Updated OAT Guidelines
The Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) Guidelines for Manitoba Pharmacists have recently been updated.
Pharmacists involved in dispensing OAT must review the updated OAT Guidelines.
Please note, the Guidelines are currently undergoing a comprehensive update and reformatting process. The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) actively contributed to the working group supporting the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) in creating the Manitoba Opioid Agonist Therapy Recommended Practice Manual. In cases where the information in the new CPSM Manual may differ from this Manual, please consult the continuously updated CPSM Manual for the most current guidance.
Consultation Notice on an Amendment to the Pharmacy Facilities Practice Direction to Require Time-Delayed Safes for the Storage of Controlled Drugs in Community Pharmacies
CPhM seeks input from stakeholders, including pharmacy professionals, pharmacy owners, and the public on the adoption of a requirement for time-delayed narcotic safes in community pharmacies in Manitoba through an amendment to the Pharmacy Facilities Practice Direction. This consultation provides an opportunity for key stakeholders to express their views on this important issue, and their input will inform Council’s final decision-making process.
The Amendment(s)
The proposed amendments to the Pharmacy Facilities Practice Direction are:
- A definition for controlled drugs (as defined by Health Canada).
- A definition for narcotic drugs (as defined by Health Canada).
- Requirement to have an appropriate secure narcotic safe to store all narcotic and controlled drug inventory. With the exception of hospital pharmacy facilities, the narcotic safe must have a time-delay lock set to a minimum of 5 minutes.
- With the exception of hospital pharmacy facilities, display Council approved time-delay safe signage at all public entrances and near the dispensary in view of the public.
The Consultation
Council has approved a 30-day consultation period on the draft Practice Direction amendments.
The CPhM is committed to an open and transparent consultation process. All comments received will be considered by Council.
The deadline for this consultation is June 16, 2023. To submit your feedback, please complete the following survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7C87JM6
Proactive Prevention: Near-Miss Events as Catalysts for Improving System Safety
Pharmacy professionals excel at catching potential medication incidents before they reach a patient. In fact, most reports from community pharmacies to the National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies were “no-error” (near-miss event) reports.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada) uses your “good catch” data to support broad system improvement in pharmacy practice. Learn more about the value of near-miss event reporting with this week’s Safety IQ Academy guest blog post from ISMP Canada’s Rajiv Rampersaud: Good Catches Worth Sharing: Learning from Near-miss Events
Register Today — From Policy to Practice: A Joint Webinar on Narcotic Accountability with CPhM and Health Canada
Join us on June 8, 2023, for a live webinar professional development event titled, From Policy to Practice: A Joint Webinar on Narcotic Accountability with the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba and Health Canada, to gain a comprehensive understanding of Health Canada regulations and the legislative framework that applies to pharmacists. Our expert speakers will guide you through the key elements of the Health Canada Pharmacy Inspection Program and the powers of the Health Canada inspector.
By attending this webinar, you will learn practical ways to comply with federal laws and regulations and understand how provincial policies align with federal requirements. Whether you are a practicing pharmacist, a pharmacy technician, or a pharmacy owner, this webinar is an essential opportunity to stay up-to-date and ensure compliance with Health Canada regulations.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain an understanding of Health Canada and the legislative framework that applies to pharmacists
- Gain an understanding of Health Canada’s Pharmacy Inspection Program and the powers of the inspector
- Learn ways to comply with federal laws and regulations
- Understand how provincial policies align with the federal requirements
Date: June 8, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Accreditation: 1.25 accredited CEU
Speakers:
Angela Lina, Compliance and Enforcement Officer and Team Lead in Health Canada’s Controlled Substances Program
Kevin Chaboyer, Quality Assurance and Field Officer
Registration: To register for this webinar, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3716839079818/WN_2yWcwx-FTsiLyBdK5Pb3LQ
Save the Date for the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Webinar 1: Indigenous Health
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) Council made a motion to approve two mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) learning activities for all pharmacy professionals for the current and following listing/licensing years. CPhM is partnering with the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) to offer two mandatory continuing professional development webinars. The first webinar, Indigenous Health, will take place on June 26th, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., coinciding with National Indigenous History Month. It explores the history and ongoing effects of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples’ health, resilience, culture, and provides practical learning opportunities and aims to integrate Indigenous health into pharmacy practice.
Registration for the live webinar and further information, including speaker bios and learning objectives, can be found [here].
Pharmacists must view this webinar by December 31, 2023, and pharmacy technicians have until May 31, 2024, to view it. After attending or viewing the webinar, participants should complete the learning activity evaluation to receive a statement of participation. The webinar qualifies for up to 1.5 accredited continuing education units (CEU).
Together, let’s work towards a healthcare system that ensures safer and more equitable care for all.
If you have any questions, please contact profdevelopment@cphm.ca.
Upcoming events Professional Development Opportunities
College of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba Survey
The College of Pharmacy is seeking input from pharmacy professionals to inform its Professional Development strategies and support the dynamic needs of patients. A survey link is provided below and will take 5-10 minutes to complete. The survey closes on June 2, 2023. For survey-related questions, contact Ruchi Kumra, Director of Professional Development at the College of Pharmacy: ruchi.kumra@umanitoba.ca.
Survey link: https://survey.med.umanitoba.ca/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=726761&lang=en
The Community Connectors Training Workshop: Identifying and Referring Socially Isolated Older Adults
Accredited for 1.5 CEU
June 20, 2023
Click here to register and for more information.
Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT) National Professional Development Conference
Accreditation pending
June 23 to 25, 2023
For information on the conference program and to register click here.
Opioid Agonist Therapy 101 Introduction to Clinical Practice
October 26 and 27, 2023
Click here to register and for more information.