Council Meeting Highlights
CPhM Council met on Monday February 27, 2023. Highlights from discussion include:
Mandatory Pharmacy Manager Training Program
Council made initial decisions about the principles and framework to develop a pharmacy manager training program. This initiative is part of the current Strategic Plan Priority II: Promote quality pharmacy services by ensuring pharmacy professionals are aware of and adhere to professional standards and expectations.
A pharmacy manager training program supports the mandate of CPhM in serving and protecting the public interest by ensuring pharmacy managers understand the extensive responsibilities of their direct supervisory role, overseeing pharmacy operations, and the importance of adhering to safe pharmacy practices, while meeting all regulatory requirements.
This training program will be developed over the next few months. Once approved by Council, it will be implemented across the province. It is anticipated that all pharmacy managers in Manitoba (community, hospital, and clinical practice pharmacy) will be required to complete the training program. Registrants will receive details of the implementation timelines and program details once all the criteria are determined. Stay tuned for more information about this mandatory pharmacy manager training.
Addition of specialty qualification programs for EPPh Registration
Council approved additional Extended Practice Pharmacist (EPPh) specialty qualification programs under section 96(g) of the Pharmaceutical Regulation:
- Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) in Emergency
- Medicine Pharmacy
- All Canadian CCAPP-accredited Entry-to-Practice (ETP)
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs
After completion of one of the specialty qualification programs listed above, an EPPh applicant must be currently practicing and must have practiced for at least 1,000 hours in the two years before applying for EPPh registration, within their specialty practice and in a collaborative healthcare setting.
For more information on how to attain an EPPh designation and the current list of other specialty qualification programs, please see the Extended Practice Pharmacist webpage.
CPhM working towards reconciliation and cultural sensitivity
As part of the current Strategic Plan, CPhM Council has undertaken to:
- Support pharmacy professionals in effectively delivering services that meet the social and cultural needs of all patients.
CPhM will do this by identifying and implementing an action plan to cultivate cultural competence among Council members, CPhM staff and pharmacy professionals. Work, thus far, has focused on developing a base-line understanding of the history of colonial impacts and systemic racism in the healthcare system for all CPhM Council and staff. Most Council and staff have completed the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Safety Training program (MICST). This program is a guided learning platform that explores the historical injustices suffered by Indigenous people and builds capacity for learners to understand how that continues to be reflected in healthcare systems today. This will help inform Council’s efforts to implement the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the CPhM regulatory framework.
In partnership with the Manitoba Alliance of Health Regulatory Colleges (MAHRC) working group, a learning module entitled Health Equity and Cultural Humility: An Introduction for Health Professionals in Manitoba was developed by subject matter experts and made available to all registrants of participating colleges.
Internship Manual
Council approved an updated Internship Manual, which can be found here. The updates reflect changes, recognizing that a post-graduate internship for PharmD graduates of the College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba is now optional. As well, improvements were made to the Manual to make it more concise and current. Preceptors and interns are encouraged to review the updated Internship Manual.
Intern Injection Authorization
Interns previously applied to CPhM for injection authority to administer COVID-19 vaccines only and did not need injection authority from CPhM to administer any other drugs or vaccines.
The current process has been adapted so that an intern must apply to CPhM for the authority to administer any drug or vaccine, not only the COVID-19 vaccine, to ensure that the training requirements are always met. Please find more information, including the new application form, here.
Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons Resources
CPhM collaborated with a subject matter expert to create a resource list to support pharmacies in providing equitable access to care for transgender and gender-diverse persons.
The Manitoba Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination based on a person’s actual or perceived gender identity. Discrimination may be against an individual, but policies and practices can intentionally or unknowingly create systemic discrimination against a group of persons based on gender identity. Creating a gender inclusive environment for employees, patients, and clients means putting policies and practices in place that support safe workplaces and provide equitable access to care.
The resource list can be used as a tool to examine your pharmacy’s policies and procedures and as education for yourself and your staff. The resources consist of webinars, online courses, websites, guides, and articles.
There is still time to act on patient safety culture: Final reminder to complete the Community Pharmacy Survey on Patient Safety Culture
There are six days left to participate in the Community Pharmacy Survey on Patient Safety Culture. If you haven’t yet, please take a moment now to share your opinion and experiences on the safety culture at your pharmacy. The survey should take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and only aggregate survey data will be compiled and provided to CPhM. Your responses are voluntary, anonymous, and completely confidential. In the spirit of shared learning, CPhM will share aggregate survey data and recommendations for Safety IQ program development with Council, the Safety IQ Advisory Committee, and registrants.
The survey consists of 44 questions and includes the following topics:
- Working in This Pharmacy
- Communication and Work Pace
- Patient Safety and Response to Mistakes
- Documenting Mistakes
- Overall Rating
- Background Questions
- Your Comments
To participate in the survey, please click the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TKY2BKL
If you have any questions, please contact safetyiq@cphm.ca.
Pharmacy Appreciation Month — Showing Gratitude for Pharmacy Professionals
March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month, an opportunity to reflect on the vital role that pharmacy professionals play in delivering high-quality patient care. The Canadian Pharmacists Association changed the campaign’s name from ‘Pharmacy Awareness Month’ to Pharmacy Appreciation Month (PAM) in 2021 to honour the contributions of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy assistants who worked on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pharmacy Appreciation Month is significant for all members of the pharmacy profession; it is an opportunity to recognize pharmacy professionals’ hard work, passion and dedication to the profession. It is a time to celebrate professional accomplishments and successes. It highlights the importance of pharmacy in the broader healthcare system and in communities across the province.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen many points of progress and change in the field of pharmacy. As Manitoba continues to experience significant strains on the health system, pharmacy professionals are consistently stepping up to address the increasingly complex needs of patients and provide solutions to improve integrated care, often providing one of the most accessible settings within the healthcare network. We commend your passion for advancing the profession and delivering high-quality patient care.
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba regulates thousands of highly skilled, dedicated pharmacy professionals who deliver safe, ethical, progressive, and patient-centred care across Manitoba.
Thank you to all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, interns, assistants and students for your ongoing dedication and commitment to the well-being of Manitobans.
Save the Date – Annual General Meeting and Awards Presentation 2023
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the 145th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM), in conjunction with CPhM professional awards presentations:
Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Time: 7:00 pm
Format: Virtual webinar
In its commitment for continuous process improvements, Council examined aspects of scheduling the AGM and decided to hold the event on a weekday evening. In keeping with the flexibility a virtual format provides, it is anticipated that the new day and time may further enhance registrant access to attend, regardless of where they live or practice in the province.
More information about the 145th AGM and a link to register will be circulated in the coming weeks.
General Call for Expressions of Interest for Committee Service
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) has statutory and standing committees. The role of statutory committees is to carry out legislated duties; the role of standing committees is to support the work of Council. All committee work contributes to the CPhM mandate to regulate the practice of pharmacy in the public interest.
Each committee is composed of a diverse set of Council members, members of the public, and pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are registered or listed with CPhM. All registered and listed pharmacy professionals (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) are encouraged to view the information on the website and submit a Committee Expression of Interest form.
While evaluating expressions of interest for committee service, CPhM considers a variety of factors, including expertise, experience, practice setting, demographic representation, and other special talents or qualities. In order to ensure that the committee is properly formed, capable of functioning effectively, and able to carry out its duties and responsibilities, selections are made in the best interest of the committee as a whole.
Please note efforts are made to match volunteers with their stated interests, however vacancies that exist at any particular time will determine who gets appointed.
Upcoming Events & Professional Development Opportunities
University of Manitoba – Community Connectors Training Workshop: Identifying and Referring Socially Isolated Older Adults
March 10, 2023
Click here to register.
ACS Network Heart Attack Day 2023
April 14, 2023
Click here to register and for more information.
Opioid Agonist Therapy 101 Introduction to Clinical Practice
October 26 and 27, 2023
Click here to register and for more information.
Pharmacists Manitoba Annual General Meeting & Complimentary Session
April 12, 2023
Click here to register.
Pharmacists Manitoba Spring Conference
April 15 & 16, 2023
Click here to register.