Medicines Optimisation: An Introduction Level 2 Course

Medicines Optimisation: An Introduction Level 2 – Online Course

Course overview
This online course introduces medicines optimisation and its role in supporting safe, effective and person-centred medication use. Learners explore how medicines can be used to achieve better outcomes, reduce avoidable harm and address medication-related concerns. The course covers polypharmacy, shared decision-making, medicine safety, adverse events and the systems used to identify, report and learn from medicines-related safety incidents. It takes approximately one hour to complete and is worth 1 CPD point.

Please note: This course provides introductory knowledge of medicines optimisation and medication safety. It does not replace practical, regulated or role-specific training or competency assessments that an employer may require.

What the course covers
• Introduction to medicines and medicines optimisation
• Polypharmacy and its relevance to medication management
• Principles of optimising medicines
• Shared decision-making and person-centred care
• Medicine safety
• Adverse events associated with medicines
• Systems for identifying, reporting and learning from safety incidents
• Identifying medicines-related safety incidents
• Reporting medicines-related safety incidents
• Learning from medication errors and safety incidents
• Roles, responsibilities and limits of competence
• Accurate medication records and appropriate checks
• Recognising concerns that require escalation

Who is it for?
This course is suitable for healthcare professionals involved in prescribing, administering, reviewing or supporting the safe use of medicines. It may also be useful for staff undertaking induction, refresher training or knowledge development.

Relevant learners include:
• Pharmacists working in hospital, community or primary care settings
• Clinical pharmacists
• Registered nurses
• General practitioners and other prescribers
• Healthcare assistants working under appropriate supervision
• Healthcare professionals involved in medication reviews and patient education
• Staff supporting medication adherence and monitoring patient responses
• Professionals working as part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams

Practical benefits
• Develop an understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation
• Recognise factors that can contribute to medication-related harm
• Understand the importance of shared decision-making
• Build awareness of polypharmacy and its relevance to safe medicines use
• Recognise adverse events and medicines-related safety concerns
• Understand how medication incidents can be identified and reported
• Appreciate how learning from incidents can support improvements in safety
• Strengthen awareness of person-centred medication management
• Receive a free CPD-accredited digital certificate after successfully completing the quiz

What learners will be able to do
• Explain key principles of safe medicines practice
• Understand roles, responsibilities and limits of competence
• Recognise the importance of accurate medication records
• Identify appropriate checks before supporting or administering medicines
• Identify common medication errors and associated risk factors
• Recognise adverse effects, changes or concerns requiring escalation
• Understand safe storage, handling and disposal principles
• Follow appropriate reporting procedures for incidents and errors
• Explain the importance of involving people in decisions about their medicines where appropriate
• Recognise the role of medicines optimisation in improving medication safety
• Understand the importance of identifying, reporting and learning from medicines-related safety incidents

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online quiz at the end of the course. Successful completion leads to a free CPD-accredited certificate for Medicines Optimisation: An Introduction Level 2. The certificate can be downloaded or printed. The supplied course information states that unlimited assessment retakes are available without additional cost. The course takes approximately one hour to complete and carries 1 CPD point.