Campus News

UGA offers new anticoagulation certificate program for pharmacists

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy has developed a new practice-based certificate program in anticoagulation therapy management. “The Coming Revolution of Anticoagulation” is intended for pharmacists practicing in community or health system pharmacy who may be involved in the pharmaceutical care and monitoring of patients at risk for stroke from atrial fibrillation.

The 18-hour course, to be conducted in the College of Pharmacy, will begin this month and continue over the next six months. Included will be three webinars, online case studies, a live symposium and a site-specific project.

“Anticoagulation therapy management by pharmacists has become the standard of care for patients in acute and ambulatory settings,” said Trina von Waldner, director of continuing education and outreach at the College of Pharmacy. “Thus, it is imperative to ensure the availability of anticoagulation educational programs focused on contemporary, evidence-based knowledge and skill development for pharmacists.”

The three live webinar modules will be paired with online case studies.Module I, to be held on March 22, will discuss managing patients on oral anticoagulation; Module II on April 19 will focus on stroke prevention and atrial fibrillation; and Module III on May 17 will highlight controversies in oral anticoagulation.Each will provide two hours of continuing education credit.

Module IV will be the Howard C. Ansel symposium on Sept. 24, providing six hours of continuing education credit.Sessions will include current trends in anticoagulation, review of new agents and those being researched, and implementing anticoagulation services in practice settings.

Participants who successfully complete Modules I through IV will receive access to the last component of the certificate program, a practice site project that will begin Sept. 26 and provide six hours of continuing education credits.Guided by faculty and experts in the field, pharmacists will plan and implement an anticoagulation therapy management program at their practice site.

For more information, contact von Waldner at 706/542-1296 or see www.rxugace.com.