May/June 2010 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

Transcription

May/June 2010
Pharmacy Technicians on
the Road to Regulation
page 12
Focus on Registration
page 22
ontario college of pharmacists
483 Huron Street, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2R4 • Tel (416) 962-4861 • Fax (416) 847-8200 • www.ocpinfo.com
The mission of the Ontario College of Pharmacists is
to regulate the practice of pharmacy, through
the participation of the public and the
profession, in accordance with standards of
practice which ensure that our members
provide the public with quality
pharmaceutical service and care.
Council Members
Council Members for Districts 1-17 are listed below according to District number. PM indicates a public member appointed by the
Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council. U of T indicates the Dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto.
U of W indicates the Director, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Joseph Hanna
Elaine Akers
Sherif Guorgui
Tracey Phillips
Donald Organ
Zita Semeniuk
Tracy Wiersema
Saheed Rashid
Bonnie Hauser
Gerald Cook
Christopher Leung
Peter Gdyczynski
Sanjiv Maindiratta
Stephen Clement
Jon MacDonald
Doris Nessim
Shelley McKinney
PM Joinal Abdin
PM Thomas Baulke
PM Corazon dela Cruz
PM Babek Ebrahimzadeh
PM James Fyfe
PM David Hoff
PM Margaret Irwin
PM Javaid Khan
PM Lewis Lederman
PM Aladdin Mohaghegh
PM Gitu Parikh
PM Joy Sommerfreund
U of T Henry Mann
U of W Jake Thiessen
Statutory Committees
• Executive
• Accreditation
• Discipline
• Fitness to Practice
• Inquiries Complaints & Reports
• Patient Relations
• Quality Assurance
• Registration
Standing Committees
• Communications
• Finance
• Professional Practice
Special Committees
• Standards of Practice Working Group
• Pharmacy Technicians Working Group
College Staff
Office of the Registrar x 2244
[email protected]
Registration Programs x 2250
[email protected]
Office of the Deputy Registrar/
Director of Professional Development
Pharmacy Connection Editor x 2241
[email protected]
Structured Practical Training Programs x 2297
[email protected]
Office of the Director of
Professional Practice x 2241
[email protected]
Office of the Director of Finance
and Administration x 2244
[email protected]
Investigations and Resolutions x 2274
[email protected]
Continuing Education Programs and
Continuing Competency Programs x 2273
[email protected]
Pharmacy Openings/Closings,
Pharmacy Sales/Relocation
[email protected]
Registration and Membership Information:
[email protected]
Pharmacy Technician Programs
[email protected]
Publications x 2229
[email protected]
contents
Interested in Serving on a College Committee?
10
Pharmacy Technicians on the Road to Regulation
12
Improving care for the elderly 15
Take a trip back to the beginnings of Pharmacy at
The Niagara Apothecary
19
Focus on Registration
22
regular features
Registrar’s Message
4
Editor’s Message
5
Council Report
6
Pharmacy Technician Q&A
14
Health Canada Notices
17
Did You Know... 20
Practice Q&A
21
Registration Q&A
24
SPT Q&A
25
Bulletin Board
26
Update on Technology
27
Deciding on Discipline
28
Focus on Error Prevention - Prescription Transfers
29
CE Resources
30
Laws & Regulations
31
Serve on a College Committee – page 10
The Road to Regulation – page 12
Visit the Niagara Apothecary – page 19
pharmacyconnection
July
• August
200817 • Number
Volume315 • Number 4
May/June
2010
Volume
The objectives of Pharmacy Connection are to communicate information on College activities and policies; encourage dialogue and to discuss issues of
interest with pharmacists; and to promote the pharmacist’s role among our members, allied health professions and the public.
We publish six times a year, in January, March, May, July, September and November. We welcome original manuscripts (that promote the objectives of the
journal) for consideration. The Ontario College of Pharmacists reserves the right to modify contributions as appropriate. Please contact the Associate Editor
for publishing requirements.
We also invite you to share your comments, suggestions or criticisms by letter to the Editor. Letters considered for reprinting must include the author’s
name, address and telephone number. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views or official position of the Ontario
College of Pharmacists.
Stephen Clement, R.Ph., B.Sc.Phm.
President
Deanna Williams, R.Ph., B.Sc.Phm., C.Dir., CAE
Registrar
Della Croteau, R.Ph., B.S.P., M.C.Ed.
Editor, Deputy Registrar,
Director of Professional Development
[email protected]
Anjali Baichwal
Associate Editor
[email protected]
Agostino Porcellini
Production & Design / Webmaster
[email protected]
ISSN 1198-354X
© 2010 Ontario College of Pharmacists
Canada Post Agreement #40069798
Undelivered copies should be returned to the
Ontario College of Pharmacists. Not to be reproduced
in whole or in part without the permission of the Editor.
Neil Hamilton
Distribution
[email protected]
10%
Cert no. SW-COC-2036
registrar’s message
Deanna Williams, R.Ph., B.Sc. Phm., C.Dir., CAE
Registrar
I
n many of my messages over the
years, I speak about the “challenges and opportunities” facing
our profession. Amidst recent government announcements respecting
changes to Ontario’s Public Drug System, it’s hard to look for opportunities
when all you can see in front of you
are challenges. But I believe that
opportunities do indeed exist—the
education on common subjects such
as anatomy, physiology and pathology is now routine, it’s a fact that no
other health professional receives the
extensive education and training in
bio-pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, or drug therapy
management that you do.
The days where pharmacy graduates were content, first after two,
The College trusts that amidst current challenges, all
pharmacists will be true to their professional roots
and do what is in the patient’s best interest.
real challenge is recognizing where
they exist and then taking them.
Over the past decade the College—with member support—has
worked towards gaining an expanded
scope of practice for pharmacists to
enable all pharmacists to practice to
the full extent of your education and
training. No other health professional
possesses the unique body of knowledge or the expertise in drug therapy
that a pharmacist does. Every health
care professional in Ontario has a
profession-specific body of knowledge that positions them to fulfill a
necessary and vital role in the health
care system. As pharmacists, your
expertise, knowledge and training
sets you aside from other health professionals. While inter-professional
4
pharmacyconnection • May/June 2010
and then after four years of education and training, to “count and pour,
lick and stick”—as we fondly referred
to dispensing—are gone. Today’s
new pharmacists are graduating after
at least five years of university, although many of these folks enter the
pharmacy programs with full degrees.
The undergraduate curricula
across Canada have undergone several revisions over the years, and today
are based on new outcome-based
and patient centered competencies.
These new pharmacists are ready to
embrace recent changes to legislation
that will permit registered pharmacy
technicians to responsibly assume
most of the technical aspects of dispensing so that as pharmacists, they
can embrace the role for which they
have been trained- that of experts in
medication therapy, monitoring and
management.
So, amidst the current challenges,
you ask where is there opportunity?
The business of pharmacy once again
is facing new challenges but what
does or should that have to do with
the health profession of pharmacy?
The business model may need to be
changed, but as you know, nothing
has ever precluded pharmacists from
charging a reasonable fee for the services they provide.
As the new scope of practice
for pharmacists unfolds this year
with pharmacists gaining five new
controlled acts, perhaps this is the
opportunity for you to demonstrate
to the public and other health professionals that, business challenges aside,
pharmacists are first and foremost
health care professionals. This means
fulfilling the public expectations that
they—and their care—come first
no matter what. Being professional
means that quality patient care is at
the forefront of every decision you
make on behalf of patients and the
College trusts that amidst current
challenges, that all pharmacists will
be true to their professional roots and
do what is in the patient’s best interest. The future of pharmacy—as a
health profession—depends on it.
editor’s message
Della Croteau, R.Ph., B.S.P., M.C.Ed.
Deputy Registrar/Director of Professional Development
S
pring is here and the students are finishing exams,
looking forward to working
for the summer--or not. Students
and faculty members at both our
faculties of pharmacy are worried
about the effects of the current
issues between pharmacies and
the government on the training
and development of future phar-
training for those coming into the
profession. Some pharmacists consider it an essential part of their
own continuing education. One
pharmacist told us “ I learn just as
much as the student–I am not sure
who is teaching whom.”
The students are telling us that
it’s difficult to focus on those final
exams when they are unsure as to
The profession of pharmacy has a long tradition of
apprenticeship and training for those coming into the
profession. Some pharmacists consider it an essential
part of their own continuing education.
macists. Right when students
should be settling down for their
final exams, they got news of potential cuts to their training sites.
Some pharmacies are taking a
wait-and-see attitude. Some pharmacists would like to take a student
but are unsure of the impact of the
proposed changes and want to see
how it all plays out.
And although this is a difficult
time for pharmacists, many of you
remember the opportunity given
to you by a pharmacist when you
were a student or intern, and are
fulfilling your commitment to train
students and interns. The profession of pharmacy has a long
tradition of apprenticeship and
whether or not they will be able
to get jobs once they complete all
this university training. As one student put it, “I better get studying
because if I don’t pass medicinal
chemistry, I wont have a future in
pharmacy to worry about!”
But I shared these statistics
with some of them: Close to 13
per cent of the population is over
65. Every seven seconds, a baby
boomer turns 60. Life expectancy
is 79 years. By the time all the baby
boomers retire, 38 per cent of the
population will be over 65. In other
words, we need these new pharmacists with their advanced skills to
keep us well and healthy.
There are 1,996 trained
preceptors in this province who
have provided opportunities for
students and interns. More than
300 of them currently have students and interns with them in
practice, and several more will be
attending preceptor workshops in
the next few weeks. We want to
thank those of you who are stepping up to provide placements for U
of T and Waterloo students as well
as the many students and interns
who come to us from other parts of
Canada, the U.S. and around the
world. In the face of uncertainty,
you are providing them opportunities to receive valuable training and
for some, to complete internship
and receive their license to practice. Thank you for your continued
support in the professional development of pharmacy.
5
council report - March 2010
Legislation Updates
Ms. Allison Henry, Manager, Regulatory Programs Unit at the Ministry
of Health and Long-Term Care,
was invited to attend the meeting
to provide Council with an update
respecting the Ministry’s progress
with regard to the College’s Registration Regulation which was
submitted to the Ministry on October 5, 2009.
The proposed Registration Regulation was amended last summer in
response to the Ministry’s request
to ensure the College’s compliance
with the requirements under the
proposed labour mobility legislation
(Bill 175) and to address concerns
expressed by the Office of Fairness
Commissioner with regard to the
non-exemptible requirements for
international pharmacy graduates.
Council noted that Bills 175 (the
Ontario Labour Mobility Act) and
179 (Regulated Health Professions
Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009)
both of which received Royal Assent on December 15, 2009 resulted
in shifted priorities for the Ministry
and impacted the regulatory approval processes for all regulatory
colleges. The Ministry recognizes
that the Registration Regulation
is critical to enable the College to
support the registration of pharmacy technicians, and Ms. Henry
acknowledged the efforts of College Council and staff in meeting all
deadlines in a timely manner and being available to consult and answer
questions respecting the intent and
purpose of the proposed regulations.
She cautioned that it was likely that
the Regulation may not be approved
6
by mid May but indicated that Ministry staff would continue to work
diligently to obtain final approval by
late spring or early summer.
Council noted that drafting of
remote dispensing regulations is proceeding with anticipated review by
the Professional Practice and Accreditation Committees before June
Council. The College considers it
critical that all regulatory amendments, including those to enable
remote dispensing, are incorporated
into one consolidated regulation so
Council Approves Audited Statements for College
Operations in 2009
As prepared by Clarke Henning LLP, Chartered Accountants
Statement of Operations – Year Ending December 31, 2009
Budget
Revenues
Member fees
$ 6,223,627
Pharmacy fees 2,773,030
Registration fees and income
878,169
Investment Income
230,000
$10,104,826
Expenses
Council and committees
2,805,518
Administration
7,808,839
Property
283,228
$10,897,585
Excess (deficiency) of revenues over
(792,759)
expenses from operations for year, before depreciation
Depreciation
-
Excess (deficiency) of revenues (792,759)
over expenses for the year
Actual
$ 6,179,268
2,831,983
1,011,675
53,192
$10,076,118
2,575,524
7,556,544
250,841
$10,382,909
(306,791)
424,683
$ (731,474)
The audit and resulting financial statements were prepared in accordance
with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Of note is that
of the $2.1 million approved by Council for the telecommuting initiative,
approximately $375,000 of the expenditure ($200,000 in expense and
$175,000 capital) will not be incurred until 2010. Taking into account this
deferral of expenditure, the statements reflect a deficit of revenue over expenditure of $506,000 vs. the budgeted deficit of $792,000.
that areas of potential “disconnect”
regarding the regulation of pharmacies may be avoided. Accordingly,
enabling provisions respecting remote dispensing are being written
into these consolidated regulatory
amendments to the DPRA (Drug
and Pharmacies Regulation Act).
It is the College’s intent to introduce these as a complete package
to the government. In addition,
stakeholder consultations and interprofessional health college meetings
have begun on the enhanced
scope of practice. Focus groups of
front-line practitioners will also be
conducted around the province to
inform the drafting of regulations
regarding scope.
By-law amendments
Ratified
Following circulation of a new general operating by-law, which amends
various sections of the current bylaw to incorporate changes to the
elections procedures, integration of
technician members and other miscellaneous matters to bring it in line
with current procedures and reflect
best practices, the by-law was also
further re-examined internally by
legal counsel to determine how to
address implementation in the event
that proclamation of the registration regulation and Pharmacy Act
changes enabling registration of
pharmacy technicians was not received in time for elections. To that
end, changes were proposed to several sections to enable the by-law
to come into force with provisions
for election of technicians to take
place upon passage of the regulatory
and legislative changes, should these
occur later.
Council ratified the by-laws
which became effective immediately. The new by-law, and the
schedules, can be accessed on the
College website at www.ocpinfo.
com.
Council Ratifies proposed
amendments to the Drug
and Pharmacies Regulation
Act
Subsequent to Council’s consideration and preliminary approval in
December 2009 of proposed
amendments to the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA) to
consolidate Regulations 551/90
and 297/96 and to amend certain
portions of the Regulations, the
consolidated version of the Regulations, together with a comparison
chart, was circulated to members
for comment.
Following the review of received
comments, some of which required
simple clarification and others which
repeated past submissions, five additional amendments were made:
- Replacing the definition of “electronic signature” with that in the
Electronic Commerce Act: (i.e.
“electronic information that a
person creates or adopts in order
to sign a document and that is in,
attached to or associated with the
document”)
- clarification that pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are drugs
in Ontario. Although it was the
intention of both the College and
the Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care that these substances
remain drugs when the definition
of a drug was revised in 2007, both
parties consider it important to
provide greater clarity since these
products are now also designated
as natural health products. Provision (f) of the definition of a drug
will ensure that they are sold in
a manner which protects against
diversion and illicit use
- A change in wording to the section concerning the knowledge
of the designated manager of the
specifics of any agreement where
a pharmacy discloses non patient
identifiable information to a third
party. A copy of such an agreement would not necessarily be
required to be provided to the
designated manager, but they must
be made aware of its existence
and be assured of the fact that no
patient identifiable information
would be included
- definition of “benefit” as it relates
to conflict of interest is clarified to
exclude those permitted by law
- clarification of section 40.(2) to
include “all prescription records” for
maintenance of records as opposed
to “written” prescriptions.
U of T’s Satellite IPG Pilot
receives approval
Council approved the University of
Toronto’s proposal for a one-time
pilot delivery of a satellite IPG Program in Egypt in spring 2010.
The faculty at the University of
Toronto has been considering strategies to improve access to the IPG
program both geographically and
financially and this program is being offered as a one time pilot, with
7
council report
the intent to evaluate the program
for achievement of student learning
outcomes, feasibility of delivery and
improved access to the profession of
pharmacy in Canada.
Admission criteria are the same
as for those students applying locally
and access will be open to anyone
who meets the entry criteria and
has the legal authority to attend
the program in Egypt (i.e. students
from other jurisdictions are eligible
provided they have the authority to
study in Egypt.) Students will also
be required to complete the last four
weeks of the program in Toronto.
Applicants will need to have completed the PEBC evaluating exam
and fluency prior to enrolling in the
pilot program, but would still be required to meet all of the remaining
entry-to-practice requirements, including studentship, internship, the
jurisprudence exam and the PEBC
qualifying exam.
There was recognition of the
need to ensure that graduates of the
program achieve the same learning
outcomes as students in the local
program and that a pilot such as this
would assist in determining the feasibility of offering such a program on
an ongoing basis.
international applicants pursuing
registration as a pharmacy technician. The proposal was to design
a program that would be approved
by the College and could be accessed and sustained through the
Community College system in Ontario over the long term.
International graduates applying for a certificate of registration
as a pharmacy technician, like the
international pharmacist graduates, will need to complete an
approved program that will provide
them with the learning opportunities needed to ensure they achieve
the knowledge, skills and judgment
at least equivalent to the graduates
of CCAPP accredited pharmacy
technician programs. This Bridging Program will include language
training and orientation to the
Canadian health care system, in
addition to the knowledge and
skills needed for practice as a pharmacy technician in Ontario.
In order to be eligible, applicants must have either completed
the OCP certification exam or,
have completed an international
pharmacy or pharmacy technician academic program and 2000
hours of eligible pharmacy practice
experience in any jurisdiction (credentials and practice experience to
be assessed by PEBC).
Council approves Pilot
Pharmacy Technician
Bridge Training Program
for Internationally trained
individuals
Sale of Non-Approved
Marketed Health Products
Centennial College, in response to
a call for proposals, has received
funding from the Ontario Ministry
of Citizenship and Immigration to
develop and pilot a program for
Council reviewed all information
and correspondence received to
date arising from the recently
released position statement by
NAPRA (National Association of
8
Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities)
and the corresponding advisory
notice sent to all pharmacists in
Ontario reminding them that, in
accordance with the long standing
position of the College, pharmacists should not sell products that
have not been approved by Health
Canada and/or obtained from
bona fide sources.
Although Council was made
aware that Health Canada is
working to address this matter
through regulatory proposals,
Council remains concerned that
permitting unapproved products to
be sold does not provide adequate
assurance that such products are
safe to be sold in pharmacies.
Without such assurances from
Health Canada, Council agreed
that the College’s advice to pharmacists should remain unchanged.
Accordingly, Council unanimously affirmed the College’s long
standing position that in order to
assure public safety and protection, pharmacists only purchase
and sell products that have been
approved by Health Canada and
obtained from bona fide sources.
This means that pharmacists
should not sell a marketed health
product without a Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural
Health Product Number (NPN)
or Drug Identification Number
for Homeopathic Medicine (DINHM), and further, should not
purchase or accept for sale any
marketed health products, including natural health products, that
do not possess a DIN, NPN or
DIN-HM.
Grants Approved
Council endorsed the Executive
Committee’s recommendation that
the College sponsor an education
session at OPA’s Annual Conference to be held June 17-19, 2010.
This year, the sponsorship, in the
sum of $2,500, is being provided
for the session entitled, “Intraprofessional collaboration: Engaging
pharmacists and technicians in the
new scope of practice model”. Registrar Williams has also been invited
by the OPA to participate in panel
discussions at the Conference.
ePrescribing
Demonstration Project
Extension Approved
Following receipt of correspondence from the physician and
pharmacist leads of the two pilot
sites for ePrescribing in Ontario,
this College, together with the College of Nurses of Ontario and the
College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Ontario, agreed to support the
extension of the pilot project for a
period of 6 months (to end of June
2010). The extension will allow all
the Colleges access to a more complete evaluation and will help in the
development of the Provincial Drug
Information System.
eHealth Provider Registry
Update
As reported previously, the College has been asked to participate
in the eHealth Ontario Provider
Registry Data Feed Project. The
purpose of the Registry is to serve
as a comprehensive source for the
positive identification of all health
care providers using eHealth solutions in Ontario. Participation
involves providing eHealth Ontario
with specific information about
each of its members for validation
purposes.
The majority of the information
is public in that it is contained in
the College’s register. Some of the
information however, is not public, namely: date of birth, date of
death, gender, email address and
language of choice. The College
undertook a legal review to determine the appropriateness of sharing
this information with eHealth for
purposes of the Registry Data Feed
Project. The review looked at the
issue from the perspective of authority, and interests of the College
and its members.
Council was satisfied that the
collection and disclosure of this
information is supported by the
College’s By-law as it relates to the
professional characteristics and
activities of its members that may
assist the College in carrying out its
objects - namely that the Registry
is part of a province-wide effort to
provide for greater collaboration and
information sharing between health
profession colleges and others, and
to respond to technological and
other changes in practice environments. Disclosure of the information
for validation of identity in the
Registry is also in the interests of
members as the development of a
harmonized eHealth system for Ontario is intended to improve patient
care and safety by facilitating the
sharing of information among health
care providers.
NAPRA/PEBC
Representatives Appointed
Council confirmed Ms. Tracy
Wiersema’s appointment as the College’s representative on the NAPRA
(National Association of Pharmacy
Regulatory Authorities) Board. Ms.
Wiersema’s appointment is effective
February 2010 to December 2011.
Council also affirmed Mr. Gdyczynski’s appointment to PEBC.
Mr. Gdyczynski was appointed for
a three-year term beginning in 2009
and was recently elected PEBC’s
President. Both representatives
will report to Council following the
annual general meetings of these
organizations.
Council Meeting
Dates for 2010
June 7 & 8, 2010 and
September 13 & 14, 2010.
For information, please contact
Ms. Ushma Rajdev at
[email protected]
9
non-council committees
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians:
Interested in Serving on a College Committee?
Consider participating as a
non-Council
Committee Member
U
nder the Regulated Health Professions Act, the College committee
structure requires the appointment
of members who are not elected
members of Council to its various
committees. In addition, members with particular experience or expertise are also required from time to time to
serve on various special committees, working groups and
task forces.
The statutory and standing committees that require participation by a non-council member are listed
below, together with a brief description of their terms of
reference.
Both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are encouraged to apply (pharmacy technicians see page 11 for
details).
by field staff where the pharmacy has failed to comply
with the requirements for maintenance, record keeping
and ownership.
The Communications Committee is a standing committee of the College. It is charged with dealing with all
matters supporting public education and outreach, including, but not limited to, raising awareness of the value of
both the profession and the College.
The Accreditation Committee is a statutory committee that considers matters relating to the operation
of pharmacies in Ontario. These matters include operational requirements, ownership, supervision and the
distribution of drugs in the pharmacy. The Committee also
reviews issues relating to pharmacy inspections conducted
The Fitness to Practise Committee considers incapacity matters referred by the ICRC.
10
The Discipline Committee*, through selected panels,
hears allegations of professional misconduct against members as referred by various Committees of the College.
Upon finding the member guilty of professional misconduct, the panel has the authority to revoke, suspend or
limit a member’s registration, impose a fine, or reprimand
the member.
The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee*
(ICRC) screens matters related to public complaints or
information the College receives through reports. The
Committee reviews written materials and determines
whether a hearing is required, or if some other action
would address the public interest.
The Patient Relations Committee’s legislative requirements are to develop and monitor a Sexual Abuse
Prevention Plan as well as to monitor the College’s Patient Relations Program and make recommendations to
Council on ways to enhance relations between members
and patients.
The Quality Assurance Committee is responsible for
developing and maintaining the College’s Quality Assurance
Program, which includes such components as continuing
education, a two-part register, minimum practice requirements and a practice review process. The goal of the Quality
Assurance Program is to support continued competence
and to encourage continuing professional development of
registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The Registration Committee* establishes the
conditions and qualif ications for registration. The
Committee reviews, through panels, the eligibility of
applicants when the registrar has doubts about their
ability to meet the requirements. A panel of the Registration Committee may exempt an applicant from a
portion of the entry-to-practice requirements when the
applicant provides sufficient assurance to the committee that they have the appropriate level of knowledge
and skills.
The number of days required by members to serve
on each committee varies according to the frequency of
meetings and agenda.
* The Discipline, ICRC and Registration Committees
all operate using panels comprised by alternating committee members. Members of the committee will be selected
to serve on panels to consider the matters presented and
panels are convened approximately once a month.
To be eligible for consideration for appointment,
you must:
•hold a valid Certificate of Registration as a pharmacist or as a pharmacy technician (Those pharmacy
technicians who have met the requirements of licensure and are awaiting the passing of the legislation are
encouraged to submit their resumes for consideration)
• either practise or reside in Ontario
• not be in default of payment of any fees prescribed in
the By-Laws
• not be the subject of any disciplinary or incapacity
proceeding
• not have your Certificate of Registration revoked or
suspended in the six (6) years preceding the date of
the appointment
• not have your Certificate of Registration subject to a
term, condition or limitation other than one prescribed
by regulation and
• not have a conflict of interest in respect of the Committee to which you are to be appointed
You will need to submit a letter of interest stating the
committee(s) on which you would like to serve, along
with a brief resume and any other information you deem
useful. Non-council committee members are required to
serve a one-year term and the President, in conjunction
with the chairs of the committees, makes committee appointments at the beginning of each Council year. You
will be contacted after the Council meeting has taken place
(September 13 and 14, 2010) if you have been appointed to
serve on a Committee.
If you are interested in being considered for an
appointment to a committee, or for more information on non-Council Committee representation, contact
Ms. Ushma Rajdev, Council & Executive Liaison, at
416-962-4861, ext. 243; email [email protected].
11
pharmacy technicians
Pharmacy Technicians on
the Road to Regulation
Pharmacy technicians on the regulation route agree
that the challenges will be worth it
by Stuart Foxman
T
racy Wills has had an accomplished career as a pharmacy
technician, working at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor
and part-time for Shoppers Drug
Mart. Still, she says, “no matter how
much experience you have, there’s so
much more to know.”
Wills, one of two pharmacy technician observers on the Ontario
College of Pharmacists council, has
spent the past two years pursuing
regulation. She is one of the many
pharmacy technicians currently
completing the required courses and
exams, with a view to becoming part
of the first round of registered pharmacy technicians later this year.
“With all the changes in the profession, the more knowledgeable
you are, the more valuable you
become,” says Wills. She should
know. Not only is Wills a student,
she also instructs in the pharmacy
technician program at Windsor’s St.
Clair College.
As Wills and her counterparts
travel along the road to regulation,
how do pharmacy technicians and
12
Patricia Hayton and Tracy Wills
employers view the process?
“I’ve been waiting for this a long
time,” says Mary Bozoian, business
integrity consultant with ESI Canada, a Mississauga-based pharmacy
benefits management company, and
interim president of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians.
She recalls discussions about
regulation dating back to the early
1990s, so when word of pharmacy
technician regulation came about,
she jumped at the chance to finally
pursue the educational requirements.
“If you can expand your knowledge,
learn new skills, and better understand the pharmacy practice,” says
Bozoian, “why wouldn’t you do it?”
Bozoian feels that becoming regulated will bolster her credibility and
accountability. Employers agree
that regulation advances the field.
Christine Donaldson, regional pharmacy director at
Windsor-Essex Hospitals, says that as pharmacists
are assuming greater responsibilities, regulation helps
pharmacy technicians to keep pace.
“It allows both of us to keep moving forward. These
are exciting developments for the entire profession,”
says Donaldson.
Technicians pursuing regulation admit that at times,
seeing the long-term benefits to your career (and to
the profession overall) can be difficult when you’re
focused on the short-term demands of balancing
education with a job. But the pharmacy technicians
who’ve already done so encourage their colleagues to
take on the challenge.
“It wasn’t easy, but it was manageable,” says Patricia Hayton, a pharmacy technician with the Rouge
Valley Health System, Centenary Site, in Scarborough. “The growth that technicians have achieved,
and are about to embark on, will welcome more
opportunities to showcase our abilities in this new
expanded role. Regulation validates the dedication
and hard work that pharmacy technicians perform
on a daily basis.”
For Linda Sparrow, coordinator of professional
practice at Dell Pharmacy, a chain in the HamiltonNiagara area, regulation “adds strength and more
responsibility to the role.”
Sparrow reports that 25 per cent of Dell’s pharmacy
technicians are engaged in the bridging program. In
the health care delivery model, she says the pharmacy
as a whole is playing an increasingly central role, and
that, with regulation, pharmacy technicians will only
enhance their standing.
Wills agrees. She says that every course she took
gave her more confidence and a greater understanding
of pharmacy practices and the reasons behind them. As
someone who works in a hospital and a retail setting,
she knows that becoming a regulated pharmacy technician will help her to fulfill her primary duty in both.
“Patient safety should be our first concern,” she
says. “The only way to do that is by being up-todate on how things are changing in our profession and
scope of practice.”
Upcoming dates
for Pharmacy
Technicians:
PEBC Evaluating Exam
Next exam: September 18, 2010
Registration deadline: June 28, 2010
Note: Individuals currently in the profession
who wish to pursue regulation in Ontario and
require this exam must do so by Jan. 1, 2012
That means there are only three
opportunities left!
PEBC Qualifying Exam
Next exam: Aug 28, 2010 (written exam),
Aug 29, 2010 (performance exam)
Note: applicants may choose to write one or both
parts of the Qualifying exam within the same session
Applications and exam details are available on
the PEBC website (www.pebc.ca)
Jurisprudence Exam
Next exam: July 21, 2010
Registration opens: May 17, 2010
Note: applicants must be CCAPP graduates or have
passed the OCP certification exam or PEBC
evaluating exam. Completion of the Bridging
Program is strongly recommended prior to sitting
the exam.
This exam must be completed within three years
of meeting all the requirements for registration as a
pharmacy technician.
See the OCP website for registration details.
13
pharmacy technician Q&A
Susan James, BScOT, MPA
Manager, Registration Programs
Understanding the role of the un-regulated technician
Q
In the January/February 2010 issue of Pharmacy
Connection the College stated that there will be
some people who choose not to become regulated
and that in many of those cases they will still be able
to perform the same job that they are currently in.
My employer has told me that if I do not choose to
become regulated, they can not allow me to continue
doing the same job. Who is correct?
This is a complex issue. Many pharmacy technicians, particularly those working in a hospital setting, have been
performing aspects of the controlled act of “selling, dispensing and compounding a drug” under a delegated model
of practice. Under the Regulated Health Professions Act,
controlled acts are only to be performed by professionals
with the legislated authority to do so. When delegation
is used, the professional who transfers the authority to
perform the act remains accountable for the performance
of the person to whom they have delegated it.
In the past, this mechanism of transferring authority
allowed many pharmacy technicians to perform their job
without requiring direct supervision and double checking by the pharmacist. The government has always been
clear however, that delegation should not be used to
bypass regulation where it exists. Once the legislation
to regulate pharmacy technicians is in effect, it will allow pharmacy technicians (i.e. those registered with the
College) to perform the technical aspects of dispensing
and compounding with greater independence, as a result of being accountable for their own practice. In fact,
one of the reasons the government decided to regulate
pharmacy technicians was the fact that many of them
were already performing this task without the safeguards
that regulation of the profession provides to the public.
14
As stated previously, many hospitals are requiring
their staff to become registered with the College and in
making this decision, many of them have considered the
risk management issues related to using regulated and
non-regulated workers. Requiring the use of regulated
professionals not only means they have demonstrated
that they have the necessary knowledge, skill and ability
to perform their job, but also ensures that their practice
will be held to the standards of the profession and that
they will be required to demonstrate their continued
competence over time.
There are a number of factors that employers need
to review when determining not only if they will require
registration, but also the tasks that non-regulated personnel will be able to perform. As a transition measure
some employers may continue to use the delegation
model while their staff prepares to become regulated.
At a future point however, it is reasonable to expect
that employers will restrict performance of the controlled act of dispensing and compounding to regulated
professionals.
geriatric report
Improving care for the elderly
Chief Coroner’s Geriatric and Long Term Care Review
Committee makes recommendations concerning the use of
drugs in the elderly
T
he Geriatric and Long Term Care Review Committee reports to the Chief Coroner for the
Province of Ontario. Cases are referred to this
committee from a variety of sources, including local coroners. The committee conducts an independent review
of the available records relevant to the specific case and
prepares a final report which includes recommendations
aimed towards the prevention of future deaths in similar
circumstances. In 2008, the Geriatric and Long Term Care
Review Committee reviewed a total of 18 cases which
resulted in 46 recommendations. The recommendations
are intended to promote discussion and initiate change.
The recommendations focused on issues and concerns
relating to: medical and nursing management, communication and documentation, use of drugs in the elderly,
admissions, discharge and transfer procedures, and the
acute care and long term care industry in Ontario. Below
are the recommendations concerning the use of drugs in
the elderly. Pharmacists who are part of a team working
in long term care of geriatrics may also wish to review
the other recommendations which apply to all health
professionals. Within the areas of concern, there are recommendations which tend to be repeated yearly and may
indicate a systemic risk to the elderly.
Recommendations concerning the
use of drugs in the elderly:
• Health care professionals should be reminded that the
decision to prescribe antipsychotic medications for demented patients requires careful consideration of the
benefits of using these medications and the potential
for the development of side effects. Rarely, if ever, are
dopaminergic or anticholinergic medications of value
in the management of the side effects or antipsychotic
medications prescribed for elderly demented patients.
Rather, discontinuation of the medications or alternative
medication strategies should be pursued.
• A ll acute and long term care institutions in the Province of Ontario should have a policy and procedure to
calculate the appropriate dosing of medications for ill
15
geriatric report
elderly patients with renal impairment. The importance
of utilizing a pharmacist in establishing and adjusting the
dosages of medications for ill elderly patients cannot be
overemphasized.
• The hospital should develop and institute a professional
practice policy to identify medications requiring careful
clinical monitoring at the time of discharge from the intensive care unit. The importance of direct physician to
physician communication as part of this policy cannot be
overemphasized.
• Health care professionals should be reminded of the
importance of monitoring medications prescribed in the
elderly. Even when medications such as analgesics are
16
required in the elderly, toxic side effects may still occur.
commonly prescribed oral hypoglycaemic medication Glyburide may cause hypoglycaemia in the elderly even in the
presence of frequently high blood sugars.
abrupt discontinuation of beta blockers should be done
with extreme caution.
The complete list of recommendations and case reviews
are available on the website of the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections at www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca
Select “Chief Coroner” then “Publications and Reports.”
health canada advisories & notices
April 9, 2010
Health Canada, in consultation with GlaxoSmithKline, has revised the provisional expiry date of the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine (Arepanrix).
This revision is not safety–related but is due to a decline in strength of the H1N1 antigen in specific lots.
April 9, 2010
Further to the recent regulatory recommendations in the United States and European Union to not approve Zeftera due to concerns
regarding the conduct of clinical trials, Janssen-Ortho Inc., in collaboration with Health Canada, decided to issue a Notice to Hospitals
regarding the discontinuation of sale of Zeftera (ceftobiprole medocaril) on April 16th, 2010.
March 31, 2010
Health Canada is warning Canadians that an unauthorized health product, “West Pharm Therma Lean Fat Burner Energizer” was found on
the Canadian market. West Pharm Therma Lean Fat Burner Energizer contains Ephedrine and caffeine, which combined together, may cause
serious and possibly fatal adverse effects. Canadians suffering from heart conditions, high blood pressure and diabetes are among those
particularly at risk. The product was distributed across Canada via the internet by Nutrition First (www.nutritionfirst.ca), a company located
in Nova Scotia.
March 25, 2010
Health Canada is warning Canadians that an unauthorized health product, “Herbal Diet Natural” has been found on the Canadian market
and contains an undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient similar to the prescription drug sibutramine. Sibutramine may pose serious health
risks, particularly to people with heart problems.
March 25, 2010
WinRho SDF (Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human)) Association with Intravascular Hemolysis in the Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic
Purpura (ITP)- Important New Prescribing Information - Cangene Corporation. Resulting from the analysis of reports of intravascular
hemolysis, changes to the prescribing information for WinRho SDF for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have been
made. These changes include new contraindications and conditions of use.
March 23, 2010
Health Canada is advising consumers that Ratiopharm Inc., of Mirabel, Quebec, has voluntarily recalled all units from two lots (Lot HF26
and Lot HF27) of the prescription drug Ratio-Prednisolone Ophthalmic Solution (DIN 00700401) in 1.0% strength because some bottles may
contain particles that could lead to increased eye irritation.
March 22, 2010
Health Canada is informing health care professionals and Canadians of changes to the labelling information for the prescription antibiotic
Avelox (moxifloxacin). The updated labelling incorporates important safety information related to the rare risk of severe liver injury.
March 20, 2010
LifeScan has initiated a voluntary recall of specific lots of OneTouch SureStep Test Strips because they may provide false low test results
when blood glucose is greater than 22.2 mmol/L. Customers are asked to contact LifeScan immediately to find out if their test strips are
affected.
March 15, 2010
Health Canada would like to remind the thousands of Canadians who rely on medical devices or systems with internal clocks to check these
devices to ensure they switch from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 2:00 a.m.
March 11, 2010
There are new changes to the Dose Conversion Guidelines - Janssen-Ortho Inc., Cobalt Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Canada Limited, Ranbaxy
Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., ratiopharm inc., Sandoz Canada Inc. and Pharmascience Inc. The morphine dose conversion ratio (parenteral
versus oral) is now of 1:3. The conversion doses of IV/IM morphine to Fentanyl Transdermal Systems (patch strengths of 75, 87 and 100 mcg/
hour) were revised to “not applicable” to reflect the insufficiency of data available for guidance.
March 8, 2010
Health Canada is warning Canadians that an unapproved health product, “Power-Max” contains sildenafil, a prescription medication was
found on the Canadian market in Ontario. Sildenafil may pose serious health risks, particularly to people with heart problems.
March 1, 2010
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following foreign health products due to concerns about possible adverse reactions: 2H
& 2D, Products distributed by Atlas Operations Inc., Products distributed by Bodybuilding.com, STRO Emperor Capsules and Tian Yang Xu
Huo Oral Ulcer Capsule.
February 16, 2010
Accutane has been associated with cases of severe skin reactions (e.g. toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and erythema
multiforme).
February 11, 2010
Dana Douglas Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of certain neXus I, II and III rollators which may break during use resulting in the user
falling and suffering serious injury including bruising, broken bones or death.
February 9, 2010
Health Canada is advising consumers that the unauthorized product “Complete 7-Day Cleanse” is being recalled because it contains a
number of active ingredients with a combined effect that may pose serious health risks.
For complete information & electronic mailing of the Health Canada Advisories/Warnings/Notices subscribe online at:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/index_e.html
MedEffect e-Notice is the new name which replaces Health Canada’s Health_Prod_Info mailing list.
The content of the e-notices you receive will remain the same and are now part of MedEffect, a new Health Canada Web site dedicated to adverse
reaction information. MedEffect can be visited at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/index_e.html
Health Canada Notices are also linked under “Notices” on the OCP website: www.ocpinfo.com
17
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ONTARIO’S PUBLIC DRUG SYSTEM
O
Feedback Shows Another
Side to the Debate
ver the past several weeks, the College has received many letters, emails and phone calls from members about the provincial government’s
proposed changes to Ontario’s public drug system. Many members have
told us how they fear these proposed changes will affect their practice
and their ultimate role as a healthcare provider. While much of what we
have heard – and indeed what is reflected in the public domain – focuses on the negative
impact the proposed changes will have on pharmacies, particularly those outside of the
GTA, the College has also heard from members who are truly trying to recognize and
seize opportunities and to view the situation as a positive step forward.
Here are some examples of the positive feedback the College has received:
“The funding and business model aside, pharmacists should be poised to make
the most of the impending increases to our scope of practice. It is the biggest
opportunity the profession has ever seen.”
“In all of this debate, we have not considered the opportunities provided
through the licensing of pharmacy technicians – just doom and gloom, with
the scenario of the pharmacist hidden in the back of the dispensary checking
prescriptions. Licensing technicians may free up more time for the pharmacist to
interact with patients and prescribers—regardless of the business model.”
“I don’t think pharmacists should be using patient interaction as a bargaining
tool. I don’t think removing consultation in the interest of profits should even
be up for discussion.”
“I really think our expanded roles as pharmacists in the future and payment
for such services will keep our profession strong. I look forward to the changes
OCP has for us and our patients.”
“I’m extremely pleased with the College’s forethought and work into shaping
the future of pharmacy. If pharmacy staff put as much effort into counselling
patients as they have in getting petitions signed, we have absolutely no
concerns about the future of pharmacy!”
18
niagara apothecary
History Re-Opens for the Season
Take a trip back to the beginnings of Pharmacy at The Niagara Apothecary
S
pring is here and there’s never
been a more perfect time to
go to Niagara-on-the-Lake
and visit the origins of pharmacy at
The Niagara Apothecary. The National Historic site is operated by the
OCP and is open from Mother’s Day
to Labour Day.
Once inside the doors of the
Apothecary, visitors are taken back
to the way pharmacists practiced
over 100 years ago. Liquor by the
barrel or the bottle (and even by
the glass), flavourings, paints, dyes,
leeches, tobacco and snuff–these
were the stock-in-trade of a 19thcentury pharmacy. Rows of patent
medicines, “miracle cure-alls” for
everything from hair loss to tuberculosis are on the shelves. The only
restorative ingredients in most patent remedies of the time were opiates
and alcohol, so pharmacists were
handy with a mortar and pestle to
custom-make prescriptions.
The Apothecary is the only surviving building in the region from
the 19th century and was a working
pharmacy between 1820 and 1964.
It operated for over 100 years under
a succession of six owners, closing in
1964. The Ontario Heritage Trust
acquired the property, led its restoration and opened it as a museum in
1971.Today it is a museum showcasing
mid-Victorian architecture and authentic 19th century pharmaceutical
materials such as bottles and jars imported from Britain during the 1830s,
and original show globes, which were
placed in windows to indicate that
the building was a pharmacy.
The original interior fittings of
the Apothecary, all in use until 1964,
have been painstakingly restored.
The hub of the Apothecary was the
ornately carved dispensary, which
dominates the rear of the museum.
With the exception of certain proprietary drugs, even pills were made at
the dispensary.
Farewell Ernie
Curator Ernst (Ernie) Stieb retiring after 40 years
Ernie and his wife Cathy,
at the Niagara Apothecary
After 40 years as a volunteer curator for the Niagara Apothecary, Ernie Stieb
is retiring. A Registered Pharmacist in Ontario since 1953, Ernie has managed
the facility since opening day in 1971. Over the years, he has overseen the
restoration of the professional practice aspects of the 1866 building as well as
the exhibits and maintenance of historical archives.
Ernie graduated from the University of Toronto in 1952 with B.Sc.Phm, before
obtaining an M.Sc.Phm in 1955 and Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin in
1959. There, he served as Associate Professor of pharmacy until 1967 when
he returned to U of T’s pharmacy faculty. From 1967 to 1995, Ernie held a
variety of positions as the faculty, including professor, assistant, associate and
acting Dean. A Kitchener resident, Ernie has been married to his wife, Cathy,
for more than 50 years and has two children. Under Ernie’s direction, the
Apothecary has been a must-see attraction in Niagara-on-the-Lake, offering
visitors a glimpse into the origins of the profession. On behalf of the College,
we wish Ernie all the best and thank him for his dedication and time!
19
professional practice
Did You Know?
Jessie Dufour, R.Ph. and Nadia Sutcliffe, R.Ph.
Did You Know? is a regular feature in Pharmacy Connection. It’s a series of quick pointers reminding
pharmacists and technicians of their legal and practice obligations from an inspector’s perspective, aimed at
focusing on issues and incorporating best practices into Ontario pharmacies.
DID YOU KNOW …
… that the Point of Care sign should be displayed in
such a way that it can be viewed from outside the pharmacy? The main entrance or window are good locations.
… that the Regulations under the DPRA require that
no food be kept in the fridge where medications are
stored? All food and drink for consumption must be stored
in a separate fridge.
… that, as a designated manager, you are responsible
for ensuring that all stock in the pharmacy, dispensary
and front shop, is checked regularly for expiry dates? … that maintenance of the pharmacy is important and
can affect how the public perceives the professionalism of the pharmacist? If the dispensary and front shop
, 2010
April 25
20
are cluttered, messy and disorganized, this could lead to
health and safety issues, as well as increasing the potential
for dispensing errors. Refer to the article, “Maintaining
a Professional Workplace Environment” in the January/
February 2007 Pharmacy Connection.
…that plans for building a pharmacy within a medical
clinic must allow for a physically separate space between the dispensary and the clinic? The square footage
of the medical clinic is NOT included in the total square
footage of the pharmacy. Only the portion of the premises which contains the dispensary (within the enclosure)
will be considered. The space must be continuous and
inaccessible to anyone other than dispensary staff. Please
refer to Guidelines for Subdivided Pharmacies on the OCP
website.
practice Q&A
Shakti Sawh
Practice Advisory Officer
Q
Can “Request for Refill” or “Re-authorization”
forms be considered new prescriptions? Can
these forms be used for narcotics, controlled
substances and non-narcotics?
Provided that there are no changes to the information on
the form, and that the form is signed and dated by the
prescriber, they may be considered as a new prescription.
This also applies to narcotics, controlled substances and
non-narcotics.
Reminder: a “controlled substance” is defined in the Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA), and refers to
any substance listed in Schedules I, II, III, IV and V of the
Act. These schedules include controlled drugs, narcotics,
benzodiazepines and targeted substances. Once signed
and dated, the information on the form meets all of the
requirements of a new prescription.
Q
Is there a difference between the classes of drugs
which Chiropodists and Podiatrists can prescribe?
The College of Chiropodists of Ontario regulates both
Chiropodists and Podiatrists. A chiropody and podiatry
class member holding a general of academic class certificate of registration may prescribe a drug set out in
Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 respectively to this regulation,
if the member complies with their standards of practice.
Use the web link below to access the Chiropody Act,
which identifies the specific drugs within each category
stated below.
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_940203_e.htm. For more information, refer to
the College of Chiropodists of Ontario, http://www.cocoo.on.ca/.
Regulation 203/94 made under the Chiropody Act, 1991
Last amendment 338/08, September 26th 2008
Prescribing Scope of Chiropodists
Prescribing Scope of Podiatrists
Schedule 2 of Chiropody Act
Schedule 3 of Chiropody Act
antibiotics for topical use
antibiotics for topical use
antifungal for topical use
antifungal for topical use
analgesics for topical use
analgesics for topical use
astringents for topical use
astringents for topical use
corticosteroids for topical use
corticosteroids for topical use
caustics for topical use
caustics for topical use
immune response modifiers for topical use
immune response modifiers for topical use
wound healing agents/dressings for topical use
wound healing agents/dressings for topical use
antibiotics for oral use
antibiotics for oral use
NSAIDS for oral use
NSAIDS for oral use
anxiolytics for oral use
21
fairness commissioner
Focus on
Registration
College’s annual report to the Fairness Commissioner
highlights accessible information and consultation
for registrants.
I
n accordance with the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act,
Ontario’s Office of the Fairness Commissioner exists
to require certain professions to review registration practices, submit reports about them and undergo compliance
audits to ensure that registration is fair for all applicants.
In accordance with the College’s annual requirement to
do so, OCP recently submitted the 2009 Fair Registration
Practices Report.
Highlights of the 2009 Report:
In general, OCP’s Registration information is accessible
and nimble:
• T he Registration Program staff are responsible for
updating the licensing portion of the website and ensuring it is current, accurate and presented in a user
friendly manner. Changes to the information are made
if a requirement changes or when improvements are
identified based on questions and feedback received
by the College from applicants, members or other
stakeholders.
• OCP has a robust series of information sessions for
international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) who are just
beginning the registration process or considering registration in Ontario. The College reported on the two
live presentations that were held in 2009 in conjunction with staff from Health Force Ontario(HFO), the
22
International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) Program and
the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. At the
session, attendees receive handouts that are updated
from feedback from previous participants. Questions
and answers in both a group and individual setting are
also provided.
• T he College’s Client Services department is able
to answer phone calls and e-mails during business
hours. Each day, a Client Services staff member
available to meet with individuals for walk-in or
scheduled appointments at the College office. These
staff members are trained to address questions about
the registration requirements and process or to process applications.
• Registration fees for international graduates are the
same as domestic graduates.
• T he average time to complete registration does not
differ greatly from domestic graduates, but timings of
the required examinations play a part in the timing of
the process.
• T he top five countries from which International Pharmacy graduates originate are Egypt, India, Philippines,
Pakistan and the U.K.
The full report to the Fairness Commissioner is available on OCP’s website at www.ocpinfo.com and search
“reports and statistics”
OCP Registration – some highlights
• O ver the past five years, there has been a 12 per cent
increase in the number of pharmacists licensed in
Ontario
• In 2009, consistent with past years, 30 per cent of
licensed pharmacists were internationally-trained
• O ver the past five years, OCP has seen a 40 per cent
International Pharmacy
Graduate Program –
a great resource for
international graduates
Over the past ten years, more than 525
increase in the total amount of registered students
international pharmacists and students have taken
and interns
advantage of the International Pharmacy Graduate
• Of this number, there has been a 55 per cent increase
Program (IPG) at the University of Toronto.
in Canadian registered students and interns primarily
A unique “best practices” bridging program, the
due to increased enrolment at the University of Toronto
IPG program is designed to assist pharmacists
and the opening of a new program at the University
trained in countries outside Canada and
of Waterloo
international graduates to meet Canadian entry-topractice standards. The university-based curriculum
means graduates have access to practical courses
delivered by an experienced faculty.
The IPG Program is comprised of two modules:
Canadian Pharmacy Skills (CPS) I and II. Drawing
upon material from courses offered in the
undergraduate program, the content provides
enculturation to Canadian pharmacy practice and
training for entry-level competence. Therapeutics,
law, practice management, pharmaceutical care,
drug information and the Canadian health care
system are just a few of the content areas covered.
Students also gain critical language, workplace, and
practice skills necessary for licensure in Canada.
The IPG program boats a 92% success rate in
licensing examinations.
Various links to the IPG Program website are
available from the College’s website.
23
registration Q&A
Susan James, BScOT, MPA
Manager, Registration Programs
Q
I have heard that the OCP Pharmaceutical
Jurisprudence Exam is changing from having a
four year expiry date to a three year expiry date. Is
that true and when would the change happen?
Yes this is true. The proposed Registration Regulation
(available on the OCP website) states that when an applicant applies to become a pharmacist they must have
successfully completed the jurisprudence exam within
three years of when they have met all of the other requirements for the issuance of a certificate of registration. This
requirement also applies to the jurisprudence exam for
pharmacy technicians.
The shift from four years to three years for currency
of the exam is due to the frequency with which the laws
affecting pharmacy practice have been changing. For
example, over the last couple years there have been significant changes to the Regulated Health Professions Act,
the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act, the Pharmacy
Act and the regulations under each of these Acts; and
more changes to these regulations are anticipated over
the next few years.
This change in the currency of the exam will occur
when the proposed Registration Regulation takes effect.
The regulation is currently in the final stage of approval
with the government and while we cannot predict exactly
when it will be approved, we do expect it will be within
the next few months (by fall 2010). It is therefore important to consider if you will be able to complete all of
the registration requirements to become a pharmacist (or
pharmacy technician) within three years of completing
the jurisprudence exam.
24
Q
Is it true that the government provides bursaries
for students attending the International
Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) program at the University of
Toronto?
Yes. As stated on the Ministry of Training, Colleges and
Universities website (at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/
tcu/adultlearning/faqs.html) “The Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) provides bursaries
of up to $5,000 to cover direct education costs (tuition,
books and equipment) for participants attending nonOSAP approved, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
(MCI) funded bridge training programs offered by Ontario
colleges or universities”.
The IPG program at U of T is one of the approved
programs under this new bursary program. Individuals
currently registered in the program or who plan to register
in the program before March 31, 2011 should request an
application for the bursary from the Financial Aid Office
of the university or speak with the program administrator
of the IPG program. Funding is based on student financial
need, as defined by the policies of the university. This is
currently a pilot program and it is not known if funding
will continue beyond the above date. More information
is available on the Ministry website.
spt Q&A
Deanna Yee, R.Ph., BScPhm, MSc
Registration Advisor
Q
Why doesn’t the OCP give us the references to
complete each activity in the SPT program?
The Structured Practical Training (SPT) activities are
designed to standardize the studentship or internship
rotation. The experiential nature of the training is structured by the activities. By completing the activities in a
pharmacy practice site where you will be providing patient care, you will have opportunities throughout your
rotation to demonstrate the competencies for which you
will be assessed by your preceptor. Finding information
from appropriate references is a competency itself, and
an activity that you will likely repeat throughout your
pharmacy career.
The fourth entry-to-practice competency developed
by NAPRA (the National Association of Pharmacy
Regulatory Authorities), Drug, Therapeutic and Practice
Information, states that “Pharmacists assume responsibility for accessing, retrieving, evaluating and exchanging
relevant information to ensure safe and effective patient
care.” Three of the elements for this competency that
pharmacists are expected to demonstrate at entry-topractice are the ability to:
4.2 Identify appropriate sources of relevant information,
using evidence-informed approaches where possible.
4.3 Retrieve information from relevant sources.
4.4 Evaluate scientific information.
Providing references to complete the activities would
not allow you to demonstrate to your preceptor or the
OCP your competency in this area.
Q
Some of the activities in the program seem so
easy. Why?
The SPT activities are designed to provide opportunities for you to demonstrate to your preceptor all of the
NAPRA entry-to-practice competencies. The SPT
studentship activities and internship activities are the
same for all students and interns, respectively, regardless
of your place of graduation or previous work experience.
Since knowledge and skills differ among students or interns based on their education and previous training,
the ease with which they complete an activity will also
differ. For this reason a standardized, comprehensive
competency-based assessment is required. For example,
students and interns who have worked extensively as a
pharmacy assistant or as a pharmacist in another country
may be able to demonstrate some of the competency
elements in the Drug Distribution and Management
Knowledge and Skills competencies earlier in the rotation. The flexibility of scheduling activities within the
SPT studentship or internship program enables the student or intern to demonstrate the competencies he/she
is familiar with early in the rotation, while placing greater
focus on the remaining competencies for the rest of the
rotation.
Q
What is the purpose of a reflection in the SPT
activities?
Many of the activities require you to complete a task,
develop a process or manage a situation that is likely
to be new to you. Since it is highly unlikely that you
would master an activity after one attempt, considering what you did well and what you would change the
next time you are faced with a similar activity allows
you to continuously improve your skills. This ability to
critique yourself to discern your strengths and areas
for improvement will be applicable throughout your
pharmacy career as you engage in self-directed learning.
When asked to complete a ref lection for an SPT activity, your documentation should focus on your strengths
and areas for improvement rather than simply summarizing what you did.
25
bulletin board
The College would like to extend their best wishes to the
following staff as they move on to new adventures outside of the College: Kaiva Sukse, Administrative Services
Clerk; Pauline Rosenbaum, Discipline Case Coordinator; Carla Babb, Business Analyst/Project Manager and
Shelliann Sterling, Receptionist.
We welcome the following new staff members:
Tina Perlman has been hired as the newest member
of the College’s management team in the role of Manager, Pharmacy Practice Programs. Tina is an Ontario
pharmacy graduate with a long history of serving the
profession of pharmacy through membership and leadership on local and provincial committees and boards, and
most recently served as Chair of the Board of Directors,
Ontario Pharmacists’ Association. She has practiced in
a variety of community pharmacies as well as consulting
and facilitating pharmacy practice independently. She
was most recently involved in several projects such as the
Narcotic Advisory Panel (MOHLTC) and the Prescription Tracking Working Group (CPSO).
Barbara Cadotte has recently joined the College as
Senior Policy Advisor. Barbara has worked in several positions at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care,
most recently with the Assistive Devices Program and
has extensive experience in the field of mental health and
primary health care. Barbara holds a degree in Communications and a Masters degree in Health Administration
(Health Policy) and recently achieved her Certified Health
Executive designation.
Anna Amin has joined the College as Complaints Officer in the Investigations and Resolutions department.
Anna is a Pharmacy Technician enrolled in the bridging
program at Sheridan College and is also a member of
Sheridan’s Advisory Board for Pharmacy Technicians.
She comes to us from Loblaw Companies Limited where
she worked as the Senior Coordinator, Managed Care
and has extensive experience in drug insurance claims
and remittance.
26
Sarah de Sousa has been hired as the Meeting and Events
Services Clerk with Facilities and Office Services. Sarah
brings several years of progressive customer service and
administrative experience to the College. She has an educational background in Community and Justice Services.
Donna Ortolan recently joined the College as Receptionist. Donna brings a number of years of reception and
administrative experience to the role, most recently in the
insurance industry with a small brokerage firm.
Patti Clayton has been promoted to the role of Investigator in the Investigations and Resolutions department. Patti
has been with the College since 2004 as the Complaints
Officer and has over 24 years experience in pharmacy.
Announcements
2010 Innovation Award
In March, the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy was honoured with the 2010 Innovation Award
by the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes creativity and innovation
in products or processes by an outstanding organization.
Waterloo Pharmacy was noted for creating the institution, and the campus, of the future – built on partnerships,
dynamic and flexible, and engaged with community on
multiple levels. Judges noted the school’s co-op experiential model, personalized student selection process, and
community outreach activities. “To be recognized for innovation in a region like ours, and with such competitors,
is a tremendous honour,” said Laura Manning director of
advancement at the school.
University of Toronto 8T0 Pharmacy Reunion
Yes, hard to believe but it has been 30 years!!!
When: September 10-12, 2010
Where: Eganridge Inn & Spa, Fenelon Falls,
http://www.eganridge.com/rates.shtml
Book now 1-888-452-5111
For more info contact:
Sue Gates - [email protected]
Tina Perlman - [email protected]
update on technology
In every issue of Pharmacy Connection, we report to you
Wallet Cards – We Heard You!
some of the ways the College embraces technology to
In the last Technology Update, we reported a plan to phase
improve and refine our everyday processes, eliminating
out wallet cards given that the on-line public register
unnecessary paper-based transactions.
provides up-to-date information about the status of a
Here is the latest update on OCP technology projects:
pharmacist or pharmacy. However, we heard from you.
Add us to your e-mail list
Many members expressed the need for a physical wallet
card as a means of identification. Given this demand, the
As we continue to grow our e-mail based communications
College will provide a printable wallet card with electronic
to members, it is important to add OCP as a trusted mail
receipts each year that can easily be printed on any home
recipient. This will ensure that correspondence we send—
printer. More information to come.
especially time-sensitive material such as fee notices—does
penalties. Simply add Ontario_College_of_Pharmacists@
Pharmacy Connection In Brief
and Online
xmr3.com to your address book.
If the College has your e-mail address, you will have
not end up in your junk e-mail, costing you unnecessary late
Electronic Elections are
almost here
already received Pharmacy Connection In Brief —a
preview version that arrives by e-mail, with easy access to
the complete publication. Many members have opted to
Last issue, we reported on our plan to move forward with
forgo receiving the print copy in favour of the electronic
an exclusively web-based voting system. This is especially
version and we encourage more of you to take on this
important given that the new boundaries will make our
green initiative. Watch for a notice on how to opt-out
electoral districts significantly larger. See page 13 for details
of your print copy with the next version of Pharmacy
on the call for nominations and our new electronic system.
Connection In Brief.
27
deciding on discipline
Case 1
Submitting forged prescription
slips
Member: Darcy Hallett
Hearing date: March 5, 2010
Facts
This case proceeded by way of
Agreed Statement of Facts and Joint
Submission on Penalty.
The Member pled guilty to one allegation of professional misconduct
in that he engaged in conduct or performed an act relevant to the practice
of pharmacy that, having regard to all
the circumstances, would reasonably
be regarded by members of the profession as disgraceful, dishonourable
or unprofessional with respect to the
presentation of fraudulent prescription slips written by the Member.
The Member was on medical leave
from his employment when he presented four forged prescription slips to
Pharmacy M. Each of the forged prescriptions named the Member as the
patient, and Dr. K as the prescribing
physician. Each of the forged prescriptions contained what purported
to be Dr. K’s signature.
The Member admitted that he
personally forged each of the forged
prescriptions. None of the medications listed in those prescriptions were
authorized by a prescribing physician. Dr. K was not the Member’s
physician.
The Member has no prior disciplinary history. A forensic psychiatrist
provided a report indicating that the
Member’s offence was in the context
of severe pain and a major depression,
28
and that the Member was at no risk
to reoffend. Criminal charges against
the Member relating to the forged
prescriptions were resolved with an
absolute discharge.
Decision and Reasons
The Panel acknowledged the Member’s diff icult circumstances but
stated that personal hardship is never
an excuse or justification for engaging
in professional misconduct. Regardless of one’s personal circumstances
or health condition, compliance with
standards of practice and protection
of the public remains of paramount
concern. In this case, the Member
was also the public. In forging the
four prescriptions, the Member
committed a serious breach of ethics and placed himself at serious risk
of harm. The Member did not have
the authority to self-prescribe, nor
does any healthcare professional,
regardless of how sad their personal
circumstances may be. The Member’s behaviour does constitute
misconduct and must be addressed.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Penalty.
Order
1. A reprimand.
2. Specified terms, conditions, or
limitations on Mr. Hallett’s Certificate of Registration requiring
him to complete successfully,
at his own cost, the course and
evaluation in Applied Ethics in
Pharmacy Practice within twelve
months of the date the Member
is confirmed by a physician to be
capable of returning to work as a
practicing pharmacist.
3. A suspension of Mr. Hallett’s certificate of registration for three
months, with one month to be
remitted on condition that the
Member complete the remedial
training exercise specified above.
The period of suspension shall
start on the date the Member is
confirmed to be capable of returning to work.
4. Costs to the College in the
amount of $2,000, payable within
sixty days of the date the Member is confirmed to be capable of
returning to work.
Reprimand
It was clear that the Member had
gone through a very diff icult and
emotional time and is now facing
these challenges head on. However,
this did not excuse his actions which
reflect very poorly on the profession.
As a member of the College, the
Member was well aware of the laws
and regulations regarding the prescribing of medications. He should have
known better. The Panel noted that
the Member had moved to correct his
behaviours and hoped he continued to
seek the help he required. The Panel
wished the Member all the best in the
future in the profession and hoped
that he would not appear before the
committee again.
The full text of the Discipline
Committee’s decision can be
found by searching the database
at www.canlii.org, under
Ontario/Boards and Tribunals.
focus on error prevention
Ian Stewart, R.Ph., B.Sc.Phm
Toronto Community Pharmacist
Prescription Transfers
When receiving a new prescription from a patient, the
pharmacist carefully reviews all aspect of the prescription to ensure that the drug and dosage is appropriate.
The patient’s medication profile is also used as a key tool
to identify any change in drug therapy or potential prescribing error. Similarly, prescription transfers must be
carefully reviewed for appropriateness.
Case:
A 55 year old patient has been taking Verapamil SR 180 mg
once daily on a regular basis. One day while out of town,
the patient needed an emergency supply of her tablets.
She visited a local community pharmacy and made the
request. The prescription for Verapamil SR 180 mg was
therefore transferred from her regular pharmacy.
On receiving the transfer, the pharmacy noticed that
they did not have the Verapamil SR 180mg tablets in stock.
In an effort to meet the urgent need of the patient, the
pharmacist decided to dispense four Verapamil SR 240
mg tablets with the instructions to take “half a tablet
once daily”. That is, 120 mg daily instead of the 180 mg
as prescribed.
A few days later, the patient returned to her regular
pharmacy and requested a refill of her Verapamil tablets.
The pharmacy staff identified that the prescription had
been transferred and contacted the out of town pharmacy
to have the prescription transferred back.
The pharmacy therefore transferred the Verapamil SR
240mg tablets that were dispensed to the patient. Not being aware of what had previously transpired, her regular
pharmacist processed and dispensed the Verapamil SR
240 mg tablets instead of the originally prescribed 180
mg SR tablets. Fortunately, the patient was aware of the
prescribed dose and pointed out the error.
Possible Contributing Factors
• T he patient forgot her medication at home and needed
an emergency supply from a rural pharmacy that did not
stock Verapamil SR 180 mg on a regular basis.
• Being rural, the number of pharmacies available to the
patient was likely limited.
• T he pharmacist at the rural pharmacy changed the patient’s dose and prescription record.
• T he dispensing pharmacist at her regular pharmacy,
failed to identify the change in dose.
Recommendations
• If a drug is unavailable, consider referring patients to another pharmacy before making changes to the prescribed
dose or drug. Consider contacting another pharmacist
or your drug information service for a second opinion.
• If a change must be made to the patient drug therapy,
contact the patient’s physician at the earliest opportunity.
• If a temporary change must be made, ensure that the
record reflects a temporary change only.
• Document fully the decisions made, actions taken and
reasoning.
• Review all prescription transfers carefully for appropriateness. If necessary, request a copy of the original
prescription.
• If available, use the patient medication profile as a tool
to confirm that the prescription is appropriate and to
identify any changes in drug therapy.
Please continue to send reports of medication errors
in confidence to Ian Stewart at: ian.stewart2@rogers.
com .
29
CE resources
Visit the College’s website: www.ocpinfo.com for a complete listing of upcoming events and/or
available resources. A number of the programs listed below are also suitable for pharmacy technicians.
For local live CE events in your area, contact your regional CE coordinator by going to
www.ocpinfo.com and serching on “Regional Coordinators”
GTA
May 14-16, 2010
Cardiovascular Patient Care
Ontario Pharmacists Association
BMO Institute for Learning, 3550
Pharmacy Avenue, Toronto
Contact: Penny Young
416-441-0788 ext. 2209,
[email protected]
www.opatoday.com/live.asp
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Using Evidence in the Real World
(live and webcast)
Canadian Agency for Drugs and
Technologies in Health (CADTH)
Register by May 18, 2010
[email protected]
June 9-11, 2010
OSCE-ology
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Toronto
Contact: Ryan Keay 416-978-7562
http://cpd.phm.utoronto.ca/osceology.html
June 17-19, 2010
(OPA) Conference 2010
Niagara Falls
416-441-0788 ext. 2209,
[email protected]
www.opatoday.com
30
June 24, 2010
Root Course Analysis Workshop
for Pharmacists
Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP)
Toronto
Contact: [email protected]
November 14-16, 26-28, 2010
Certified Geriatric Pharmacist
Preparation Course - Part 1 & 2
BMO Institute for Learning, 3550
Pharmacy Avenue, Toronto
416-441-0788 ext. 2209,
[email protected]
www.opatoday.com/CE_GeritricPC2010.asp
NATIONAL
May 15 - 18, 2010
Annual National Conference
Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA)
Telus Convention Centre & the
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Calgary, AB
www.pharmacists.ca/function/
meetings/index.cfm
June 17 – 19, 2010
Interventional Cardiology
Symposium
Montreal Heart Institute
Historic Centaur Centre
Montreal, PQ
http://mhi.interv.org
August 7 – 10, 2010
Summer Educational Sessions (formerly AGM)
Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP)
Marriott Halifax Harbourfront
Halifax, Nova Scotia
www.cshp-ns.com/
ON-LINE/ WEBINARS
www.camh.net/education/
Online_courses_webinars/odt_certificate_program.html
On-line courses with live workshops
in subjects including mental health,
opioid dependence, substance
abuse, addiction, withdrawal,legal
issues(various dates).
Canadian Association for Mental
Health (CAMH)
www.opatoday.com/web.asp
Vitamin D in Osteoporosis
Drug Information and Research
Centre (DIRC)
www.opacti.org
Online Clinical Tobacco Interventions for Health Care Professionals
www.canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca
On-line CE lessons
www.rxbriefcase.com
On-line CE lessons
http://cpha.learning.mediresource.
com/select_catalog.asp
CE lessons on the CPhA Home
Study Online Learning Centre
laws & regulations
Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA) * s
December 15, 2009
Regulations to the DPRA:
Regulation 545 – Child Resistant Packages
Regulation 297/96 Amended to O.Reg. 173/08
Regulation 551 Amended to O.Reg. 172/08
Drug Schedules **
Summary of Laws
June 2007 OCP
National Drug Schedules (NAPRA)
March 17, 2010 (or later)
NDSAC Meeting – June 2010
Request for Unscheduled status for polyethylene glycol 3350
indicated for occasional constipation
Scheduling status finalized by NDSAC – April 2010
Diclofenac diethylamine in preparations for topical use on the skin
in concentrations of not more than the equivalent of 1% diclofenac
– Unscheduled (from Schedule III). Final approval of the initial
recommendation was made by NAPRA’s Executive Committee, in
consideration of comments received during the 30-day review period.
The National Drug Schedules will be revised accordingly.
Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) * s
December 15, 2009
Regulations to the RHPA:
Regulation 39/02 - Amended to O.Reg. 666/05
Regulation 107/96 – Amended to O.Reg. 97/10
Regulation 59/94 – Funding for Therapy or Counseling for Patients
Sexually Abused by Members
Pharmacy Act (PA) & Regulations * s
December 15, 2009
Regulations to the PA:
Standards of Practice s
Model Standards of Pratice, effective January 1, 2010
Standards of Practice for Pharmacists, 2003
Standards of Practice for Pharmacy Managers, 2005
Standards for Pharmacists Providing Services to Licensed
LTC Facilities, 2007.
Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act (DIDFA)
& Regulations * s
June 2007 Regulations to the DIDFA:
Ontario Drug Benefit Act (ODBA) & Regulations * s
March 15, 2010
Regulations to the ODBA:
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) &
Regulations ** '
Act current to March 31, 2010
All regulations current to March 31, 2010
Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations
Marihuana Medical Access Regulations
Narcotic Control Regulations
Precursor Control Regulations
Regulations Exempting Certain Precursors and Controlled Substances
from the Application of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Food and Drugs Act (FDA) & Regulations ** '
Act current to March 31, 2010
All regulations current to March 31, 2010
Cosmetic Regulations
Food and Drug Regulations
Marijuana Exemption (FDA) Regulations
Medical Devices Regulations
Natural Health Products Regulations
Processing and Distribution of Semen for Assisted Conception
Regulations
Safety of Human Cells, Tissues and organs for transplantation
Regulations
To Schedule F: Pre-notifications
Project #1621 Addition of Dirlotapide, Firocoxib, Ibafloxacin and
Maripotant and its salts (Feb 2010)
Project #1624 Addition of Eculizumab, Olmesartan medoxomil,
Romiplostim, Ustekinumab (Jan 2010)
Project #1652 Notice of Intent to Amend Schedule F (L-asparaginase)
(Dec 2009)
Project #1659 Addition of Dronedarone (Dec 2009)
Project #1659 Addition of Medicinal Degarelix (Dec 2009)
Project #1659 Addition of Clofarabine (Dec 2009)
Project #1659 Addition of Ingredient Azacitidine (Dec 2009)
Project #1659 Addition of Urokinase (Dec 2009)
Project #1658 Addition of Doripenem and its salts and derivatives
(Dec 2009)
Project #1658 Addition of Besifloxacin and its salts (Dec 2009)
Project #1658 Addition of Alitretinoin and its salts and derivatives
(Dec 2009)
Project #1658 Addition of Saxagliptin and its salts (Dec 2009)
OCP By-Law No. 2 – March 2010 s
OCP By-Laws – December 2006
Schedule A: Code of Ethics for members
Schedule B: “Code of Conduct” and Procedures for Council and
Committee members.
Reference s
OCP Required Reference Guide for Pharmacies in
Ontario, January 2010
* Information available at Publications Ontario (416) 326-5300 or 1-800-668-9938 www.e-laws.gov.on.ca
** Information available at www.napra.org
' Information available at Federal Publications Inc. Ottawa: 1-888-4FEDPUB (1-888-433-3782)
Toronto: Tel: (416) 860-1611 • Fax: (416) 860-1608 • e-mail: [email protected]
s Information available at www.ocpinfo.com
31
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on Twitter and through RSS feeds. What does this mean? You will be able to receive updates to the latest
news, Continuing Education information and Health Canada Advisories directly through our site. Go to
www.ocpinfo.com and click on the Twitter or RSS feed at the bottom left of the page for more information.
Please note that this service does not replace your receipt of e-blasts for important member information.
Volume 17, Number 3
The College is incorporating some social media tools into its daily activities. You can now follow OCPinfo

May/June 2010 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

Transcription

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