New NAPRA Model Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Canada Now in Effect
The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) has updated the Model Standards of Practice (MSOP) for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Canada. The new Model Standards are available to review on the NAPRA website here.
On February 22, 2022, CPhM Council adopted by reference the new NAPRA MSOP as the primary Standard of Practice document for Manitoba pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The current CPhM Standards of Practice documents continue to be used as Standards of Practice indicators of compliance with the NAPRA document. Where CPhM standards exceed NAPRA’s, the CPhM standards must be followed.
Having a common national MSOP document helps harmonize the standard of pharmacy care across Canada to ensure patients receive high-quality pharmacy care regardless of their location. Although the scope of practice of pharmacy professionals varies across provinces, the expectation is that each pharmacy professional will adhere to the laws and regulations of their jurisdiction.
Internship Requirement for PharmD Students from University of Manitoba
Traditionally, graduates of the BSc(Pharm) program from the College of Pharmacy (CoP) Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba (UofM) complete a 600-hour internship period, of which 240 hours are served as an intern in the final year of the program during rotations. The remaining 360 hours of the internship period are served by the intern post-graduation under the supervision of a preceptor approved by the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) Council.
At the February 22, 2022, CPhM Council meeting, Council discussed the internship requirement for graduates of the new entry-to-practice PharmD Program from the CoP Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the UofM.
Based on a recommendation from the CPhM Board of Examiners, Council approved that PharmD students who are on the intern register from the CoP Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the UofM must complete the 600-hour internship requirement for registration as a pharmacist in the last year of the PharmD Program during their experiential rotations. Therefore, there will no longer be a required post-grad internship period for these graduates, effective immediately for those interns graduating in 2023.
The requirements (assessments and activities) of the new internship program completed during the last year of the CoP Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the UofM are being developed in partnership between the CoP and CPhM.
Although not required, upon completion of the PharmD program at the UofM, graduates may still choose to apply to practice as a post-graduate intern under the supervision of a preceptor approved by CPhM Council until the results of the subsequent sitting of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Examinations become available. This would permit UofM PharmD graduates to continue practicing to the full scope of an intern under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist until they meet all other registration and licensing requirements. A graduate who chooses not to apply as a post-graduate intern may only work and perform the tasks in a pharmacy as an “other person” (i.e., pharmacy assistant).
Pharmacy Technician Listing Renewal Now Open
Pharmacy Technicians must renew their listing with the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba annually. The renewal portal opened on March 14, 2022. The deadline for pharmacy technicians to submit their application for listing renewal is May 31, 2022, to be listed with the College by June 1, 2022. Pharmacy Technicians can refer to the fee schedule for this year’s listing fee.
Pharmacy managers are reminded to verify that pharmacy technicians working at their practice site have renewed their listing.
Pharmacy managers are also reminded that they (or a delegate) must complete a performance review with the pharmacy technician at the practice site at a minimum of every two years. This review must include documentation of:
- the total number of hours the pharmacy technician has worked (hours worked as a pharmacy assistant are not eligible);
- an assessment of the pharmacy technician’s job performance in terms of quality of patient care, administrative skill and the ability to work consistently within the rules governing the pharmacy and pharmacy practice; and
- the completion of the PD requirement.
The College has developed a Performance Review FAQ that may be helpful for pharmacy technicians and pharmacy managers.
Pharmacy technicians are required to have worked for at least 600 hours in the three-year period immediately preceding renewal each year (starting three years after first qualifying). Pharmacy technicians must inform the College immediately if they have not met or anticipate that they will not meet the practice hour requirement by contacting Brittany Delaquis at bdelaquis@cphm.ca.
The PD requirement for pharmacy technicians is a minimum of 15 hours of learning activities completed between June 1 and May 31 of each year. Of these 15 hours, a minimum of five hours must be from accredited learning activities.
Cultural Safety, Humility, and Health Equity: Call to Action for the Manitoba Pharmacy Regulator and Professionals
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) revealed the ongoing and traumatic effects of colonization on Indigenous people and the strength and resilience they have shown in the face of systemic racism. While the TRC’s Calls to Action specifically identify healthcare as a focus of Reconciliation, many additional reports such as British Columbia’s In Plain Sight and Manitoba’s Out of Sight (detailing the tragic and preventable death of Brian Sinclair at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg) emphasize the prevalence of entrenched anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare. Pharmacy professionals and CPhM must answer the call to Reconciliation and help build a more equitable health system.
CPhM Council has responded to this call by identifying cultural safety as a pillar of its 2021-2024 Strategic Plan. This pillar will touch all aspects of pharmacy practice regulation in Manitoba, including governance, operations, and pharmacy professional continuing competency. While this pillar will initially focus on Indigenous cultural humility1, CPhM will expand on this pillar to include all equity deserving/seeking groups.
In late Spring 2022, CPhM will introduce a mandatory continuing competency module about health equity and cultural humility2 that is being developed in partnership with other Manitoba health regulatory bodies. While this module will deal with health equity and cultural humility more generally, the College will also develop or provide subsequent education addressing Indigenous-specific racism3.
While CPhM is developing these learning activities, pharmacy professionals can pursue their own education on cultural safety with a new Indigenous Cultural Humility, Health Equity, and Relations Resources list. CPhM strongly encourages all pharmacy professionals to take some time to meaningfully engage with the listed materials. Each of us must engage with the challenging work of self-reflection that leads to action and improvement of the health systems and services that are meant to heal but have caused significant harm to Indigenous peoples.
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[1] A culturally safe environment can only be defined by the Indigenous person receiving care and does not profile or discriminate against the person but is experienced as respectful, safe and allows meaningful communication and service. It is a physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually safe environment, without challenge, ignorance or denial of an individual’s identity. To be culturally safe requires positive anti-racism stances, tools and approaches and the continuous practice of cultural humility. – In Plain Sight
[2] Cultural humility is a life-long process of self-reflection and self-critique. It is foundational to achieving a culturally safe environment. While western models of medicine typically begin with an examination of the patient, cultural humility begins with an in-depth examination of the provider’s assumptions, beliefs and privilege embedded in their own understanding and practice, as well as the goals of the patient-provider relationship. Undertaking cultural humility allows for Indigenous voices to be front and centre and promotes patient/provider relationships based on respect, open and effective dialogue and mutual decision-making. – In Plain Sight
[3] Indigenous-specific racism refers to the unique nature of stereotyping, bias and prejudice about Indigenous peoples in Canada that is rooted in the history of settler colonialism. It is the ongoing race-based discrimination, negative stereotyping and injustice experienced by Indigenous peoples that perpetuates power imbalances, systemic discrimination and inequitable outcomes stemming from the colonial policies and practices. – In Plain Sight
Safety IQ Safety Self-Assessment and CQI Meeting Deadline Extended
Healthcare professions, including pharmacy, have faced stressful and dynamic working conditions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, yet have remained committed to providing patients with the best possible care. In recognition of the current pharmacy environment and workload issues, Council approved an extension for community pharmacies to complete the mandatory safety self-assessment (SSA) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) meeting.
The new deadline for your pharmacy to complete an SSA and CQI meeting is October 1, 2022, if your pharmacy:
- implemented Safety IQ on the June 1, 2021, program launch date; or
- opened between June 1 and September 31, 2021.
If your pharmacy opened after October 1, 2021, then your team must complete an SSA and CQI meeting within one year of opening.
Please see the Safety IQ SSA FAQ for additional information about SSAs.
With this extension, pharmacies will have additional time to meaningfully engage with these requirements and source updated versions of SSA tools when they become available. Information related to SSA and CQI meetings can be found in the Guide to Safety IQ, CQI Meeting Resources, and the SSA Improvement Plan resource. CPhM will provide additional SSA and CQI meeting information and resources at cphm.ca/practice-education/safety-iq/.
Pharmacy managers were provided with additional details about the extension in a direct email communication on March 16, 2022.
If you have any questions, please contact CPhM at safetyiq@cphm.ca
Correction: Three Amended Practice Directions for Stakeholder Feedback
CPhM Council approved the release of the following three amended practice directions for stakeholder feedback below.
The hyperlinked email address provided for feedback in the previous Friday Five publications and on the website was incorrect.
Any feedback submitted to the College through the email link originally provided was not received due to the error. We kindly ask you to resubmit any feedback to the correct email address: feedback@cphm.ca
The College has extended the consultation deadline to March 18, 2022. Therefore today is the last day to submit your feedback.
Future consultations will continue to be announced in the Friday Five and posted on the CPhM website’s consultation page.
Amended Practice Directions:
Administration of Drugs including Vaccines
Permanent and Temporary Pharmacy Closure
Termination of a Patient Relationship
Our sincere apologies for this error. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Long-Term Care Consultation
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) and Health Standards Organization (HSO) are collaborating to develop two complementary National Standards of Canada for long-term care (LTC). These standards are meant to help ensure that LTC home residents receive safe, reliable, and high-quality care, supported by a strong and resilient workforce, in appropriately designed settings.
Both standards are now available for public review, and during the 60-day public review period all Canadians are encouraged to review both draft standards and submit comments:
- The National Long-Term Care Services Standard (CAN/HSO 21001:2022) – The draft standard offers guidance on providing resident-centred care, providing high-quality care, enabling a healthy, competent, and resilient LTC home workforce, and upholding strong governance practices and operations. The consultation period ends March 27, 2022.
- The National Standard of Canada for Operation and Infection Prevention and Control of Long-Term Care Homes (CSA Z8004) – The draft standard is intended to provide guidance on safe operating practices and infection prevention and control (IPAC) in LTC homes. The consultation period ends April 11, 2022.
Additionally, CSA Group and HSO are running information sessions. Please visit the CSA Group and HSO Release New National Long-term Care Standard for Public Review website for more information on registering for these sessions and participating in the consultations.
Summer Student Job Opportunity
The College has an exciting summer job opportunity for a pharmacy student. We are looking for someone who is passionate about patient safety and is keen to contribute to exciting patient safety initiatives at the College. Join our skilled team of pharmacists and help further your career in pharmacy.
Please read the job posting for more information.
Submit an application on or before Monday, March 21, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. to Lindsay Henderson, lhenderson@cphm.ca.
Upcoming Events & Professional Development Opportunities
ACS Network Heart Attack Day 2022
April 29, 2022
Register here