CAS in Medication Safety

The purpose of the interprofessional CAS course in Medication Safety is to provide solid knowledge of medication safety-related topics for healthcare professionals, to train them on recognizing areas for optimization and to enable them to initiate, lead and monitor processes to improve medication safety in their institution.

The program has been developed with the support of nationally and internationally renowned experts in the field of medication safety and emphasizes the necessity of interprofessional collaboration within medication use processes.

Goals of the course

Having successfully completed the 2-year program, participants will 

• have a comprehensive overview of data and facts related to medication safety both within Switzerland and abroad
• be knowledgeable about important sources within the literature and able to deploy them based on practice
• understand barriers and fostering factors for interprofessional collaboration in the field of medication safety
• be able to employ different methods to measure medication safety in their own enterprise and to accompany developments
• be able to define and actively shape their own leadership function in the area of medication safety
• have the necessary knowledge and tools to plan and implement a medication safety agenda for their setting
• be able to configure patient-based medication processes and include patients as well as relatives in a meaningful way
• be able to inform professionals through communication and training in the subject of medication safety tailored to the target group
• be equipped with basic knowledge about current technologies to support medication processes and improve medication safety
• have initial experience in project development and the associated lead

Didactic principals

In order to guarantuee optimal knowledge transfer and ensure an interactive learning culture the program is conducted through Blended Learning, thereby combining the advantages of face-to-face classroom education with opportunities of computer-mediated activities, such as the use of online educational material or virtual interaction and delivery. Participants of the program or individual modules have access to the cutting-edge learning platform of the University of Bern: personalized tools and technologies for convenient learning and development.

Alongside the transfer of theory and practice-based knowledge and skills, the learning events offer room for reflection and discussion. In their content and form, the events consider the needs, feedback and wishes of participants, whose professional knowledge and experience contribute to the teaching and learning processes.

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and Continuing Education Credit (CEC)

The course of studies entails a total of 10 ECTS credits and is structured modularly (7 modules across 2 years). 

Credits for continuing education have been granted for the program 2023-2025:

• FPH Hospital Pharmacy (50 credits/day for 2023-2025)
• FPH Clinical Pharmacy (50 credits/day for 2023-2025)
• FPH Community Pharmacy
• Schweizerisches Institut für ärztliche Weiter- und Fortbildung (SIWF) (25 credits for days 2023/2024 and 25 credits for days 2025)

The accreditation has been submitted for the second run of the program starting in 2025.

Language

Classroom activites, eLearning and exams will be held in English. 

Practice projects can be developed in German, English, French or Italian.

The CAS in Medication Safety is structured modularly. It is comprised of 7 modules (15 days across 2 years). The program currently running started in October 2023 and will finish in June 2025 (individual modules/course days can be attended). The next starting date for the entire program is October 2025.

Course schedule:

The program administrators can include other topics.

Rights reserved to make changes due to pandemic measures; in particular, individual modules or days may be conducted digitally or postponed to a later date.

The course of studies is offered by the University of Bern / Clinic for General Internal Medicine, Department Clinical Pharmacology and toxicology of the Inselspital Bern in close collaboration with the program board members from the Institute of Primary Health Care BIHAM, University of Bern, and the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine ISPM, University of Bern.

Program Board

• Prof. Dr. Carla Meyer-Massetti , Chair of the Program Board, Inselspital - University Hospital of Bern

• Prof. Dr. Alice Panchaud, Institute of Primary Health Care BIHAM, University of Bern

• Prof. Dr. Sven Streit, Institute of Primary Health Care BIHAM, University of Bern

• Prof. Dr. David Schwappach, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine ISPM, University of Bern

Director of Studies

Dr. Stefanie Janssen, Inselspital - University Hospital of Bern

Faculty

The program is conducted by instructors of the University of Bern as well as Swiss and international experts from various professions including (among others) physicians, nursing experts and pharmacists. The detailed program (including expert speakers) is provided under "documents".

Prerequisites for admission to the Certificate program are

• a Master`s-level university degree in pharmacy, medicine or nursing science or a Master`s-level University of Applied Sciences degree in nursing
• a minimum of 2 years job experience in a clinical setting

Exceptions regarding admission requirements may be approved by the program board «sur dossier». In the case of persons without university degrees or clinical experience, further stipulations for admission may be imposed to ensure that each participant has the possibility of successfully completing the course.

Interested parties who only wish to participate in individual modules may be admitted, provided that there are openings in the course.

Permission to participate in the course is decided by the program administration upon application by the course management. There is no automatic entitlement to admission.

Application

Individual Modules and/or Course days (program 2023-2025)

The first cohort of the program started in October 2023 and is currently running. Attendance of individual modules or course days is always possible. You can apply anytime by completing and sending back the form under "documents" (application form for individual modules & course days, please send back to casmedicationsafety@insel.ch). 

Entire program 2025-2027

The application window for the second cohort of the CAS program is now open. Please find the application form (for entire program 2025-2027) under "documents, complete the form and send it back to casmedicationsafety@insel.ch along with a copy of your ID.

Application deadline

You can apply any time for individual modules or course days. An application deadline ends 5 working days before an individual course day/the start of a module. Please note the cancellation policy (cf. "Cancellation Policy" / cf. Registration form_CAS MS Unibe_Einzelmodule).

The enrolment for the entire program 2025-2027 is open now and will close on 31 August 2025.

Tuition fees

The fee for the entire course is CHF 8950 (CHF 600 per course day). In any case, the fee covers catering (presence days), access to the learning platform, performance test fee (if applicable) and certificates (ECTS).