BPS Assessment Launches SSO Integration with Flinders University via OKTA

BPS Assessment is proud to announce the successful deployment of a new Single Sign-On (SSO) integration with Flinders University in Australia. This integration, powered by OKTA, allows students to access our suite of prescribing education resources using the same authentication system used to access key university systems, including their Learning Management System (LMS).

 

This project was made possible by Flinders University, who funded the development in support of a smoother, more connected learning experience for their students. By using their existing university credentials, Flinders students can now explore prescribing resources, including exams, practice papers and eLearning modules, without needing to manage separate usernames or passwords.

 

Peter Wright, Head of Commercial Operations at BPS Assessment, said;

 

“We’re delighted to be working with Flinders University to improve our platform’s user experience in this way. The use of OKTA in this integration provides a robust and secure solution which reduces the admin burden for the schools and their students.”

 

This collaboration reflects BPS Assessment’s commitment to delivering flexible, user-friendly digital solutions that support safer prescribing. The integration helps embed prescribing resources into school curricula with minimal disruption, supporting students as they build confidence in safe and effective prescribing.

 

For institutions interested in exploring SSO integration or embedding prescribing education into their training programmes, please contact team@bpsassessment.com.

Shaping the Future of Prescribing Education: Insights from the Tenth International Clinical Skills Conference

In May, the team travelled to the scenic city of Prato, Tuscany, for the Tenth International Clinical Skills Conference, a renowned global event focused on advancing healthcare education. It was a privilege to join forces with our partners at the University of Manchester to showcase the latest developments in prescribing education and to engage with educators from around the world.

 

Introducing the ePrescribing Simulator

At the heart of our presentations was the launch of the new ePrescribing Simulator. This innovative tool has been designed to replicate the functionality of a hospital or primary care electronic prescribing system, allowing educators to present authentic, complex prescribing scenarios in a safe and accessible online environment.

 

The ePrescribing Simulator makes it possible to:

 

  • Deliver realistic case-based learning at scale,
  • Mirror the pressures and decision-making processes of clinical practice while maintaining a formative learning environment
  • Provide immediate feedback on student performance
  • Support curricula focused on medication safety and prescribing competence.

 

Importantly, it’s built to be flexible and user-friendly, meaning institutions can integrate it seamlessly into existing courses, whether for undergraduate medical students, pharmacy trainees, or postgraduate learners.

 

A Shared Commitment to Innovation

The response at the conference was overwhelmingly positive. Educators and clinical leads expressed a growing need for tools that can better prepare students for the digital systems they will encounter in practice. Our partnership with the University of Manchester has helped shape this simulator to meet that need, informed by clinical reality.

 

This shared development reflects a broader commitment for BPS Assessment to support institutions in delivering high-quality, practical prescribing education that meets today’s healthcare demands.

 

Looking Ahead

We’re excited to work with more universities and teaching hospitals in the months ahead. The simulator is delivered through the BPS Assessment platform, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with your existing account and workflows. 

 

Whether you’re aiming to enhance your current prescribing curriculum or introduce new tools to build digital prescribing skills and promote safe practice, we’d love to start a conversation.

 

To find out more about the ePrescribing Simulator or to arrange a demo for your institution, please get in touch. 

Empowering Future Healthcare Professionals: Prescribing Resources for Medical and Foundation Schools

At BPS Assessment, we are committed to enriching the education and practical capabilities of future healthcare professionals through our advanced suite of eLearning and assessment tools. Medical and Foundation schools all over the world are using our high-quality, accessible learning and assessment resources to ensure that their students can prescribe safely and effectively.


 

Extensive eLearning Resources

Our eLearning courses feature a broad range of modules, carefully developed by prescribing experts and peer-reviewed to ensure the highest quality. These modules are designed to blend seamlessly with traditional classroom learning, offering students the convenience of studying at their own pace, from anywhere, at any time. The content spans essential topics such as drug administration techniques, clinical pharmacology, and medication management, providing a comprehensive education in prescribing practices.


 

Prescribing Skills Assessment

The Prescribing Skills Assessment is a pioneering online tool designed to assist educational bodies and healthcare organisations in assessing and enhancing prescribing competencies. Based on the UK PSA blueprint, it has been adapted for global use and can be tailored to different regional medical databases. The Prescribing Skills Assessment evaluates essential prescribing competencies and provides immediate, detailed feedback, crucial for learners to identify both their strengths and areas for improvement.


 

Platform Licensing

BPS Assessment’s cloud-based platform enables educators to design and deliver customised assessments directly to students. Our platform offers an array of question templates with detailed feedback options, incorporates a regularly updated drug bank of over 7000 prescriptions, and features automated marking and review tools to efficiently identify student challenges. Accessible on any device, our intuitive interface enhances prescribing education through expert-developed, peer-reviewed content.


 

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) Elective

Our two-week CPT Elective provides an intensive, expert-developed learning programme, with automated marking that minimises teacher admin. It covers key prescribing topics such as PKPD, medication errors, ADRs and monitoring drug therapies, and includes pre-course assessments and a detailed final assessment so you can measure student progress.


 

Global Collaboration and Reach

BPS Assessment’s online resources are being used by an ever-expanding network of global partners. We collaborate closely with educational institutions in regions such as Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, North America, and the UK to enhance prescribing practices and reduce medication errors. Our commitment to international collaboration ensures our resources remain cutting-edge and relevant across global healthcare education standards.


 
If you’d like to request a demonstration of any of our products or talk to us about a free trial, please get in touch. Empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals begins here!

 

 

 

Prescribing with Precision: How BPS Assessment Elevates International Medical Education Standards

Accurate prescribing is, of course, critical to ensuring patient safety and effective treatment outcomes. But to improve prescribing precision, we first need to improve prescribing education. BPS Assessment is at the forefront of elevating prescribing education standards, partnering with universities and institutions all over the world to deliver high quality learning and assessment resources.

 

Our flagship product, the Prescribing Skills Assessment, is an online assessment tool for organisations looking to measure and improve prescribing safety and skill. Based on the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA), its questions are suitable from an undergraduate to a professional level.

 

Developed in close collaboration with leading experts and educators, the Prescribing Skills Assessment is grounded in the realities of clinical practice, ensuring its relevance across diverse healthcare settings. The content can be adapted to suit local education and prescribing practice in different countries, making it a valuable tool for medical and pharmacy schools all over the world.

 

Our eLearning resources are designed to support learning for the Prescribing Skills Assessment, and are split into two key sections: Prescribing Skills and Clinical Pharmacology. eLearning sessions are accessible anytime, anywhere through our online platform, so students can revisit topics on demand and continually test their knowledge.

 

Our collaborations with international medical and pharmacy schools have already been instrumental in elevating prescribing education. Some highlights include:

 

Partnership with Misr International University

Misr International University (MIU) is taking a pioneering step in the Egyptian educational landscape, partnering with BPS Assessment to provide the Prescribing Skills Assessment to their pharmacy students. The students will now have the opportunity to showcase their critical thinking, clinical acumen, and hone their prescribing capabilities. They will navigate specific and realistic clinical scenarios, mirroring the challenges they might encounter in their professional journey. As MIU’s pharmacy students prepare to make history as the first cohort in Egypt to undertake this milestone, we recognise the dedication and commitment of both the institution and its students to advancing their prescribing education.

 

Gulf Medical University’s Pursuit of Excellence

Gulf Medical University stands as a testament to the transformative power of the Prescribing Skills Assessment. PharmD students at the university embarked on a comprehensive journey of learning and evaluation, aimed at mastering the nuances of safe and effective prescribing. This partnership has set a new benchmark for pharmacy education in the region, and will have a significant impact on patient medication safety and the prescribing capabilities of GMU pharmacy graduates.

 

Empowering Prescribing Skills in the Middle East

BPS Assessment supported faculty development workshops that took place at Gulf Medical University College of Pharmacy and Saudi German Hospital in the UAE in May 2023. These workshops aimed to weave prescribing skills into the pharmacy curriculum, providing an opportunity for educators to network with experts and participate in demonstration assessments on the BPS Assessment platform.We used our expertise in medical education to offer insights and guidance to attendees, empowering them with innovative tools and resources needed to effectively teach future healthcare professionals about this complex subject. The participation of BPS Assessment in these workshops underscored its ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare education and patient outcomes in the Middle East, highlighting a significant step forward in promoting safe and effective prescribing practices.

Together, we can elevate international prescribing education standards and improve patient safety. Get in touch today for more information about our learning and assessment products, or find out more about the Prescribing Skills Assessment here.

A User-Friendly Guide to BPS Assessment’s Prescribing Tools

Teaching prescribing can be tricky, with many professors and academics struggling for time and resources. But with BPS Assessment’s suite of prescribing tools, institutions have access to a collection of resources developed specifically to improve prescribing and patient safety. Let’s delve into the range of products offered and how they cater to your needs.

 

1. Prescribing Skills Assessment

The Prescribing Skills Assessment, not to be confused with the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) stands as a cornerstone for evaluating prescribing proficiency among medical and healthcare students. Its assessment framework taken from the UK PSA not only measures theoretical knowledge but also assesses practical prescribing skills in simulated clinical scenarios. By utilising this formative exam, institutions can pinpoint areas of strength and weakness, enabling targeted interventions and ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for safe and effective prescribing in clinical practice.

 

2. eLearning Modules

Our eLearning modules serve as dynamic supplements to traditional teaching methods, catering to diverse learning styles. These interactive modules cover a wide range of prescribing topics, from pharmacology principles to drug interactions, allowing students to deepen their understanding at their own pace. With engaging content and real-world case studies, these modules enhance theoretical knowledge and practical skills, providing a comprehensive learning experience for medical, pharmacy and nursing programs alike.

 

3. CPT Elective

The Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) elective offers a unique opportunity for medical students to immerse themselves in the world of prescribing. Through hands-on clinical scenarios and expert guidance, students gain invaluable experience in making evidence-based prescribing decisions, understanding drug mechanisms, and managing patient medications effectively. As part of this elective course students will first test their existing knowledge with our pre-course knowledge check, then work through a series of eLearning sessions to strengthen their skills and understanding. Lastly, they will complete a final assessment to evaluate their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills but also their preparedness for complex prescribing in diverse healthcare settings. 

 

4. Platform Licensing Offering

For institutions seeking a comprehensive prescribing solution, we offer platform licensing. This customisable option provides access to a suite of prescribing tools, including the prescribing platform, question authoring console with question templates and drug bank, each of which can be tailored to meet specific institutional needs. With flexible licensing arrangements and ongoing support, institutions can integrate these tools seamlessly into their curriculum, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to teaching prescribing.

 

By leveraging these prescribing tools, institutions can create a dynamic learning environment that fosters competence and confidence among aspiring healthcare professionals. Embrace innovation, empower learners, and elevate the standard of prescribing education with BPS Assessment. Take a look at our products and services page or get in touch with the team to arrange a platform demo.  

Behind The Scenes: How We Write Our Assessments

Assessments play a crucial role in evaluating a student’s knowledge and skills, especially in the medical field. At BPS Assessment, we understand the importance of creating high-quality assessments, which accurately assess student’s ability to prescribe medication safety and effectively. In this blog, we’ll take you behind the scenes, giving you a glimpse of how our team of experts crafts our assessments so that you have the best prescribing resources available for your students. 

 

Utilising Drug Bank Resources

 

The first step in crafting our assessments is to tap into the valuable resources available on the BPS Assessment platform, the Drug Bank. This comprehensive database provides our assessment writers with a wealth of information on medications, drug interactions, dosages, and more. Using the Drug Bank, our UK prescribing experts can create questions that accurately reflect the real-world scenarios you may encounter in your clinical practice.

Adhering to the PSA Blueprint

 

Each assessment question is created to adhere to the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment blueprint. This blueprint outlines the specific competencies and knowledge areas that are expected of foundation doctors and assesses 8 key areas. 

 

Our team ensures that every question we create closely adheres to these guidelines, covering a wide range of topics related to safe and effective prescribing; from prescription writing to drug monitoring and calculations. Each area is represented by an individual question item style in our assessments, highlighted in the graphic below: 

 

This alignment guarantees that your trainees are being assessed on the skills and knowledge that matter most in their future healthcare practice.

 

Peer Review for Quality Assurance

 

Quality is of paramount importance in assessment creation, which is why every question undergoes a rigorous peer review process. After our experts draft a question, it is carefully reviewed by a panel of experienced peers. This panel includes seasoned healthcare professionals and educators who possess a deep understanding of the PSA and its objectives. They assess each question for accuracy, relevance, and adherence to the PSA blueprint.

 

Author Revision and Finalisation

 

Based on the feedback from the peer review panel, the original author of the question revises it as necessary. This may involve refining the wording, adjusting the mark scheme, and enhancing the explanation of answers to ensure clarity. The goal is to create questions that are fair, challenging, and reflective of real-world prescribing scenarios.

 

By the time a question is finalised, it has undergone multiple iterations and revisions, guaranteeing that it meets the highest standards of quality and aligns perfectly with the PSA’s objectives.                           

 

Behind every successful assessment at BPS Assessment is a well-defined process that combines the expertise of UK prescribing experts, adherence to the PSA blueprint, and rigorous peer review. We take pride in our commitment to providing you with assessments that accurately assess prescribing skills, ensuring that candidates are well-prepared for the challenges of real-world clinical practice.

 

Utilising BPS Assessment resources can empower institutions to prepare their students, guiding them to reach a level of competence in prescribing medication that ensures both safety and effectiveness, thereby significantly reducing the risk of patient incidents arising from medication errors.

The Dacre Review: An Independent Review into the Prescribing Safety Assessment

The Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) stands as a pivotal milestone in the journey of medical professionals, serving as a crucial evaluation of their competence in prescribing medications safely and effectively. Since 2017, it has been a mandatory part of the medical education curriculum, ensuring that junior doctors are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed and safe prescription decisions. 

 

Recent developments have placed the PSA under a spotlight, as the findings of the independent Dacre Review have shed new light on its structure, content, and overall impact. In this blog, we delve deeper into the Prescribing Safety Assessment, exploring its significance in medical education, and examine the key takeaways from the Dacre Review. 

 

Unearthing insights: Why the Dacre Review was commissioned

 

In 2022, the British Pharmacological Society and the Medical Schools Council jointly commissioned an extensive review of the PSA. The goal was to evaluate the exam’s effectiveness and determine its future direction. The review was overseen by top representatives from across the NHS and medical education programme in the UK, who under the chair of Professor Dame Jane Dacre, have proposed a set of recommendations for the exam. 

 

Headlines from the Review

 

The findings from the review can be boiled down to some key themes, we’ve summarised them below; 

 

Support for the Prescribing Safety Assessment 

 

The consensus among stakeholders and echoed by the oversight group is that there is widespread support for the PSA. Many understand that prescribing has changed and will continue to change with the introduction of new medications coupled with prescribing in an ageing population, giving rise to complex challenges which junior doctors need to be prepared for. This is where the exam not only presents an opportunity for students to assess their prescribing skills but also build their knowledge and confidence in prescribing before advancing in their careers. 

 

Impact of the Prescribing Safety Assessment  

 

The review not only focused on the exam’s effectiveness, but also considered its impact on both students and patients. The data suggests that the PSA is a robust tool for assessing prescribing competency and that since its implementation there has been little difference in the performance between medical schools and regions across the UK, an indication of its reliability.

 

Aside from the direct impact on students, there is evidence to suggest that the PSA also has had a positive effect on the safety of patients. Since the PSA was made mandatory in 2017, the percentage of medication-related patient safety incidents has reduced year-on-year.  

 

The Future of the Prescribing Safety Assessment  

 

The recommendations put forth by the Dacre Review mark a pivotal turning point for the future of the PSA. Among others, it highlights the need for sustained and equitable funding to ensure the PSA’s accessibility and continued improvement. As well as, better regulation and a more robust governance structure to enhance transparency and accountability, bringing together key stakeholders to guide its development and delivery. 

 

These recommendations collectively represent a promising vision for the PSA’s future, one that prioritises fairness, quality, and sustainability in assessing the prescribing competence of future healthcare professionals. The PSA is poised to evolve into a more effective and reliable assessment tool, forming an integral part of the medical education curriculum within the UK that is better equipped to prepare healthcare practitioners for the challenges of modern medicine.

Advancing Patient Safety and Prescribing Skills: A Webinar Series

In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, patient safety remains a top priority, and the field of prescribing is no exception. At BPS Assessment we are dedicated to promoting safe and effective prescribing practices, and recently, teamed up with iGroup in Malaysia along with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) to host a series of enlightening webinars. These webinars were designed to shed light on the importance of prescribing safety and introduce the powerful tools that the BPS Assessment platform provides. In this blog, we will delve into the details of these webinars, showcasing the collaborative effort and valuable insights shared by experts in the field.

 

Collaboration Across Borders

 

The collaboration between BPS Assessment and iGroup, a prominent player in the Asian educational and library market, has been a significant step towards promoting prescribing safety and competence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. iGroup is known for its association with Medicines Complete, which is a valuable resource provided by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. This connection allowed the webinars to present a comprehensive picture of tools and resources available for educators and students.

 

Wide-Reaching Audience

 

In order to reach out to a diverse audience, we launched two webinars as part of our joint initiative. The goal was to welcome participants from various locations covered by iGroup including Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The first webinar held on October 24th was a huge success and we have another one scheduled for November 14th. These webinars are tailored towards the training needs of healthcare professionals and those involved in the teaching and practice of prescribing; including academic pharmacologists, prescribing educators, clinical educators, pharmacy educators, as well as medical and pharmacy students.

 

24th October Webinar: A Way Forward in Patient Safety

 

The first webinar, titled “A Way Forward in Patient Safety,” kicked off with a thought-provoking discussion on the importance of patient safety in clinical practice, emphasising the significance of starting with undergraduate education. The event delved into the rates of prescribing errors in the UK and various APAC countries, shedding light on the challenges faced in this crucial aspect of healthcare.

 

Solutions to address these challenges, particularly in prescribing training and assessment, were discussed, highlighting evidence of engagement and improvement in prescribing safety. The webinar included a walkthrough of the BPS Assessment platform, giving attendees a glimpse of the user journey and learning capabilities. Medicines Complete also had a presence, offering an overview of the tools they provide, such as the British National Formulary (BNF), which complements our prescribing skills assessments.

 

14th November Webinar: Teaching Tips for Prescribing Educators

 

The second webinar, titled “Teaching Tips for Prescribing Educators,” is set to delve deeper into the educational aspect of prescribing. It will explore the role and importance of a prescribing curriculum, emphasising the topics and expected competencies in prescribing for medical and pharmacy students.

 

Educators and presenters will share valuable tips on how to teach prescribing effectively and the different ways of assessing prescribing competency while giving examples of the success in prescribing education such as the UK’s National Pharmacology/Prescribing eLearning platform. As in the first webinar, this event also features a brief platform walkthrough, offering educators a glimpse of the platform’s capabilities and features.

 

The collaboration between BPS, RPS, and iGroup represents a significant step towards advancing patient safety and prescribing skills in the APAC region. These webinars provide a platform for experts to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and introduce valuable tools for educators and students. It’s clear that the commitment to enhancing patient safety through education and assessment is a shared mission, transcending borders and benefiting all those involved in the field of healthcare. With the knowledge and insights gained from these webinars, we can look forward to a safer and more competent generation of healthcare professionals in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

 

Join us on the 14th of November to find out more about the BPS Assessment prescribing platform!

Putting prescribing centre stage: BPS Assessment at the World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology

The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) recently hosted the 19th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP), the largest event in the pharmacology community. Held every four years, the conference brings together delegates from around the world to share research and engage in sessions about the latest advancements in the field of pharmacology.

 

Our team joined the hosts at the BPS stand to welcome delegates and showcase the capabilities of our online platform used by customers to enhance prescribing skills and knowledge through eLearning and assessment resources. 

 

Supporting prescribing in the Middle East 

We had the opportunity to contribute to the scientific programme, by hosting a special symposium for Middle East and GCC delegates, which focused on prescribing training and the challenges to prescribing practices within the region. The speakers included; 

 

  • His Excellency Professor Aws Alshamsan, Secretary General, Saudi Commission For Health Specialties, Saudi Arabia
  • Professor Sherief Khalifa, Vice Chancellor for Quality & Institutional Effectiveness, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, UAE
  • Professor Moustafa Fahmy, Dean of the Oman College of Health Sciences, Oman
  • Professor Dileep Rohra, Head of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Professor Amal Fatani, Cultural Attaché, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom
  • Professor Ismael Ibrahim Matalka, President, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, UAE
  • Professor Simon Maxwell, Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Teaching, University of Edinburgh, and PSA Medical Director

 

Further discussions focused on the need for better prescribing education for students and trainees through assessment and learning resources and how these improvements could be scaled across institutions in the Middle East.

 

Advancing prescribing in Australasia 

The team also met with customers from Australia and New Zealand to discuss the progress of the Prescribing Skills Assessment. The meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to come together and discuss strengthening the collaboration between Australasian medical schools and BPS Assessment. Discussions covered setting up local governance structures to support future summative exam delivery and focussed on creating an international partnership that will support the expansion of the Prescribing Skills Assessment in Australasia.

 

Meeting with existing and future customers 

Across the week, a number of our customers showcased their research findings through scientific posters. Partners from Koc University in Turkey and International Medical University in Malaysia were among the exhibitors, discussing their experiences with the Prescribing Skills Assessment and the positive impact it has had on prescribing knowledge and practices within their institutions.

 

The event was an excellent opportunity to connect with current and future customers while emphasising the significance of enhancing prescribing knowledge and skills in healthcare, particularly for emerging practitioners. 

 

We are thrilled that delegates who were able to attend enjoyed their time at the SEC, and we’re already anticipating the next meeting in 2026, which will be hosted by our colleagues at ASCEPT.