Module information

Module details

Title
Radiopharmacy
Type
Specialist
Module code
S-PS-S2
Credits
10
Phase
2
Requirement
Compulsory

Aim of this module

This module will enable the trainee to consolidate their experience in radiopharmacy and act independently as part of the team preparing routine radioactive medicinal products within a quality assured and safe environment for use in patients for diagnosis and treatment.

Work-based content

Training activities

# Learning outcome Training activity Type Action
# 1 Learning outcome 1,2 Training activities

Run a preparation session for a range of radiopharmaceuticals, from order to release, including kit preparation and quality control testing and prioritisation of work

Type ETA Action View
# 2 Learning outcome 2, 3 Training activities

Compare and contrast cell labelling methods for red and white blood cells. Critique the SOPs

Type DTA Action View
# 3 Learning outcome 1, 2, 5 Training activities

Prepare therapy doses

Type DTA Action View
# 4 Learning outcome 1, 4 Training activities

Respond to a radioactive contamination incident according to the local SOPs

Type DTA Action View
# 5 Learning outcome 3, 4, 5 Training activities

Assess and deal with unplanned deviations relating to radiopharmacy production

Type DTA Action View
# 6 Learning outcome 4 Training activities

Provide appropriate advice to other staff on radiation protection and monitoring issues relating to radiopharmacy

Type DTA Action View
# 7 Learning outcome 4, 5 Training activities

Deliver a training session to other healthcare professionals on the regulations relating to radiopharmacy, including how they can sometimes conflict and where compromises for best practice are required

Type DTA Action View
# 8 Learning outcome 5 Training activities

Take part in an inspection and develop an action plan to resolve any non-conformances

Type DTA Action View
# 9 Learning outcome 4 Training activities

Advise other members of the multidisciplinary team on clinical issues relating to radiopharmaceuticals

Type DTA Action View
# 10 Learning outcome 2, 5 Training activities

Order, receive, store and dispatch radiopharmaceuticals

Type ETA Action View

Assessments

Complete 2 Case-Based Discussions

Complete 2 DOPS or OCEs

Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles

  • Receive a molybdenum generator, prepare it for use and carry out the first elution and measure activity of eluate.
  • Carry out quality control checks on a molybdenum generator.
  • Carry out monitoring of radiopharmacy staff and the facility following radiopharmaceutical preparation.
  • Carry out sessional checks on a radionuclide calibrator.
  • Prepare and quality control a radiopharmaceutical kit.

Observed Clinical Event Titles

  • Provide specialist advice on a radiopharmaceutical product to healthcare professional.
  • Provide feedback on an inspection and action plan to a quality review meeting.
  • Report findings and lessons learned from investigating a deviation.
  • Give constructive feedback to staff on their working practice as part of an audit or revalidation.

Learning outcomes

# Learning outcome
1

Demonstrate safe practice with sterile radiopharmaceuticals and blood products.

2

Plan and manage preparation sessions for a range of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

3

Critically appraise procedures and practices relating to the production and quality assurance of radiopharmaceuticals.

4

Explain clinical and radiation protection aspects of radiopharmaceuticals and provide advice to the other healthcare professionals.

5

Evaluate and apply pharmaceutical quality management systems.

Clinical experiences

Clinical experiences help you to develop insight into your practice and a greater understanding of your specialty's impact on patient care. Clinical experiences should be included in your training plan and you may be asked to help organise your experiences. Reflections and observations from your experiences may help you to advance your practice and can be used to develop evidence to demonstrate your awareness and appreciation of your specialty.

Activities

  1. Observe the administration of a radiopharmaceutical injection to a patient to appreciate the patient experience and impact on patient care.
  2. Observe a patient undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic treatment using radiopharmaceuticals to appreciate the patient experience and impact on patient care.
  3. Observe positron emission tomography (PET) to appreciate the similarities and difference between PET and traditional radiotherapy applications.
  4. Observe a call labelling process (i.e. WBC, platelets, red cells).
  5. Talk to a healthcare professional who carries out annual calibrator checks to appreciate the process and importance of calibration to accurate working and patient safety.

Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)

Important information

The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:

  1. Explain the role of the Clinical Scientist in Pharmaceutical Science in the diagnosis and treatment of disease using radiopharmaceuticals, including the contribution to patient management, patient safety and patient-centered care.
  2. Critically evaluate commonly used diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
  3. Discuss the principles of PET imaging, commonly used PET radiopharmaceuticals and the organisation of a PET radiopharmacy.
  4. Critically appraise the preparation and clinical use of radiopharmaceutical and issues which may arise.
  5. Demonstrate a critical awareness of radiation protection and safe working in radiopharmaceutical preparation.
  6. Describe the functions of the different cell types routinely labelled in nuclear medicine, outline the different labelling methods and the most common clinical indications for these radiopharmaceuticals.
  7. Discuss innovations and clinical trials within radiopharmacy.

Indicative content

  • Explain the role of the Clinical Scientist in Pharmaceutical Science in the diagnosis and treatment of disease using radiopharmaceuticals, including the contribution to patient management, patient safety and patient-centered care.
    • Pharmaceutical quality systems
    • Aseptic processes
    • Radiation safety
    • Radiopharmaceutical chemistry
    • Uses of radiopharmaceuticals
    • Legislation and guidance
    • Routine procedures used in hospital radiopharmacy
    • The organisational and financial aspects of a commercial radiopharmacy
  • Explain the commonly used diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
    • Uses, properties, chemistry, mechanisms of action, interactions and quality control
    • Indications for different radiopharmaceuticals
    • Radiopharmaceutical chemistry
    • Mechanisms of localisation
    • In vivo stability
    • Mechanisms of action
    • Interactions
    • Quality control methods
  • Discuss the principles of PET imaging, commonly used PET radiopharmaceuticals and the organisation of a PET radiopharmacy.
    • Cyclotrons
    • Principles of PET
    • Indications for PET radiopharmaceuticals
    • PET chemistry
    • Design of PET radiopharmacy departments
    • Workflow and organisation
  • Critically appraise the preparation and clinical use of radiopharmaceutical and issues which may arise.
    • Out of specification results
    • Generator problems
    • Interactions
  • Discuss the importance of radiation protection and safe working in radiopharmaceutical preparation.
    • Radiation safety
    • Monitoring
    • PQS
  • Describe the functions of the different cell types routinely labelled in nuclear medicine, outline the different labelling methods and the most common clinical indications for these radiopharmaceuticals.
  • Discuss innovations and clinical trials within radiopharmacy
    • Clinical trial requirements
    • Automation
    • New radiopharmaceuticals and techniques

Module assigned to

Specialties

Specialty code Specialty title Action
Specialty code SPE2-1-22 Specialty title Pharmaceutical Science [2022] Action View
Specialty code SPE2-1-23 Specialty title Pharmaceutical Science [2023] Action View
Specialty code SPE2-1-24 Specialty title Pharmaceutical Science [2024] Action View