Elements and Performance Criteria

Pharmaceutical ingredients and equipment may include:
Medicinal substance, which may be of animal, mineral, vegetable, or imponderable source
Lactose powder or globules
Medicating alcohol
Distilled water
Mortar and pestle
Measuring equipment
Sterile containers
Labels
Protective clothing

Pharmaceutical guidelines and methodology refers to:
Official pharmacopoeia, including the homoeopathic pharmacopoeia of the USA, the UK, Germany and France
Relevant aphorisms and footnotes in the Organon of Medicine 5th/6th Edition
Trituration
Maceration
Succussion
Serial dilution

Dispensing ingredients and equipment may include:
Medicating potency
Medicinal vehicle
Dispensing alcohol
Measuring equipment
Sterile containers
Labels
Protective clothing

The form of the medicine may include:
Powder
Globule
Pillule
Tablet
Liquid
Cream
Ointment
Pessary
Suppository

Care is taken to prevent contamination means:
One medicine is in use at one time
Medicines are made and prepared over an impervious surface
Direct contact with or olfaction of the medicine is avoided
Objects that come in contact with the medicine are thoroughly cleaned or discarded
Medicines which come in contact with contaminants are discarded
The work space is well ventilated

Clinic guidelines may include:
OHS guidelines
Quality system guidelines
Dispensing procedure
Hygiene and waste guidelines
Stock and storage procedures

Instructions for taking the homoeopathic medicine refer to:
Route of administration, eg oral, olfaction, application
Frequency of administration - single dose, repeated doses, intervals between doses
Any other instructions specific to the method of administration eg dilution, plussing
Factors that may interfere with the homoeopathic medicine, eg consumption of coffee, alcohol or tobacco, concurrent use of allopathic medications, dental work
The need to report incidences to the prescribing homoeopath

Acceptable sources includes:
Australian suppliers listed by the therapeutic goods administration
Reputable overseas suppliers
Substances collected and prepared from natural sources

Labelled correctly means:
According to legislative guidelines
According to clinic requirements

Factors that may have an effect on the storage include:
Proximity to electromagnetic radiation
Exposure to heat above 50°c
Prolonged exposure to sunlight
Exposure to strong odorous substances, eg perfumes, camphor

Workplace information may include:
Details of preparation and dispensing undertaken
Stock documentation
Details of person(s) conducting preparation and dispensing
Dispensing information for prescriptions

Critical aspects of assessment:
Demonstrated ability to correctly identify equipment and ingredients for homoeopathic medicine preparation and dispensing
Demonstrated ability to prepare homoeopathic medicines in accordance with official pharmacopoeia, clinic guidelines and relevant legislation
Demonstrated ability to prepare homoeopathic medicines in a range of potency scales (mother tincture, decimal, centesimal, fifty millesimal)
Demonstrated ability to dispense homoeopathic medicines in accordance with the order/prescription
Demonstrated ability to confirm supply of necessary materials and services to the dispensing process
Demonstrated ability to confirm equipment status and condition
Knowledge of hygiene standards
Demonstrated ability to access workplace information to identify requirements for the dispensing process
Demonstrated ability to calculate assay/potency adjustment
Demonstrated ability to measure and segregate materials
Demonstrated ability to pack and label dispensed materials
Demonstrated ability to sort, collect, treat, recycle or dispose of waste
Demonstrated ability to maintain work area to meet clinic standards
Demonstrated ability to record information
Demonstrated ability to monitor the dispensing process and equipment operation to identify out-of-specification results or non-compliance. This may include:
Labelling
Stock flow/quantity
Measuring devices
Materials faults
Equipment faults
Service faults
Ability to clean and sanitise equipment
Ability to carry out routine maintenance

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units:
Contribute to the control of infection

Underpinning knowledge and skills:
Knowledge of homoeopathic pharmacy
Knowledge of factors that affect homoeopathic medicines in preparation and storage
Knowledge of homoeopathic medicine preparation from source materials
Knowledge of homoeopathic medicine dispensing principles and methods
Knowledge of the quality and various strengths of alcohol used in preparation and dispensing
Knowledge of the preparation of dispensing alcohol
Knowledge of the non-medicinal ingredients used in the preparation of homoeopathic medicines
Knowledge of legal requirements relating to the prescription of medicines, therapeutic goods administration, OHS, labeling, restricted substances, principles of manufacturing, testing of homoeopathic products, quality control procedures
Knowledge of the derivation of materia medica data from provings, clinical and toxicological sources
Knowledge of methods of administration for homoeopathic medicines
Knowledge of raw materials segregation purpose and requirements
Knowledge of the effect that incorrect dispensing process can have on the end product
Knowledge of quality characteristics to be achieved
Knowledge of equipment and instrumentation components, purpose and operation
Knowledge of common causes of variation and corrective action required
Knowledge of OHS hazards and controls
Knowledge of waste handling requirements and procedures
Knowledge of recording requirements and procedures

Resource implications:
Resource requirements may include:
An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
Dispensing resources
Relevant texts or medical manuals
Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments
Appropriate assessment environment
Skilled assessors

Method of assessment:
Assessment may include:
Practical demonstration
Simulations
Explanations of technique
Oral questioning and discussion
Case studies and scenarios

Context of assessment
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of work conditions. Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations.