“Press Play on Safety Conversations” During Canadian Patient Safety Week 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed and exacerbated gaps in the safety and quality of healthcare in Canada. As the pandemic wears on, healthcare providers like you are facing increased stress, burnout, and resource scarcity, increasing the risk of patient harm. Older adults in particular face systemic barriers to safe and effective care. Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW) 2022, (October 24-28, 2022) focuses on the safer care of older adults with the theme of “Press Play on Safety Conversations.”
As a pharmacy professional, you are among the most accessible healthcare providers with many opportunities to “Press Play on Safety Conversations.” Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) encourages us to change the way we think about safety by having safety conversations with patients and their advocates or loved ones. Learn more about safety conversations and the guiding principles of “ask, listen, and act” at the following link:
https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/en/what-we-do/all-programs/canadian-patient-safety-week/
HEC is also offering the following complimentary webinars for CPSW 2022:
- Now is the Time to Press Play on Safety Conversations, October 25, 2022, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Safety Conversations Start with Creating a Safe Workforce – Lessons from Early Adopters of HSO’s Workforce Survey on Well-Being, Quality, and Safety, October 27, 2022, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
For additional resources on safer medication use for older adults, please see the following recordings from ISMP Canada about what pharmacy professionals can do to make care safer:
- Resolving Drug-Drug Interactions: A Guide for Community Pharmacies to Reduce Potential Hospitalizations (video)
- A Multi-Incident Analysis on Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults (video)
- Safe Medication Use in Geriatrics (video)
- Less is More: An Introduction to Deprescribing (video)
- SMART Medication Safety Agenda: Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults (PDF)
CPhM 2023 Licence Renewal Reminder
Please be reminded that all current licences issued by the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba expire on December 31, 2022.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Managers are reminded to renew their corresponding practice licence using the online renewal process.
The deadline to complete the renewal process is Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Late fees are automatically assessed after the deadline. Failure to renew a licence on or before the November 15 deadline will result in a late fee, equal to 50% of the original licence fee, being added.
Pharmacists are reminded that they must complete their professional development (PD) activities by October 31 and enter them into their online PD Log prior to November 30, 2022. To be eligible for licence renewal, pharmacists must participate in a minimum of 25 hours of PD learning activities annually between November 1 and October 31. A minimum of 15 of the 25 hours must be from accredited learning activities.
Please take the time to ensure PD activities are logged accurately in the correct PD year. As a reminder:
- Tech talk programs cannot be claimed as accredited learning activities for pharmacists. These activities are only accredited for pharmacy technicians. You can identify technician-accredited learning as the accreditation numbers end in “T.”
- Preceptor hours can only be claimed when there is new learning completed, and the learning must be documented.
- Pharmacists may only claim continuing education units (CEU) for First Aid/CPR training for the actual number of hours attended, excluding breaks.
Pharmacy Managers are reminded that all supporting documents must be submitted in order for a pharmacy licence renewal to be processed:
- Owner’s Declaration Form, signed with an original ink signature by the Signing Officer;
- Annual Return of Information; and
- Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance.
Payment Instructions:
As per its COVID-response plan, the CPhM office has pandemic-response protocols in place and continues to operate as a virtual office in many capacities; registrants are encouraged to pay for licence renewal online. Cheques or money orders may be mailed to the CPhM office or dropped in the secure, black drop-box to the left of the office’s main entrance. Enclose a copy of your invoice if paying by cheque or money order.
Remember: a licence that is not renewed by December 31, 2022, is expired and invalid. A pharmacist or pharmacy that fails to renew a licence and continues to practice is in contravention of Manitoba law and will be referred to the Complaints Committee.
Thank you for your prompt attention and cooperation in the renewal process. Avoid unnecessary late penalties. Renew your licence promptly.
Call for Members – Safety IQ Advisory Committee
The College is seeking additional volunteers to serve on the Safety IQ (Safety Improvement in Quality) Advisory Committee. Members of the public, pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians are welcome to join. Although Safety IQ is a mandatory continuous quality improvement (CQI) program for community practice, the committee is comprised of pharmacist and pharmacy technician volunteers from both community and non-community-based practices to provide different perspectives on CQI and patient safety.
In particular, the College is seeking one community and one hospital pharmacist to serve on the Committee.
The Committee serves as a resource to Council and the Quality Assurance Committee in matters related to Safety IQ. Following implementation of Safety IQ in 2021, the Committee will continue to evaluate the progress and success of the program and make recommendations to Council on program enhancements that will improve pharmacy practice and patient safety. More information about the Committee can be found in the Safety IQ Advisory Committee Terms of Reference.
To express your interest, please review information on Committee Service and submit a Committee Expression of Interest Form to info@cphm.ca. Please include a current copy of your resume and/or curriculum vitae within the email.
Consultation on Proposed Amendments to the Patient Profile Practice Direction
In 2014, the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba Council implemented a policy surrounding Practice Directions, which includes the requirement for assessment and regular review at a minimum of every 5 years.
In accordance with the Practice Direction Policy, the Patient Profiles Practice Direction is currently under review by the Standards of Practice Division of the Quality Assurance Committee. Practice Directions carry similar legal significance to regulations, and it is therefore important that the formation of a Practice Direction is made with due diligence, subject to analysis, review, and response.
The Amendments
The proposed amendments to the Patient Profiles Practice Direction are outlined here.
The two proposed amendments will:
- Change the documentation requirements of sex/gender in a patient profile from mandatory to optional, based upon pharmacist professional judgement and patient preference.
- Clarify the expectation regarding the documentation of relevant medical history.
The Consultation
Council has approved a consultation on the draft Practice Direction amendments. The consultation will be open for 30 days.
The CPhM is committed to an open and transparent consultation process. All comments received will be considered by Council.
Please review the draft Practice Direction here and provide feedback by email to feedback@cphm.ca by October 29, 2022.
National Pharmacy Technician Day
National Pharmacy Technician Day takes place on the third Tuesday of October of each year. On October 18, 2022, CPhM encourages you to take a moment to recognize the pharmacy technicians, and those in training, who are valuable members of your pharmacy team and to help raise public awareness of their role as an integral part of patient healthcare.
Thank you to all the pharmacy technicians for your important contributions in supporting the provision of safe and effective pharmacy care!
CPhM Introduces New Quality Assurance and Field Officer
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba welcomes Arleigh Andrushak to the staff in the position of Quality Assurance and Field Officer.
Arleigh has worked primarily as a hospital pharmacist, with additional experience as a primary care pharmacist, for the past ten years and brings exemplary knowledge and experience to the position.
She will work closely with other staff conducting inspections and responding to practice enquiries. Arleigh is eager to immerse herself in the role and make a meaningful contribution to the College.
Upcoming Events & Professional Development Opportunities
Opioid Agonist Therapy 101 Introduction to Clinical Practice
October 20 & 21 or December 15 & 16, 2022 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Click here for more information and to register.
CSHP- MB 2022 Fall Half Day – Inclusive Health Care
October 15, 2022 08:00 a.m.
Register here.
ISMP Canada Medication Safety Workshops:
MedRec and BPMH Training for Health Care Professionals Workshop
September 24, & November 18, 2022
Register here.