Annual Learning Portfolio Review Summary of Common Deficiencies
As valuable health professionals, pharmacists are accountable to the patients they care for by ensuring their knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date and they remain competent to practice. One of the ways that pharmacists, like other professionals, ensure their competence to practice is by being involved in continuing professional development.
The College reviewed 332 pharmacists during the 2019-2020 Annual Learning Portfolio Review. Common deficiencies were identified that others may benefit from learning about and are included below:
Pharmacy Technician Accredited Learning
- Pharmacists claimed learning activities accredited for pharmacy technicians only (e.g., “Tech Talk” programs) as accredited time. These activities are only accredited for pharmacy technicians and can be identified if the CCCEP accreditation numbers end in “T.”
Preceptorship Hours
- Accredited time was claimed for every hour spent acting as a preceptor, rather than only claiming the additional time spent actively learning or researching as a result of the preceptorship.
- Pharmacists did not maintain the proper documentation of a detailed list/log of the active learning and associated contact time that occurred through involvement in preceptorship and therefore could not claim this time as accredited learning.
CPR and First Aid Certification
- CPR and First Aid courses that were previously approved on the Government of Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Approved Training Providers website may have been removed. Pharmacists must check the list before renewing CPR and First Aid certification to ensure they are completing an approved program.
- Too many hours were claimed for CPR and First Aid Training (e.g. breaks were included in the CEU count). If a whole day 8-hour course was attended, but there was an hour lunch break and two 15-minute coffee breaks, pharmacists can only claim 6.5 CEU.
Incomplete or Inaccurate Submissions
- PD Logs submitted were not accurate and contained programs completed in the wrong year. Some of the Annual Learning Portfolio Review submissions were incomplete, the wrong PD Log was provided, and Statements of Participation were missing. Statements and transcripts without a name or other identifier were submitted with no way to verify who completed the learning activity.
Safety IQ Reminder
Safety IQ for community pharmacy becomes mandatory June 1, 2021, and each of us has a role to play in improving patient safety.
Over the past several months, pharmacy managers have worked to ensure that their pharmacies will be compliant with the requirements of Safety IQ and the Medication Incidents and Near Miss Events practice direction.
For the next phase of Safety IQ, pharmacy managers will be training staff on the requirements of Safety IQ and the use of the pharmacy’s medication incident reporting platform. Pharmacy managers will also be working to develop supporting policies and procedures.
Beginning June 1, 2021, all medication incidents must be reported to your pharmacy’s medication incident reporting platform.
Community pharmacy staff should review and discuss the Medication Incidents and Near-Miss Events practice direction and consult the Safety IQ FAQ to address any questions about the program. Additional training materials will be introduced over the coming weeks.
For additional information and resources, please visit:
https://cphm.ca/practice-education/quality-assurance/safety-iq/
If you have questions or concerns, please email the College at safetyiq@cphm.ca.
Patient Safety and Mental Health Resources During COVID-19
The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety (MIPS) is partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Manitoba and Winnipeg to help Manitobans understand and navigate health and community services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through this partnership, they’ve created a campaign to help Manitobans find the help and resources they need to combat the increase in anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts due to the impact of COVID-19. In addition to the mental health impacts, Manitobans are also dealing with dramatic changes in health and community services, such as fewer in-person appointments and increased barriers to treatment services.
To access healthcare advocacy and mental health resources in Manitoba, please visit: https://mips.ca/mentalhealthconnections.html
Consultation Notice Reminder: Uncomplicated Cystitis
Manitoba Health and Seniors Care (MHSC) has advised the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (College) that it is a priority to implement prescribing authority for pharmacists for uncomplicated cystitis and is proceeding with an amendment to pharmacy practice legislation.
The amendment would add a new subsection, 118(5), to the Pharmaceutical Regulation permitting pharmacists who have completed a training program approved by Council to prescribe a drug specified to treat uncomplicated cystitis in a product monograph authorized by Health Canada.
Please review the draft amendment and further information found on the CPhM website News Page and provide your feedback by email to feedback@cphm.ca by July 9, 2021.
Upcoming events & Professional Development Opportunities
Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians National Professional Development Virtual Conference 2021
May 29 & 30, 2021
Register here.
ISMP Medications Safety Considerations for Compliance Packaging E-learning Module
Program cost: $225 + applicable taxes
Complete the module here.