Does a pharmacy technician have the scope of practice to perform a Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) when a patient is admitted to – or discharged from – hospital?

The Pharmacy Act and Ontario Regulation 256/24 define Scope of Practice and authorized acts for all pharmacy professionals. The steps involved in conducting a BPMH, such as gathering patient records from various sources and identifying discrepancies, are not necessarily governed by legislation. However, the regulation does set out Terms, Conditions and Limitations on a pharmacy technician’s certificate of registration, and pharmacy technicians cannot provide information or education relating to drug use which requires therapeutic knowledge, clinical analysis or assessment (s18.4). 

Pharmacy technicians responsible for performing a BPMH must have the appropriate knowledge, skills and training to meet the Standards of Practice for Pharmacy Technicians outlined in #9-#12. When collaborating to provide patient care, technicians are expected to document their decisions and actions in the patient’s health record, including the relevant health and drug information they’ve obtained and their interpretation of this information. 

The Pharmacy Manager/Administrator should establish policies and procedures for conducting medication reconciliations, outlining the respective roles for pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. OCP resources to consult include the Hospital Pharmacy Assessment Criteria, Standards of Operation, and the Pharmacy Technician Practice Assessment Criteria. External resources are also available from organizations such as the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP), ISMP Canada, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI), etc. Collaborating with peers at other hospitals to share operational advice and best practices is also encouraged.