Drug shortages have become increasingly common in Canada. Given that drug shortages are a complex health system issue, they can present significant dilemmas for pharmacy professionals and prescribers who are trying to meet the needs of their patients. This page is intended to provide pharmacy professionals with resources and best practices to navigate drug shortages. Role of Pharmacy Professionals Pharmacy professionals play a critical role in managing drug shortages that can have a significant impact…
Pharmacists in Ontario are authorized to prescribe certain drugs for treating specific minor ailments listed in Schedule 4 of O. Reg. 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991. The minor ailments currently listed in the regulations are: Acne (mild) Allergic rhinitis Aphthous ulcers (canker sores) Calluses and corns Candidal stomatitis (oral thrush) Conjunctivitis (bacterial, allergic, or viral) Dermatitis (atopic/eczema, allergic, or contact) Diaper dermatitis Dry eye (xeropthalmia, dry eye disease) Dysmenorrhea Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Hemorrhoids Herpes labialis (cold sores) Impetigo Insect…
Pharmacists, in their clinical role as medication experts, are in a unique position to contribute to positive health outcomes for patients who consume cannabis, whether for medical or non-medical (recreational) use. The public should expect that pharmacy professionals have sufficient knowledge about cannabis use to promote patient safety and prevent harm – no differently than any other drug or substance. Cannabis Training Requirements At the time of the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2018, and continued access for…
All records generated by pharmacy professionals and through the operation of a pharmacy must be maintained according to legislation, the Standards of Operation, and College policies. Effective processes are necessary to ensure records are legible, complete, accurate, secure, and readily accessible. Pharmacy records contain personal health information and are subject to Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). PHIPA establishes the mandate of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario and governs the collection, use and…
Pharmacy professionals are expected to document the patient care they provide to enable collaboration and continuity of care. This includes documenting interactions, decisions and the supporting rationale as well as their actions, to which they are accountable, on the patient’s record. Documentation must be done in a timely and effective fashion, using recognized formats that are easily understood by the patient’s circle of care. The standards of practice, supplemental standard of practice and Documentation Guideline outline the…
The scope of practice and authorized acts for pharmacy technicians is established in the Pharmacy Act. As regulated healthcare professionals, pharmacy technicians support pharmacists in the provision of comprehensive patient care services. Part A pharmacy technicians are accountable and responsible for the technical aspects of dispensing both new and refill prescriptions. They may also perform point-of-care tests and educate patients on the proper use of medical devices. Part A pharmacy technicians and intern technicians who have…
The scope of practice and authorized acts for pharmacists are established in the Pharmacy Act. Subject to the regulations, and any terms, conditions and limitations imposed on their certificate of registration, pharmacists can: Dispense, compound and sell medications Administer certain substances by injection or inhalation Prescribe to renew or adapt existing prescriptions Prescribe to initiate treatment for smoking cessation, influenza, COVID-19, and certain minor ailments Perform certain point-of-care tests and demonstrate devices for self-testing These professional activities…
The resources below provide information for assessing the validity of a prescription, preparing prescriptions for dispensing and transferring or delivering prescriptions.
The most important feature or characteristic that distinguishes a healthcare professional from another type of professional is that they are committed, first and foremost, to the direct benefit of their patients. Inherent within the healthcare professional-patient relationship, there is an imbalance of power with the healthcare professional holding that power. Choosing to become a pharmacist or pharmacy technician requires an understanding and commitment to the professional role, appreciating that patients may often be limited by…
Patient Assessment is one of the four domains that is evaluated during a pharmacist practice assessment. Comprehensive patient assessment includes gathering relevant information through dialogue with the patient, reviewing the patient profile and using that information to identify drug therapy problems or other issues that could affect health outcomes
