- Preventing Patient Safety Risks Related to Transitions of Care
- Consultation on a New Virtual Care Practice Direction and Changes to the Prescribing Practice Direction
- Continuing Competency Matters
- Announcing New CPhM Council Members and Executive Committee
- Health Canada Regulations Regarding Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine Combination Products
- Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Preventing Patient Safety Risks Related to Transitions of Care
Transitions of care or the day of a discharge from a hospital can be particularly stressful for patients, caregivers, families, and pharmacies. The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) has become aware of patient safety risks related to medications given on the day of discharge. Often, community pharmacies are not aware of the last time a dose has been given to a patient or the typical time(s) of day when it was given in the hospital setting. As a result, patients are at risk of being administered an extra dose of these medications on the discharge day (e.g. a once daily medication is given once in hospital and once in a patient’s blister pack or vial, even though it was only prescribed as “once daily”) or a dose is missed altogether.
There are several ways to prevent these types of errors, including printing (i.e. manually or systematically adding) the medication times directly onto the discharge prescription that is faxed from the hospital to the community pharmacy. Alternatively, hospitals may clarify medication times on a separate note for each medication that is faxed to the pharmacy along with the discharge prescription list. Community pharmacists have the responsibility to critically review discharge prescriptions and determine if there is a time of day listed. Community pharmacies may also request a Medication Administration Record (MAR) from the hospital.
CPhM is continuing its work on the Hospital Practice Direction (HPD) Project, which may provide further guidance related to this. Earlier this year, CPhM conducted an electronic questionnaire related to the HPD development. One of the dominant themes identified by pharmacy professionals was medication reconciliation and communication of patient care information at transitions of care. Patients are particularly vulnerable at transitions of care, and there is information that can be missed, such as the last time of administration of medication doses. This requires pharmacy professionals to be diligent in documenting and transmitting this critical information to others in the patient’s circle of care.
Full results from the questionnaire can be viewed here: Hospital Practice Direction Project Update: Summary of Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Questionnaire Results | College of Pharmacists of Manitoba.
Consultation on a New Virtual Care Practice Direction and Changes to the Prescribing Practice Direction
A practice direction is a written statement made by the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba’s (CPhM) Council for the purpose of giving directions to pharmacists and owners about the conduct of their practices or pharmacy operations. Practice Directions carry similar legal significance to Regulations.
CPhM is seeking feedback from pharmacy professionals, system partners, and the public on a proposed new Virtual Care Practice Direction and amendments to the existing Prescribing Practice Direction.
Proposed Changes
- New practice direction: a new practice direction on virtual care has been created.
- Amendments to the Prescribing Practice Direction: Section 2.4 has been amended to remove the requirement for a pharmacist’s prescribing assessment to include in-person or face-to-face communication, allowing for a virtual assessment if it is compliant with the new Virtual Care Practice Direction. Sections 2.4.1 and 2.4.2 have been amended to include virtual assessment and follow up by a regulated health care provider.
- Exemption to be repealed: The existing exemption to section 2.4 of the Prescribing Practice Direction (which currently provides an exemption to the requirement for in person or face-to-face communication when a pharmacist is prescribing) will be repealed. This exemption will no longer be required.
Background
Virtual care is the delivery of health care services remotely using secure, enabling technology (such as telephone or video conferencing), where the patient and the pharmacist are in different locations. The Virtual Care Practice Direction and the amendments to the Prescribing Practice Direction are intended to set requirements for virtual care that ensure public safety while balancing the need for accessibility to pharmacy services.
The scope of this consultation does not include aspects of care specific to cross-jurisdictional care or the virtual supervision of pharmacy support staff.
An additional practice direction to set standards specifically for cross-jurisdictional care is being developed and will be released for consultation at a later date.
Supervision of support staff (pharmacy students, technicians and other persons) is addressed in Section 68(a) of The Pharmaceutical Act, Part 8 of the Pharmaceutical Regulation and the Supervision Practice Direction, and currently require a pharmacist to be physically present at the pharmacy to provide indirect or direct supervision.
Consultation Period
The CPhM Council has approved a 30-day public consultation period for these draft practice direction amendments. We encourage you to review the proposed changes and provide your feedback.
The draft practice directions can be accessed through the following links:
- A new Virtual Care Practice Direction https://cphm.ca/virtual-care-pd_january-30-2026/, and
- Amendments to the existing Prescribing Practice Direction https://cphm.ca/2026-04-prescribing-practice-direction-amended/.
To provide feedback please complete the following form https://forms.office.com/r/uSCKu3ANY3 by June 21, 2026.
Should you have any questions, please email info@cphm.ca.
Continuing Competency Matters
On May 20, 2026, the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) hosted the first information webinar for the Continuing Competency Program (CCP) project. This initial webinar was designed to provide information to pharmacy professionals regarding the changes being considered to the CCP and the feedback received to date, to answer registrant’s questions about the proposed changes, and to obtain registrant’s feedback via a follow-up survey.
During the hour-long webinar, Chair of Quality Assurance (QA) Committee Anu Okunnu Sampson, QA Committee member Pat Trozzo and consultant Dr. Nancy Winslade discussed the current recommendations being considered by the QA Committee and answered questions.
The prerecorded webinar and associated supporting resources are available through the Registrant Portal, via the announcement section.
All participants have been invited to complete a survey following the webinar (either live participation or recording) to seek feedback / input on the developing CCP. Survey access is available upon completion of the webinar and will remain open until Sunday, June 7, 2026.
As initial follow-up to the questions asked by participants at the live webinar, additional information about the Ontario College of Pharmacist’s (OCP’s) existing Knowledge Assessment program is available here: https://ocpinfo.com/pharmacy-professionals/quality-assurance-program/knowledge-assessment/. Tabs on the right side of this page provide additional information on the assessment blueprint and OCP recommendations for preparing for the assessment. Certain information is available only to OCP pharmacy professionals, however, such as sample questions. As CPhM develops the pilot testing of the Maintenance of Competence Assessment , sample questions will be made available to those pharmacists volunteering and selected to participate in the fall pilot project. Watch upcoming Friday Fives for more information on this pilot project.
If you have any questions regarding the webinar or the CCP, please feel free to email info@cphm.ca
Announcing New CPhM Council Members and Executive Committee
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is pleased to announce the new slate of Council members for the 2026 – 2027 term, introduced at the CPhM Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 12, 2026.
Immediately following the AGM, the Council convened a brief meeting to elect officers and Executive Committee members. Officers and Executive Committee assume their duties effective immediately, with the first Executive Committee meeting scheduled in early June of 2026. Council will have their first meeting on June 25, 2026.
Executive Committee:
- Kathy Hunter, Pharmacist, Chair
- David Mullins, Pharmacist, Vice Chair
- Donald Himbeualt, Public Representative, Executive Committee Member
- Chantal MacDonald, Pharmacy Technician, Executive Committee Member
Council Members:
- Bhupendrasinh Chauhan, Pharmacist
- Todd Derendorf, Pharmacist
- Alanna Doell, Pharmacist
- Donna Forbes, Public Representative
- Amanda Jenkyns, Public Representative
- Elizabeth Reimer, Public Representative
- Suraj Sandil, Pharmacist
- Dr. Hope Anderson, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Ex Officio Member
These Council members, composed of pharmacy professionals and public representatives appointed by the Minister of Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care, make up the 12-member Council. During the transition to staggered terms of service, the length of terms for pharmacy professional Council members varies, with all terms to be three years by 2027.
We look forward to the contributions and leadership of the new Council in advancing the mandate of CPhM.
Health Canada Regulations Regarding Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine Combination Products
In May 2025, CPhM published two Friday Five articles (May 9, 2025; May 23, 2025) notifying pharmacy professionals about new Health Canada rules introducing place-of-sale restrictions for two categories of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine-containing natural health products (NHPs). At the time, these rules did not apply to non-prescription drug products (i.e., those with a Drug Identification Number [DIN]) that combine ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with other medicinal ingredients.
In recent amendments to the Precursor Control Regulations to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), Health Canada has expanded its definition of “combination products” to now include both NHPs and non-prescription drugs (NPDs), meaning both are subject to the same restrictions. For NHPs and NPDs that contain ephedrine and/or pseudoephedrine in combination with other NHPs or drugs (referred to as combination products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine in the regulations; e.g. cough, cold and allergy relief medication), the amendments permit a pharmacist or individuals working in a retail location where a pharmacist provides services to sell them in an area that is readily accessible to the public (e.g. in the open self-selection area of a pharmacy). However, a pharmacist must be available at the request of a purchaser or consumer to discuss the products prior to purchase. Pharmacy professionals are reminded to consult the May 2025 (May 9, 2025; May 23, 2025) Friday Five articles for information about other restrictions on these products.
Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Optimizing Prescription Writing: Essentials and Updates in 30 Minutes
- Click here to access the prerecorded webinar
- 1.0 CEU
University of Manitoba College of Pharmacy’s Essentials in Advanced Patient Care for Pharmacists Micro-Certificate Program
Interested pharmacists can visit the program website for detailed information and to begin the application process. For further inquiries, please email PharmacyPD@umanitoba.ca.
29th Annual University of Manitoba Key Topics in Gastroenterology in 2026
- Thursday (Half Day), June 11 & Friday (Full Day), June 12, 2026
- Click here for more information
- 12.0 CEU