PHT-150: Pharmaceutical Calculations

School
Health and Human Services
Division
Health Careers
Department
Pharmacy Technician
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
Pharmacy Technician
Course Number
150
Course Title
Pharmaceutical Calculations
Credit Hours
3.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
Acceptance into the PHT Program and MATH-100, MATH-101, MATH-1094 or MATH-110, or higher with a C or better within 5 years.
Catalog Course Description

Examines how to apply basic mathematical skills in calculations required for the usual dosage determinations, as well as solution preparations using weight, metric, household, and apothecary systems. Discusses ratio and proportion, allegations, and business calculations in pharmacy operations. Three lecture hours per week.

Goals, Topics, and Objectives

Core Course Topics
  1. Introduction: Pretest and Roman Numerals
  2. Mathematics Review: Fractions, Decimals, Ratio & Proportions
  3. Units and Measurements for the Calculations of Drug Dosages
  4. Calculations for Community Pharmacy: Compounding and Billing
  5. Calculations for Community Pharmacy: Business Math
  6. Drug Labels and Calculations of Dosages
  7. Dosages Measured in Units: Powered Drug Preparations
  8. Conversions: Metric, Household, and Apothecary Systems
  9. Pediatric Dosages
  10. Intravenous: Drip Rates, Flow Rates and IV Administration Calculations
  11. Parenteral Nutrition Calculations
  12. Dilutions and Concentrations
Core Course Learning Objectives (Separated)
  1. Demonstrate the conversion of Roman numerals to Arabic numerals up to 100 units of one and up to 1,000 units of 100’s.
  2. Identify the different symbols for apothecary and household weights and measures.
  3. Define the basic metric units for liquid and solid weights and measures.
  4. Identify the abbreviations for metric weights and measures.
  5. Demonstrate the conversion of the apothecary or household weights and measures to metric equivalents.
  6. Demonstrate medication doses or quantities using common fractions, decimal fractions, ratio and proportion and allegation.
  7. Demonstrate how to solve problems involving dilutions and concentrations using the appropriate calculation method.
  8. Calculate the powdered volume of a drug preparation.
  9. Calculate the flow rates of IV solutions given total dose or volume to be infused and total time.
  10. Demonstrate calculation of accurate temperature measurement calculations.
  11. Demonstrate pharmaceutical calculations of dilution and concentration, weight-to-volume and weight-to-weight percentages, children’s dosages and mil equivalent calculations.
  12. Calculate Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) orders.
  13. Demonstrate outpatient pharmaceutical calculations involving prescription prices and hospital drug charges using percentage mark-up and service fees.
  14. Demonstrate how to solve outpatient calculation problems involving profit margins, overhead cost, inventory turnover, and daily cash report.
  15. Demonstrate calculation of dispensing fees, co-pays, compound billing, and difference pricing.
  16. Demonstrate how to solve an outpatient pharmaceutical pricing consideration in a factual scenario.

Assessment and Requirements

Assessment of Academic Achievement
  • Assessment of academic achievement will include a combination of exams, quizzes, assignments and participation.
General Course Requirements and Recommendations
  1. Class sessions will consist of lectures and laboratory exercises
  2. Each student is responsible for attending and participating in class and lab. In case of an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor to makeup work.
  3. Exams and quizzes must be taken on the scheduled day. All students are required to be present at the final exam.
  4. All homework assignments must be turned in for credit on the date they are due. Each student is responsible for turning in the homework assignment after the class review. Incomplete homework assignments will be given less credit.
  5. Instructors (or their designees) reserve the right to require students to provide picture identification for test taking, graded papers or projects or other appropriate purposes.
Texts

To be determined by the program faculty.

Effective Term
Fall 2019