Welcome to the IPU Academy Autumn Programme

Welcome to the IPU Academy Autumn Programme, which follows our successful Spring Programme, where close to 2,400 attendances were recorded. Using your personal membership log in, you can view and book online all the live learning courses in the IPU Academy Autumn Programme.

The IPU Academy Autumn Programme will deliver Continuing Education (CE) in traditional presentation format, i.e. a two-hour live learning seminar, at a location near you. In addition to the live learning events, we plan to hold a number of national webinars on www.ipuacademy.ie during the Autumn Programme.

The five topics in the IPU Academy Autumn Programme were selected based on your feedback and, as usual, will be delivered in venues countrywide. The topics are all of current relevance and designed to assist you in developing and delivering services to your patients in your pharmacy.

The format for the live learning remains unchanged; courses will start at 8pm sharp and will last two hours. Coffee and refreshments will be served. 

Please note: We introduced an Express Topic Course into the IPU Academy Spring Programme, which proved very popular. The Cancer Management - Supportive Medicines course and the Clinical Skills for Community Pharmacists course will start at the earlier time of 7.30pm and finish at 9pm. Coffee and refreshments will be available from 7pm, prior to the course starting at 7.30pm, instead of the usual coffee break midway through the course.

The new IIOP system for monitoring our engagement with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has now come into effect. IPU Academy is here to support your engagement with the new CPD system. There are five stages to the CPD cycle. A copy of the CPD cycle is included in the CPD template which is provided for each topic. You can enter at any stage of the CPD cycle, e.g. by attending an IPU Academy course you will have completed an Action stage of the CPD cycle. You can then download your IPU Academy Attendance Certificate to assist in completing the Document stage of the CPD cycle.

Feedback and suggestions for future topics to be developed by IPU Academy are welcome at ipuacademy@ipu.ie.

The number of people living with diabetes in Ireland is estimated to be almost a quarter of a million people. The Healthy Ireland survey suggests that over a million people may be at potential risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The management of diabetes and its potential complications represent a huge health and cost burden to the State.

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the detection and diagnosis of diabetes, along with useful practice points on the management of patients with diabetes. 

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the only major cause of death with an increasing incidence. 2020 projections rank it fifth worldwide in terms of disease burden and it is expected to be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030.

The aim of this course is to provide information on COPD pathogenesis and risk factors, review COPD management options and discuss useful advice for COPD patients.

As the population ages, the importance of good bone health for patients at all ages is becoming better understood.

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of bone formation, the role of vitamin D and calcium, and other patient factors that may influence this process. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological options to maximise bone health at all ages will also be discussed.

Express Topic (7.30pm - 9pm)

The treatment and management of cancer incorporates the use of chemotherapy and other adjuvant and supportive agents whose function is to prevent and minimise side-effects, infections and aid in maximising patient outcomes.

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of adjuvant and supportive agents such anti-emetics, steroids and GCSF agents; their place in therapy, dosing regimens, side-effects and useful advice for patients prescribed these agents.  

(Express Topic 7.30pm - 9pm)

The management of many chronic illnesses has become increasingly complex. This in turn increases the requirement for patient monitoring, medicines reconciliation and information.

The aim of this course is to provide basic information on common blood tests, how to interpret results and calculations, and review medication that may affect or be affected by changes in blood results. It will also outline effective processes to support medicines reconciliation and information.