Practice Insight explores concerns reported to the College as part of the complaints and reports process that present learning opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. This example reminds registrants that care must be taken when ending the patient relationship by exploring two separate complaints reported to the College that resulted in different outcomes. Case Scenario #1: A patient took a prescription for a compounded topical product to a pharmacy where the pharmacist indicated that it…
Pharmacists must ensure they understand their authority under the Pharmacy Act to adapt a patient’s prescription, including the requirements and expectations outlined in the Initiating, Adapting and Renewing Prescriptions Guideline. Here are five key questions and answers about adapting prescriptions. 1. What can pharmacists adapt? A pharmacist can alter the dose, dosage form, regimen or route of administration of the prescribed drug. Therapeutic substitution is NOT within the scope of practice for pharmacists in Ontario. What…
Patients have the right to expect that they will not be denied a service, including a healthcare service, because of their disability. They also have the right to expect that a reasonable accommodation will be made to ensure that they have fair access to the healthcare services they need. Fostering an Environment of Respect and Inclusion The Canadian Human Rights Act, 1985 and the Ontario Human Rights Code, 1990 (the Code) provide a legal framework…
Ian Stewart, B.Sc.Phm., R.Ph. The following is an example of a near miss that took place in a community pharmacy setting after transitioning from a hospital, and which was caught during the therapeutic check and resolved in collaboration with the prescriber. The analysis of the near miss is presented to highlight the learnings that can come from such cases along with possible quality improvements that a pharmacy team may implement into their practice to prevent…
The Ontario Pharmacy Health Program (OPHP) is a voluntary program available to all registrants of the College who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and/or substance use. The goal is to support you to practice safely, strengthen your overall stability and well-being, and be engaged in your home life, family and community. Here are four key things you should know: 1. There are many reasons why you might consider contacting OPHP. Some of the…
Transitions of care happen when patients transfer between different care settings, such as hospital, primary care, long-term care and home care, as well as between different healthcare providers during an acute or chronic illness.[1] Due to the numerous institutions and individuals involved, as well as what can be an emotional and overwhelming time for patients and their families, transitions of care are a common time for adverse drug events to occur. This is Part 2…
The College has recently received several reports and complaints from patients who were given the wrong vaccine at a community pharmacy. There have been reports of mix ups between the monovalent and bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as well as mix ups between the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine. In some cases, patients received a different brand than they preferred (i.e., received a Pfizer vaccine instead of Moderna). A foundational principle of the AIMS Program is…
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must be committed to protecting patients from sexual abuse of any kind. As part of this obligation, it is important for registrants to know that defining who is a patient for the purposes of sexual abuse is guided by legislation and that no legislative exemption currently exists for the spouses, including common law spouses, or other intimate relationship partners of registrants. This means that a registrant who provides pharmacy services (including…
Decisions of the Discipline Committee between October 2022 and January 2023. Dejan Buric (OCP #621776) At a hearing on November 2, 2022, a Panel of the Discipline Committee made findings of professional misconduct against Dejan Buric as a dispensing pharmacist and/or Designated Manager at Olde Walkerville Pharmacy (the Pharmacy), with respect to the following: READ MORE False or unsubstantiated claims submitted to the Ontario Drug Benefit Program (ODB) from the Pharmacy from approximately February 1,…
Pharmacy robberies impact the safety and security of pharmacy teams and patients, and put everyone’s physical and mental health at risk. In December 2022, the College Board discussed and approved development of a standard that will require the use of time-delayed safes to store narcotics in all community pharmacies, and prominent signs indicating they are in use. The standard will be brought to the Board at its March 2023 meeting and, if approved, will come into effect…
