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
Who is ACP? The Alberta College of Pharmacists governs the pharmacy profession in Alberta to support and protect the public s health and well-being. 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
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.
ACP s six priorities for 2010 1. 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 t 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
Practice framework CODE OF BY-LAWS STANDARDS ETHICS OF PRACTICE Revised May 2009 Consultation Summer 2010 Consultation Summer 2010 REGULATIONS Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Professional Regulation Consultation Spring 2010 ACTS Health Professions Act and Pharmacy & Drug Act Amended October 2009
Steps to Regulation
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 t practical training i 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
Bridging Program Four course program: 1. Pharmacology 2. Product Preparation PLAR 3. Mgmt of Drug Distribution 4. Professional Practice Eligible Required course Final exam = Ethics & Jurisprudence exam
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
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 i 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
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 p 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 ib i 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
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 i when providing non-pharmacological l products or services.
Pharmacology Cardiovascular Diabetes Asthma, Anaphylaxsis, Gastrointestinal Depression/Pain Women s Health Men s Health Infectious diseases Cancer Epilepsy/Thyroid
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
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.
Legislation Professional Practice 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, i in compliance with legislation l and established policies and procedures Communications Communicate effectively with pharmacy stakeholders, patients, patients agents, and healthcare providers within the scope of the profession Continued
Ethics Professional Practice 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.
https://pharmacists.ab.ca
https://pharmacists.ab.ca
https://pharmacists.ab.ca
Bow Valley College PHARMACOLOGY FOR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN BRIDGING - in-class* LOCATION DETAILS CALGARY Saturdays Sept. 11-Dec.4 In progress CALGARY Tues./Thurs. Sept.14-Oct.21 In progress LETHBRIDGE Tuesdays Sept.21-Nov.30 Space available Additional offerings to be scheduled. *online course coming soon!
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 LOCATION DATE CALGARY Dec. 4 Additional dates to be scheduled based on demand For more information visit www.bowvalleycollege.ca/pharmbridging or call: (403) 410-3402
NorQuest College Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technician i Bridging i 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 780-644-6307 or 780-644-6395
Red Deer College
Questions