
• Develop a plan to manage pain and nausea/vomiting in a patient with cancer.
• Discuss safety issues in this population.
• Discuss adherence issues with oral chemotherapy regimens.

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-24-900-H01-P

Cardiac Arrhythmias and Advanced Cardiac Life Support

• Interpret signs, symptoms and diagnostic tests for cardiac arrhythmias.
• Identify drug-related problems, including drug interactions and adverse effects, associated with pharmacotherapy of cardiac arrhythmias.
• Identify strategies to prevent drug-induced arrhythmias.
• Recommend therapy and monitor for cardiac arrhythmias based on patient-specific information, current guidelines and Advanced Cardiac Life Support recommendations.

Heart Failure

• Interpret diagnostic and/or laboratory tests, vital signs and clinical presentation in patients with heart failure.
• Formulate the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plans, based on patient-specific information and current guidelines for patients with heart failure.
• Recommend appropriate modifications of patient-specific treatment plans based on follow up assessment in patients with heart failure.

Selected Topics in Acute Care

• Select the appropriate treatment and monitoring for a complex patient-case with multiple conditions, including pneumonia, acute renal insufficiency, sepsis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dehydration.
• Interpret clinical data, including lab, physical examination, and vital signs.
• Determine and prioritize pneumonia-related treatment goals.
• Determine approaches to manage drug allergies and select next best drug therapy when primary drugs are precluded.
• Discuss approaches to limiting antimicrobial over use by stewarding antibiotic usage appropriately.
• Discuss safety issues in patients receiving treatment for pneumonia.

Selected Topics in Critical Care

• Interpret diagnostic and/or laboratory tests, vital signs, and clinical presentation in order to differentiate types of shock (hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic).
• Compare and contrast the pharmacologic agents utilized in shock.
• Recommend the most appropriate therapy and monitoring based on patient-specific information and current guidelines for the treatment of shock, prevention of stress ulcers, and prevention of venous thromboembolism.

Diabetes

• Interpret diagnostic and/or laboratory tests in patients with diabetes.
• Formulate the most appropriate treatment, monitoring, and follow-up plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.
• Evaluate drug-related problems.

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-24-901-H01-P

Fluid, Electrolytes and Nutrition

• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests for fluid, electrolyte, and nutrition status.
• Recommend the most appropriate therapy and monitoring in patients with fluid, electrolyte, and nutritional disorders based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.
• Apply strategies to manage drug-related electrolyte interactions and nutrient interactions.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Recommend appropriate treatment and monitoring, based on drug-specific variables, patient-specific information and clinical practice guidelines.
• Evaluate drug-related problems and response to therapy.
• Recommend modifications of patient-specific treatment plans based on follow up assessment.

Infectious Diseases: Part I

• For the following infectious diseases: c.difficile infection, skin and soft tissue infections, upper respiratory tract infections, community acquired pneumonia
• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Formulate the most appropriate treatment, monitoring, and follow-up plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.
• Evaluate drug-related problems.

Infectious Diseases: Part II

• For the following infectious diseases: sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, endocarditis, meningitis
• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Formulate the most appropriate treatment, monitoring, and follow-up plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.
• Manage drug-related problems.

Musculoskeletal and Rheumatic Disorders

• For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout:
  • Formulate the most appropriate treatment and monitoring, based on drug-specific variables, patient-specific information and clinical practice guidelines.
  • Evaluate drug-related problems and response to therapy.
  • Recommend appropriate modifications of patient-specific treatment plans based on follow up assessment.

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-24-902-H01-P

Women’s Health

• Describe pertinent sex-based differences in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics that affect exposure and response to medications.
• Recommend appropriate treatment, monitoring and follow-up plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines for osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms.
• Select appropriate contraceptive options, including emergency contraception, based on patient-specific information.
• Evaluate the safety and efficacy of common therapies used during pregnancy and lactation.
• Develop recommendations for common complications that occur during labor and delivery.

Patient Education and Health Literacy

• Assess considerations for communicating pharmacotherapy plans to various patient populations including pediatrics, geriatrics, using universal health literacy precautions.
• Evaluate methods for educating patients and caregivers on safe and appropriate use of medications and devices.

Neurologic Disorders

• For patients with seizure disorders, Parkinson’s disease, headache and sleep disorders:
  • Evaluate the risks and benefits of drug therapy considering other medication and patient specific factors.
  • Formulate the most appropriate treatment, monitoring and follow-up plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.
  • Evaluate drug-related problems.

Psychiatric Disorders

• For patients with bipolar, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or substance abuse disorder:
  • Interpret basic diagnostic factors, clinical presentation, and target symptoms of selected psychiatric disorders.
  • Formulate the most appropriate treatment, monitoring, and follow-up plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.
  • Evaluate drug-related problems and response to therapy.

Kidney Disorders

• For patients with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease:
  • determine the most appropriate treatment and monitoring based on drug characteristics, patient-specific factors, and current clinical practice guidelines.
  • Manage drug dosing and drug-related complications in patients receiving kidney replacement therapy.