Pharmaceutical Sciences (Patient Safety in Medication Use)

Numerous studies have documented the staggering incidence of medical errors in healthcare systems as well as outpatient care. Errors involving medications have been identified as the major source of preventable error in healthcare. The World Health Organization describes the new discipline of patient safety as involving “the coordinated efforts to prevent harm, caused by the process of health care itself, from occurring to patients.”

The “Patient Safety in Medication Use” track is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required for evaluating and improving patient safety in this important component of healthcare quality. The topics covered include: healthcare quality and measurement; safety interventions and practices; establishing a culture of safety; and examining human factors, ethics, policy and legal issues related to quality and safety in medication use.

Students interested in enhancing their knowledge in this area may choose to take individual courses on a non-degree seeking basis, complete a graduate certificate in Patient Safety in Medication Use (13 cr.) or complete an MSPharm degree with a graduate certificate in Patient Safety in Medication Use

Concentration coursework

PHA 6935 Structure, Process & Outcomes of Regulation 1

PHA 6935 Structure, Process & Outcomes of Regulation 2

PHA 6277 Ethics in Drug Production, Distribution & Use

PHA 6279 Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy Seminar

(Students take two, one-credit seminars; one seminar must be completed on campus in a Spring semester, while the other may be completed either online in a Fall semester or on campus in a Spring semester.)

Specialty coursework

PHA 5270 Health Care and Patient Safety

PHA 5271 Health Care Risk Management

PHA 6799 Patient Safety Program Evaluation

PHA 6290 Patient Responsibility in Health Care

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The University of Florida (UF) is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university. The state’s oldest and most comprehensive university, UF is among the nation’s most academically diverse public universities. UF has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service. It is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities that belong to the Association of American Universities. The Association of American Universities is a nonprofit association of 61 U.S. and two Canadian preeminent public and private research universities. Founded in 1900, the AAU focuses on national and institutional issues that are important to research-intensive universities, including funding for research, research and education policy, and graduate and undergraduate education.

The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor, master, specialist, engineer, doctoral and professional degrees.

The prestigious University of Florida College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top colleges and schools of pharmacy in the nation. Dedicated to excellence and innovation, the College of Pharmacy is well known for delivering cutting-edge research and advanced pharmacy education. Our programs are designed for flexibility, so you can study at a distance – while earning a prestigious University of Florida pharmacy degree.