The College asked Detective Constable Chris Auger of the OPP Drug Enforcement Unit Prescription Drug Diversion to provide some tips on what pharmacists can quickly look for when determining whether a returned fentanyl patch has been altered or counterfeited. On October 1, 2016, the Safeguarding Our Communities Act (Fentanyl Patch for Patch Return Policy) came into effect. Shortly after the enactment of the Patch for Patch program, pharmacies and policing communities started seeing counterfeit patches…
By: Heather Kidston, RPh, FSVHP How many times per week are you presented with a prescription for an animal? Or asked questions about purchasing an OTC product for a pet? Can you name two reliable veterinary drug references? During my 13 years as a community pharmacist, I was frequently asked questions about drug therapy for clients’ pets, and filled many prescriptions for animals. As a veterinary hospital pharmacist, I now recognize how often I incorrectly…
On May 1, 2018, new regulations under the Regulated Health Professions Act came into effect. These amendments are part of the Protecting Patients Act, which was passed on May 30, 2017, and which strengthens the prevention of, and response to, incidents of patient sexual abuse, increases supports for victims of sexual abuse by regulated health professionals and improves regulatory oversight and accountability of health regulatory colleges. Visit the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website…
By Ian Stewart R.Ph, B.Sc.Phm. Pharmaceutical manufacturers invest significant resources on designing product packaging and labelling to ensure positive brand identification. The result is often a consistency in product appearance. This similarity in packaging and labelling has been a contributing factor in medication errors reported. CASE: Rx:Derma Smoothe/FS®Sig: Use as directedMitte: One bottle The above prescription was taken to a local community pharmacy for processing. The pharmacy assistant entered the prescription into the computer as…
A Patient’s Request for Renewal In the Spring 2017 edition of Pharmacy Connection, the College published A Framework for Ethical Decision Making. The framework provided a process to guide decision making in practice that supports the commitment to serve and protect patients’ best interests. This "What Would You Do" explores a specific scenario in practice that presents an ethical issue or dilemma for the pharmacy professional. It does not provide a definitive answer to the…
“Close-Up on Complaints” explores incidents reported to the College that have occurred in the provision of patient care and which present learning opportunities. Ideally, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will be able to identify areas of potential concern within their own practice, and plan and implement measures to help avoid similar incidents from occurring in the future. Summary of the Incident This incident occurred when a husband attended the pharmacy on a statutory holiday to fill…
Sathya Chandrakumar, BSc, PharmD Student1Caroline Warnock, RPh, BScPhm, PharmD, BCPP2Valerie Powell, RN, BScN2Maria Zhang, RPh, BScPhm, PharmD, MSc1,2 1Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario2Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario Clozapine is a unique atypical antipsychotic, heralded for its effectiveness in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS).1 An estimated 25% to 30% of those living with schizophrenia meet the criteria for TRS, which is defined as non-responsiveness to, or intolerance of, two or…
Reviewed by Detective Constable Chris Auger of the OPP Drug Enforcement Unit, Prescription Drug Diversion The College recently published an article on Preventing Drug Diversion, focused on the responsibilities that pharmacies have to prevent opportunities for diversion of controlled substances (narcotics, controlled drugs and targeted substances). Pharmacies must also be aware of the potential for robberies, particularly by those in search of narcotics, which may then be trafficked. While there is nothing that can absolutely…
Decisions of the Discipline Committee between October 2017 and January 2018. Abdul Baqi, R.Ph. (OCP #214965) At a hearing on October 12, 2017, a Panel of the Discipline Committee made findings of professional misconduct against Mr. Baqi with respect to the following incidents: READ MORE That he submitted accounts or charges for services that he knew were false or misleading to the Ontario Drug Benefit program for one or more certain identified drugs and/or products,…
Recently, there has been increasing awareness and discussion of incidents of sexual abuse and sexual harassment within society. As healthcare professionals, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must be particularly committed to preventing sexual abuse of patients and sexual harassment of colleagues. Sexual abuse of a patient by a pharmacy professional can include sexual intercourse, touching of a sexual nature and remarks of a sexual nature, among other behaviours1. Workplace sexual harassment means engaging in a course…
