Contraception Prescribing Credentialing for Maryland Pharmacists
Contraception Prescribing Credentialing for Maryland Pharmacists is organized by University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP).
Launch Date: December 21, 2021
Expiration Date: December 21, 2024
Description:
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s Office of Continuing Education has developed a comprehensive pharmacist training program focused on providing pharmacists with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide contraceptive care to women. This educational program will prepare pharmacists to serve as direct providers of contraceptive treatment pursuant to COMAR 10.34.40 and is catered to the specific processes adopted by the Board of Pharmacy and will enable Maryland’s pharmacists to prescribe contraceptive treatment according to Maryland’s law.
The training program will include modules covering patient assessment, drug selection, and ongoing therapeutic management of contraceptive therapy as well as the strategies needed to successfully implement this expansion of pharmacy practice.
Learning Objectives:
Module 1: Hormonal Contraceptive Products:
At the end of this knowledge-based activity, the learner should be able to:
• Describe how hormonal contraceptive products affect phases of the menstrual cycle to inhibit ovulation;
• Compare and contrast the pharmacology, efficacy, clinical use, and roles in therapy of the available types of hormonal contraception, including long acting reversible contraception, barrier methods, and other hormonal contraception;
• Identify patient-related variables that may influence the use of contraception; and
• List non-contraceptive uses of various forms of hormonal contraceptive products, including but not limited to menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms, menstrual migraines, ovarian cysts, and acne.
Module 2: Assessing Women for Hormonal Contraception:
At the completion of this application-based activity, the learner should be able to:
• Given a patient case, including medication and medical history, and using the Maryland Self Screening Risk Assessment for Birth Control, evaluate a patient to rule out pregnancy and determine appropriateness for potential contraceptive use;
• Given a patient case and using the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria (US MEC) and the Maryland Algorithm for hormonal contraception, assess whether a screened patient is an appropriate or at-risk candidate for hormonal contraceptives; and
• Select the most appropriate hormonal contraceptive product based on patient- and agent-related variables.
Module 3: Communicating About Hormonal Contraceptives:
At the completion of this application-based activity, the learner should be able to:
• Formulate a plan to educate women on proper use of all the types of hormonal contraceptive products, including but not limited to when to start, missed doses, back-up methods, and adherence;
• Formulate a plan to educate women on the risks and benefits of hormonal contraceptive products, including but not limited to warning signs, adverse events, and when to call 911;
• List counseling strategies to reduce risk of sexually transmitted diseases and discuss the practice of safe sex;
• List strategies on how to communicate information with other members of a patient's care team; and
• Discuss strategies to ensure a woman has adequate follow-up with a healthcare provider or referral as needed.
Module 4: Pharmacy Practice Operations:
At the completion of this application-based activity, the learner should be able to:
• Discuss Maryland laws and regulations that allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives;
• Describe a process to prescribe hormonal contraceptives in pharmacy practice;
• Explain how to write a prescription for contraceptive products; and
• Document patient care visits, and the Maryland visit summary related to providing hormonal contraceptive products.