Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Pharmacy Technician Bridging Programs September 19, 2010 Dale Cooney - Alberta College of Pharmacists Crystal Lane – Bow Valley College Kim Campbell – NorQuest College Rock Folkman – Red Deer College

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Who is ACP? To fulfill its mandate, the college: –registers pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; –licenses pharmacies; –measures and supports the competence of pharmacists & technicians; and, –resolves complaints about pharmacists‘ & technicians’ practices and pharmacies' operations. *Pending regulation The Alberta College of Pharmacists governs the pharmacy profession in Alberta to support and protect the public’s health and well-being.

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice ACP’s Strategic Priority The public and individual patients benefit from quality patient care from pharmacy practitioners. Quality patient care is defined as care that: –Is accessible, acceptable and appropriate to the patient; –Responds to the patient’s and the public’s health needs; and –Is provided safely, effectively and efficiently by accountable pharmacy practitioners within appropriate pharmacy care settings.

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice ACP’s six priorities for Help pharmacists embrace their full scope of practice Increase number of pharmacists with additional prescribing privileges (target=avg. of 15 apps/month), to improve patient access to appropriate drug therapy 2.Raise public and stakeholder expectations of pharmacy practitioners Educate the public and stakeholders to seek and demand new services available from pharmacy practitioners 3.Optimize pharmacy workforce Continue toward regulation of pharmacy technicians 4.Ensure pharmacists are competent to perform authorized roles Implement the knowledge evaluation and professional practice portfolio, as new programs through which registrants will be required to demonstrate their competency 5.Hold pharmacists accountable for decisions and actions Enhance program to monitor and improve pharmacist compliance with ACP standards and ethical expectations 6.Employ effective policies and efficient processes at ACP Identify and delete redundancy and align feedback between core business processes

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Practice framework CODE OF ETHICS Revised May 2009 BY-LAWS Consultation Summer 2010 STANDARDS OF PRACTICE Consultation Summer 2010 REGULATIONS Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Professional Regulation Consultation Spring 2010 ACTS Health Professions Act and Pharmacy & Drug Act Amended October 2009

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Steps to Regulation

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Why require bridging? Substantial equivalence Must demonstrate that the applicant is currently competent to practice For this purpose the Registrar may require an applicant to do one or more of the following: successfully complete coursework and examinations undergo an evaluation of competencies complete an additional structured practical training program considered by ACP Council - April 2009 Successful completion of a bridging program; Successful completion of an ethics and jurisprudence exam; and Successful completion of registration examination

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Bridging Program Four course program: 1.Pharmacology 2.Product Preparation 3.Mgmt of Drug Distribution 4. Professional Practice –Required course –Final exam = Ethics & Jurisprudence exam PLAR Eligible

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Bridging Program Curriculum purchased by ACP from Ontario –Developed by an association of community colleges in conjunction with tech educators and OCP –Alberta tech educators have assisted to incorporate Alberta content Agreement for program delivery –Publicly funded Alberta Colleges with CCAPP accredited programs Bow Valley College NorQuest College Red Deer College

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Bridging Programs Admission criteria for bridging programs (equivalent to requirements for PEBC evaluating exam) –Evidence of having worked in the field as a pharmacy technician for at least 2000 hours in the past 36 months; –Successful completion of the PTCB-AB exam or the OCP exam or PEBC evaluating exam; –Graduation from a CCAPP accredited program

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Summary of Bridging Program Pharmacology (33 hours) –Provides a practical, applied approach to pharmacology –Currently being offered by delivery colleges Product Preparation (33 hours) –A practical course that provides theoretical knowledge and practical experience to accurately and safely prepare sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical products –Delivery Colleges have Alberta course data and are preparing to deliver Management of Drug Distribution (39 hours) –Course examines various drug distribution systems and prepares learners to perform accurate product release and to manage operations in a practice setting –Delivery Colleges have Alberta course data and are preparing to deliver Professional Practice (45 hours) –Prepare students for practice in 5 focus areas: Legal requirements, Scope of practice, Ethical principles, Professionalism & Communication skills –Alberta version to be available to delivery colleges for winter semester delivery

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Pharmacology Apply basic principles of pharmacology essential to ensure safe dispensing practices Collaborate with the pharmacist and members of the healthcare team. Act within the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians when providing non-pharmacological products or services.

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Pharmacology Cardiovascular Diabetes Asthma, Anaphylaxsis, Gastrointestinal Depression/Pain Women’s Health Men’s Health Infectious diseases Cancer Epilepsy/Thyroid

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Product Preparation Extemporaneous Compounding –Safely and accurately compound a non-sterile mixture Extemporaneous Specialty Compounding –specialty dosage forms and products containing narcotics, alcohol and controlled drugs. Sterile Products Preparation –Discuss procedures for safe and accurate preparation of sterile IV admixture(s) and TPN in a Laminar Air Flow Hood (LAFH) Sterile Specialty Products –Outline procedures for safely and accurate preparation of antineoplastic medications in a Biological Safety Cabinet

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Management of Drug Distribution Drug Distribution Systems –Management of systems for drug distribution to ensure patient safety –Packaging products to maintain integrity Management knowledge and skills –inventory management and business practices –Manage workflow Quality Assurance –QA and risk management policies, procedures, and activities. Product Release –Releasing and distributing products in a manner that ensures patient safety.

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Professional Practice Legislation –Comply with federal and provincial legislation and other regulatory requirements relevant to the area of pharmacy practice. Scope of Practice –Act within the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians, in compliance with legislation and established policies and procedures Communications –Communicate effectively with pharmacy stakeholders, patients, patients’ agents, and healthcare providers within the scope of the profession –Continued

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Professional Practice Ethics –Demonstrate ethical principles appropriate to the role of pharmacy technician. Professionalism –Maintain professional responsibility consistent with the ethics and standards of the profession and as a member of the health team.

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice

Bow Valley College ___________________________________________________ PHARMACOLOGY FOR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN BRIDGING - in-class* *online course coming soon! LOCATION DETAILS CALGARYSaturdaysSept. 11-Dec.4In progress CALGARYTues./Thurs.Sept.14-Oct.21In progress LETHBRIDGETuesdaysSept.21-Nov.30Space available Additional offerings to be scheduled.

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Bow Valley College SCHEDULING IN PROGRESS  Management of Drug Distribution Systems for Pharmacy Technician Bridging  Product Preparation for Pharmacy Technician Bridging  Professional Practice for Pharmacy Technician Bridging PLAR CHALLENGE EXAMS For more information visit or call: (403) LOCATIONDATE CALGARYDec. 4 Additional dates to be scheduled based on demand

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice NorQuest College Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technician Bridging is currently in progress for the Fall 2010 term until November 24, 2010 Delivery Methods Face to face – evenings Online paced – evenings In the process of scheduling dates for remaining courses For more information: Call or

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Red Deer College

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice Questions