Professional diploma in clinical pharmacy- cardiovascular diseases specialty

11 August 2026

10 August 2028

Diploma

The general organization for teaching hospitals and institutes GOTHI Cairo

80 CPD (40 CPD/ year)

pharmacists

First year

1. Graduate Attributes: A graduate of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, critical care specialty, must be able to:

1.1 Apply the specialized knowledge he/she has acquired in general pharmacotherapy.

1.2 Identify patients' needs, specify therapy goals and design an optimal individualized plan and a monitoring strategy.

1.3 Detect, prevent and resolve drug-therapy problems encountered in a hospital setting, using the analytical approach.

1.4 Provide drug information and education at the patient and health professional's levels.

1.5 Master professional skills and use appropriate technological means in his/ her clinical practice.

1.6 Communicate and lead work teams through collaboration with other healthcare professionals, including physician, clinical pharmacy, nurses, and other members of healthcare team.

1.7 Make a decision in light of the available information through intervention.

1.8 Efficiently use the available resources in hospital to maximize benefits.

1.9 Be aware of his/ her role in community development and environmental protection.

1.10 Demonstrate responsibility to patients, give priority to patient care activities, plan prospectively & complete all steps of the medication management process.

1.11 Appreciate self-development & show continuous learning including short courses and special programs.

2. General Standards:

2.1 Knowledge & Understanding: By successful completion of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, critical care specialty, students should demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and clear understanding of the following:

A1. Theories, principles of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics in different diseases.

A2. Recent guidelines therapy modalities to achieve better efficacy and safety.

A3. Steps of evidence based medicine in clinical practice for improving patient quality of care.

A4. Ethical and legal principles for patient care; Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence & justice.

A5. Ethical and legal principles with healthcare team.

A6. Basics and principles of quality in clinical pharmacy practice.

A7. Basics and principles of patient safety; medication reconciliation, medication error and adverse drug event.

A8. The impact of professional practice on the environment and work to protect the environment from any hazardous material.

A9. The impact of professional practice on the environment and work to protect patients, and other workers.

2.2 Intellectual (thinking) skills: By successful completion of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, critical care specialty, students should be able to:

B1. Interpret the patient's health related problems.

B2. Identify the drug therapy problems.

B3. Integrate information from different disciplines to solve patient drug related problem.

B4. Evaluate clinical trials as basis for evidence based medicine.

B5. Efficiently use the drug information resources.

B6. Evaluate risk benefit ratio in a therapy plan for a particular patient.

B7. Choose the most appropriate drug for a particular patient regarding efficacy, safety & cost.

B8. Make professional decisions regarding medication management in light of available information.

 2.3 Professional skills: By successful completion of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, critical care specialty, students should be able to:

C1. Design a drug therapy plan based on patient specific data.

C2. Analyze the patient's signs & symptoms as they relate to drug therapy.

C3. Assess drug efficacy and safety through evaluation of appropriate physical & laboratory parameters.

C4. Identify, prevent and solve drug-related problems

C5. Efficiently write patient follow up to document all patient data including; investigation, diagnosis, lab results, medications

C6. Write effective reports of drug therapy problems (DTP).

2.4 General & transferable skills: By successful completion of Professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, critical care specialty, students should be able to:

D1. Communicate effectively with patients and other healthcare practitioners.

D2. Use information technology in retrieving updated drug information from different sources.

D3. Self-evaluate and identify his/ her personal learning needs.

D4. Use different sources to obtain information and knowledge including recent guidelines, text books and drug information applications.

D5. Demonstrate effective time management, manage conflict effectively & demonstrate effective negotiation skills.

D6. Demonstrate ability to lead a team.

D7. Learn independently and continuously/ Practice self and continuous learning

Second year

1.Graduate Attributes A graduate of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, cardiovascular diseases specialty, must be able to:

1.1 Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of common and complex cardiovascular diseases.

1.2 Integrate individualized cardiovascular care plans using clinical data, risk stratification tools, and guideline-directed therapy.

1.3 Identify, prevent, and manage cardiovascular-related therapeutic problems, including drug-related issues and disease complications.

1.4 Provide accurate cardiovascular-related drug and disease information to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

1.5 Demonstrate sound understanding of cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, such as ECG, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and cardiac devices, including their clinical implications.

1.6 Collaborate effectively within the multidisciplinary cardiovascular care team, including cardiologists, pharmacists, nurses, and allied health professionals.

1.7 Deliver evidence-based clinical recommendations to optimize cardiovascular outcomes and ensure patient safety.

1.8 Demonstrate professional responsibility through patient-centered care, adherence to cardiovascular guidelines, and participation in quality improvement initiatives.

2. General Standards

2.1 Knowledge & Understanding By successful completion of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, cardiovascular diseases specialty, students should demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and clear understanding of the following:

 A1. Advanced cardiovascular pathophysiology and clinical management of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, hypertension, cardiomyopathies, and vascular disorders.

A2. Principles and application of evidence-based medicine and interpretation of major cardiovascular clinical trials and guidelines.

A3. Concepts of medication safety in cardiovascular care, including prevention and management of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and medication errors in cardiac patients.

A4. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics principles relevant to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, including dose individualization in special populations (elderly, renal/hepatic impairment, heart failure).

A5. Mechanisms and clinical significance of drug–drug and drug–disease interactions commonly encountered in cardiovascular patients, particularly in polypharmacy settings.

A6. Principles of antithrombotic therapy and anticoagulation management, including mechanisms of action, monitoring, bleeding risk assessment, and reversal strategies.

A7. Role and interpretation of cardiovascular diagnostic tools and biomarkers, including ECG, echocardiography, cardiac imaging, and cardiac biomarkers in clinical decision-making.

2.2 Intellectual (Thinking) Skills By successful completion of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, cardiovascular diseases specialty, students should be able to:

B1. Critically analyze and interpret cardiovascular clinical data, including symptoms, physical findings, laboratory results, ECGs, and cardiac imaging.

B2. Identify, prioritize, and manage multiple concurrent cardiovascular-related therapeutic problems, including drug-related issues.

B3. Integrate knowledge from cardiovascular pharmacology, physiology, pathology, and diagnostics to solve complex patient cases.

B4. Critically evaluate cardiovascular clinical trials, guidelines, and outcome data to support evidence-based practice.

B5. Efficiently utilize cardiovascular references, clinical guidelines, databases, and health information systems to support clinical decision-making.

B6. Assess and balance risks and benefits of cardiovascular therapies in patients with comorbidities, polypharmacy, and altered organ function.

B7. Select and justify the most appropriate cardiovascular medications and interventions, considering efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

2.3 Professional Skills By successful completion of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, cardiovascular diseases specialty, students should be able to:

C1. Develop, implement, and modify evidence-based, patient-centered pharmacotherapy plans for cardiovascular diseases in accordance with national and international clinical practice guidelines.

C2. Critically interpret cardiovascular clinical data, including patient history, physical examination findings, electrocardiograms (ECG), cardiac imaging, and relevant laboratory investigations to support therapeutic decision making.

C3. Monitor and evaluate the efficacy, safety, and appropriateness of cardiovascular drug therapy using clinical outcomes, hemodynamic parameters, biomarkers, and laboratory data.

C4. Identify, prevent, and manage actual and potential drug-related problems in patients with cardiovascular diseases, with particular attention to high-risk medications such as anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, antiarrhythmics, and heart failure therapies.

C5. Document pharmaceutical care processes, clinical interventions, therapeutic outcomes, and follow-up plans accurately and consistently in accordance with professional and institutional standards.

C6. Communicate pharmacotherapy-related information effectively within the multidisciplinary healthcare team through the preparation and presentation of structured written and oral clinical reports related to cardiovascular patient care.

2.4 General & Transferable Skills By successful completion of the professional diploma in clinical pharmacy, cardiovascular diseases specialty, students should be able to:

D1. Communicate clearly, professionally, and effectively with cardiologists, healthcare team members, patients, and caregivers regarding cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and care plans.

D2. Utilize health information systems, clinical decision-support tools, and digital cardiovascular resources to access, evaluate, and apply evidence based guidelines in routine and acute cardiovascular care settings.

D3. Engage in continuous self-assessment to identify personal learning needs and professional development priorities related to cardiovascular clinical pharmacy practice.

D4. Critically appraise and apply current cardiovascular clinical guidelines, textbooks, peer-reviewed research, and electronic drug information resources to support optimal patient care.

D5. Demonstrate effective time management, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and collaborative skills while functioning within multidisciplinary cardiovascular care teams.

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