Hospital Practice Direction (HPD) Project

HPD Project plans, status updates and engagement opportunities for pharmacy professionals

Quick Facts     Timeline     FAQ      Publications      Feedback E-Questionnaire

The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is developing a new Hospital Pharmacy Practice Direction (HPD) to modernize regulatory expectations for acute care pharmacy practice occurring within Manitoba hospitals. A new HPD is needed to respond to the significant changes within hospital pharmacy practice since the 2004 Hospital Standards of Practice and Guidelines on Practice in Hospital Pharmacy  

  • Phase 1 of the project is a comprehensive needs assessment with accompanying recommendations.
  • Phase 2 focuses on fulfilling the recommendations for achieving an effective HPD.

The HPD will reflect local and global evidence, emerging best practices, and evolving realities of hospital pharmacy. An updated HPD furthers CPhM’s aim of enhancing public protection and supporting pharmacy professionals in delivering safe, ethical, and high-quality care across pharmacy practice settings.

Quick Facts:

  • Project Start: July 2025 
  • Anticipated Completion: End of 2026 
  • Lead Consultant: Dr. Katrina Mulherin, BSc. Pharm, PharmD 
  • Purpose: Replace the outdated Hospital Standards of Practice and Guidelines on Practice in Hospital Pharmacy with a modern, evidence-based HPD 
  • Vision for the HPD: 
    • To develop regulatory guidance for hospital professionals that: 
      • Carefully balances the need for specific guidance with avoidance of regulatory burden (as per ‘right touch regulation’ principles) 
      • Anticipates future changes to legislated scopes of practice 
      • Focuses on evidence-based risks to patient safety 
      • Is practical and reflects current hospital pharmacy realities 
      • Supports safe patient care. 
    • Employ processes that: 
      • Include voices and perspectives of pharmacy professionals in diverse practice settings and roles 
      • Are transparent  
      • Adhere to accepted research methods 

HPD Project Timeline:

FAQ for Pharmacy Professionals

This FAQ provides detailed information about the Hospital Practice Direction (HPD) Project

Why is CPhM developing a new Hospital Practice Direction?

The current Hospital Standards of Practice and Guidelines on Practice in Hospital Pharmacy was approved in 2004 and no longer reflects modern hospital pharmacy practice. A new HPD will align regulatory requirements and expectations with best practices and the evolving needs of patients and pharmacy professionals. 

What will the new HPD include?

The HPD will outline regulatory requirements and expectations specific to hospital pharmacy practice, with an emphasis on patient safety. 

Who is leading the project?

CPhM has engaged Dr. Katrina Mulherin of Windpharm Inc. Dr. Mulherin brings extensive regulatory experience, including serving as Deputy Registrar and Administrator of Complaints for the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists (NCBP), and a critical care practice background through her clinical pharmacy practice in Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)

How can pharmacy professionals get involved?

Input from pharmacy professionals is essential to ensure the HPD is relevant and meaningfully impacts on current and future needs of professionals and patients

 

In November 2025, hospital pharmacy professionals were invited to participate in early project focus groups.

 

In January 2026, all Manitoba pharmacy professionals will have an opportunity to respond to an electronic questionnaire designed as a needs assessment for the project to establish aspects of hospital practice that present significant actual or potential patient safety concerns. The data gathered from this needs assessment will serve to form the framework for the design of the new HPD.

 

In late 2026, HPD drafts will be circulated widely for review and feedback from all pharmacy professionals, including hospital pharmacy professionals, along with key system partners within and outside the hospital sector.

 

The Feedback Box (below) may be used at your discretion to provide feedback to the HPD consultant about any aspect of the project.

When will the final HPD be released?

The HPD is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026. 

How will updates be communicated?

Updates will be shared though Friday Fives and CPhM’s quarterly newsletters. Pharmacy professionals are encouraged to monitor these regularly recurring communications as well as this webpage for information about the HPD project. 

Publications Archive

Feedback

Hospital Pharmacy Practice Direction Project
Name
Name
 

E-Questionnaire

The questionnaire’s purpose is to gathers information from Manitoba pharmacy professionals about how the new HPD can meaningfully support hospital practice within regional health authority hospitals in achieving essential minimum requirements and focus on the quality dimension of safety. 

For more information or to complete to short questionnaire, visit https://forms.office.com/r/ueKxzwfnhi.