November/December 2009 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

November/December 2009

ontario college of pharmacists 

483 Huron Street, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2R4 • Tel (416) 962-4861 • Fax (416) 847-8200 • www.ocpinfo.com 

The mission of the Ontario College of Pharmacists is 

to regulate the practice of pharmacy, through 

the participation of the public and the 

profession, in accordance with standards of 

practice which ensure that our members 

provide the public with quality 

pharmaceutical service and care. 

Council Members 

Council Members for Districts 1-17 are listed below according to District number. PM indicates a public member appointed by the 

Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council. U of T indicates the Dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. 

U of W indicates the Director, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo. 

1 Joseph Hanna 

2 Elaine Akers 

3 Sherif Guorgui 

4 Tracey Phillips 

5 Donald Organ 

6 Zita Semeniuk 

7 Tracy Wiersema 

8 Saheed Rashid 

9 Bonnie Hauser 

10 Gerald Cook 

11 Christopher Leung 

12 Peter Gdyczynski 

13 Sanjiv Maindiratta 

14 Stephen Clement 

15 Jon MacDonald 

16 Doris Nessim 

17 Shelley McKinney 

PM Joinal Abdin 

PM Thomas Baulke 

PM Corazon dela Cruz 

PM Babek Ebrahimzadeh 

PM James Fyfe 

PM David Hoff 

PM Margaret Irwin 

PM Javaid Khan 

PM Lewis Lederman 

PM Aladdin Mohaghegh 

PM Gitu Parikh 

PM Joy Sommerfreund 

U of T Henry Mann 

U of W Jake Thiessen 

Statutory Committees 

• Executive 

• Accreditation 

• Discipline 

• Fitness to Practice 

• Inquiries Complaints & Reports 

• Patient Relations 

• Quality Assurance 

• Registration 

Standing Committees 

• Communications 

• Finance 

• Professional Practice 

Special Committees 

• Standards of Practice Working Group 

• Pharmacy Technicians Working Group 

College Staff 

Office of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar/ 

Director of Professional Development 

Pharmacy Connection Editor x 2241 

ltodd@ocpinfo.com 

Office of the Director of Finance 

and Administration x 2263 

bhsu@ocpinfo.com 

Office of the Director of 

Professional Practice x 2236 

civan@ocpinfo.com 

Registration Programs x 2250 

jsantiago@ocpinfo.com 

Structured Practical Training Programs x 2297 

vclayton-jones@ocpinfo.com 

Investigations and Resolutions x 2274 

kspadafore@ocpinfo.com 

Continuing Education Programs and 

Continuing Competency Programs x 2273 

lsheppard@ocpinfo.com 

Pharmacy Openings/Closings, 

Pharmacy Sales/Relocation 

ocpclientservices@ocpinfo.com 

Registration and Membership Information: 


Pharmacy Technician Programs 


Publications x 2229 

spark@ocpinfo.com

contents 

Electoral Districts & Members of Council 6 

Council Committee Appointments 8 

Model Standards of Practice 14 

Quality Assurance Update 15 

Hands-on learning key to co-op students 16 

Pharmacist-physician collaboration 

key to patient safety 18 

Past Presidents’ Reunion 22 

Help! We’ve been robbed 24 

Pharmacy Practice: Did You Know? 26 

A Summer Student’s Perspective of the College 29 

regular features 

President’s Message 5 

Editor’s Message 4 

Council Report 9 

Bulletin Board 17 

Pharmacy Technician Q&A 20 

Health Canada Notices 21 

Practice Q&A 22 

Registration Q&A 22 

Update on Technology 27 

Call for Preceptors 28 

Focus on Error Prevention - Accurate and Complete Labelling 30 

Deciding on Discipline 31 

CE Resources 38 

Laws & Regulations 39 

Members of Council – page 6 

Quality Assurance Update – page 15 

Help! We’ve been robbed – page 24 

pharmacyconnection 

November/December July 2009 • August Volume 2008 16 • Number Volume 15 6 • Number 4 

The objectives of Pharmacy Connection are to communicate information on College activities and policies; encourage dialogue and to discuss issues of 

interest with pharmacists; and to promote the pharmacist’s role among our members, allied health professions and the public. 

We publish six times a year, in January, March, May, July, September and November. We welcome original manuscripts (that promote the objectives of the 

journal) for consideration. The Ontario College of Pharmacists reserves the right to modify contributions as appropriate. Please contact the Associate Editor 

for publishing requirements. 

We also invite you to share your comments, suggestions or criticisms by letter to the Editor. Letters considered for reprinting must include the author’s 

name, address and telephone number. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views or official position of the Ontario 

College of Pharmacists. 

Stephen Clement, R.Ph., B.Sc.Phm. 

President 

Deanna Williams, R.Ph., B.Sc.Phm., C.Dir., CAE 

Registrar 

Della Croteau, R.Ph., B.S.P., M.C.Ed. 

Editor, Deputy Registrar, 

Director of Professional Development 

dcroteau@ocpinfo.com 

Anjali Baichwal 

Associate Editor 

abaichwal@ocpinfo.com 

Agostino Porcellini 

Production & Design / Webmaster 

aporcellini@ocpinfo.com 

Neil Hamilton 

Distribution 

nhamilton@ocpinfo.com 

ISSN 1198-354X 

© 2009 Ontario College of Pharmacists 

Canada Post Agreement #40069798 

Undelivered copies should be returned 

to the Ontario College of Pharmacists. 

Not to be reproduced in whole or in part 

without the permission of the Editor.

president’s message 

Stephen Clement, R.Ph., B.Sc. Phm. 

President 

As I begin my year as President 

of the Ontario College 

of Pharmacists, there is 

much change in the profession. We 

anticipate the final reading of Bill 179 

which will give legislative authority 

for an advanced scope for pharmacists, 

as well as remote dispensing. 

We will be incorporating the feedback 

we have heard from you as we 

travelled the province this fall, to develop 

regulations supporting these 

new authorities. Once the regulations 

for all new activities have been 

developed and approved by Council, 

they will be circulated to the members 

for comment and feedback, and I ask 

that each of you read and familiarize 

yourself with what is being proposed. 

In addition to the expanded scope 

for pharmacists, we expect that the 

first set of regulated pharmacy technicians 

will be registered early in 2010. 

The timing of the regulation of pharmacy 

technicians couldn’t be better 

for supporting pharmacists. As pharmacists 

begin to take on a greater 

scope and responsibility for patient 

care, registered technicians will be 

able to focus on many day-to-day 

technical duties. 

As a community pharmacist for 

more than 30 years, I personally find 

these changes both exciting and intimidating. 

We will be able to play a 

greater role in helping our patients to 

manage their medications, but are we 

ready? Have those of us who graduated 

a number of years ago kept up 

our skills and knowledge so that we 

can build on them to take even a 

greater role? Now is the time to take 

stock of our skills and knowledge, 

and to prepare ourselves to take on 

adapting, modifying and extending 

prescriptions, ordering lab tests, and 

administering medications by injection 

and inhalation for the purposes of 

patient education. It is our duty to be 

vigilant in the area of self-evaluation. 

We must help all members identify 

not only their strengths but their 

challenges, so that they can better 

prepare themselves for the proposed 

changes. There are many intensive 

continuing education workshops being 

offered and I challenge each of 

you to take in as many of these as 

possible in the next year. Along with 

this advanced scope, there will be 

other practice expectations such as 

documenting patient care, and having 

a place in your pharmacy where you 

can consult patients privately about 

their personal health information. 

And to top off all this change, 

technology is advancing at a rapid 

pace. Our goal, as a council, is to push 

ourselves to keep up with it, embrace 

it and use it to make the regulatory 

changes needed to fulfill our mandate, 

maintain our standards, and to ensure 

that our members provide the 

public with quality service and care. 

A major advantage of technology is 

that it provides us with better access 

to patient health information and we 

must be ready to use this information 

to help patients manage their medications. 

This advanced scope will 

position pharmacists to take more 

responsibility for patient care and to 

work collaboratively with the doctors, 

nurses and other health care professionals 

in our communities. 

At the College, we have developed 

a dynamic communications program 

that is designed to communicate these 

important changes to the public. 

The program encourages the public 

to consult their pharmacist as a key 

member of their healthcare team. 

Watch for print advertisements in 

select consumer magazines this fall. 

Our ability to make a difference 

in our patients’ medication therapy 

management has never been greater. 

I look forward to developing this new 

practice along with all of you. 

4 pharmacyconnection • November/December 2009

editor’s message 

Della Croteau, R.Ph., B.S.P., M.C.Ed. 

Deputy Registrar/Director of Professional Development 

As this issue of Pharmacy 

Connection goes to press, 

we have completed a series 

of district meetings around the 

province. It was great to see so many 

of you—pharmacists and technicians—turn 

out for these meetings. 

Your interest and attendance signifies 

the pace of change in our profession 

and the need to clarify what those 

changes mean to you. At these 

meetings, you expressed interest in 

the enhanced scope of practice, the 

No one could argue that 

pharmacy technicians have 

become an integral part 

of pharmacy practice. 

principles of remote dispensing, as 

well as with the regulation of pharmacy 

technicians. In fact, at many of 

the meetings, pharmacy technicians 

turned out in as great a number as 

pharmacists. 

Pharmacy technicians and their 

pharmacist partners are at different 

stages of readiness to take on their 

new roles. Everyone must figure out 

what works for them and their practice 

site in this new context. 

The much awaited regulation of 

pharmacy technicians is really just 

around the corner. The group of 

pharmacy technicians who wrote 

the pilot for the PEBC exam have 

now written the College’s jurisprudence 

exam. Those already in the 

profession are finishing off the last of 

their bridging requirements. Others 

who are new to the profession are 

completing their structured practical 

training. Once the registration 

regulations are passed by government, 

all the requirements for entry 

to practice are met and applications 

are made to the College, we 

can begin to license the first 

Registered Pharmacy Technicians 

in Ontario and in 

Canada. 

I want to take this opportunity 

to acknowledge all the 

pharmacy technicians who have 

stepped forward and entered into the 

process of regulation. It is not easy, 

once established in one’s career, to 

go back to school and be assessed to 

a new standard. We now have over 

2000 pharmacy technicians in Ontario 

who have begun to take classes, 

and many more are ready to do so 

once on-line courses and prior learning 

assessments become available. 

Their enthusiasm and courage to 

take this on has been tremendous. 

I also want to acknowledge their 

pharmacist colleagues who have encouraged 

them along the way, and 

are providing opportunities for continuing 

education and growth of 

pharmacy technicians. At a recent 

gathering, the past presidents of the 

College recalled discussions of regulating 

pharmacy technicians as far 

back as 1988. 

No one could argue that pharmacy 

technicians have become an integral 

part of pharmacy practice. As our 

regulated partners, they will soon be 

able to take more responsibility for 

the technical aspects of dispensing, 

allowing the pharmacists to optimize 

their time for patient care. 

By embracing technology, creating 

a regulated pharmacy technician 

partner to accept more responsibility 

for drug distribution, and by 

optimizing and enhancing the role 

of the pharmacist, the profession of 

pharmacy is ready to move forward. 

By collaborating with the pharmacy 

team, and with other health care 

professionals, the goal is to better 

support the public in their health 

care. In the end, all of this change is 

about achieving positive health outcomes 

for the citizens of Ontario. 

pharmacyconnection • November/December 2009 

5

Elected 

District 15, Jon MacDonald 

Sault Ste. Marie 

District 14, Stephen Clement 

President 

Callander 

Electoral Districts 

& 

Members of Council 

Hospital Members 

Faculty of Pharmacy 

District 16, Doris Nessim 

Mississauga 

District 17, Shelley McKinney 

Pickering 

Henry Mann 

Dean 

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy 

University of Toronto 

Jake Thiessen 

Hallman Director 

School of Pharmacy 

University of Waterloo 

District 11, Chris Leung 

Windsor 

Public Members 

Joinal Abdin 

Toronto 

Thomas Baulke 

Collingwood 

Corazon dela Cruz 

Toronto 

Babek Ebrahimzadeh 

Woodbridge 

James Fyfe 

Niagara Falls 

David Hoff 

Oakville 


Members 

District 7, Tracy Wiersema 

Past President 

Barrie 

District 1, Joseph Hanna 

Ottawa 

District 2, Elaine Akers 

Peterborough 

District 13, Sanjiv Maindiratta 

Brampton 

District 3, Sherif Guorgui 

Toronto 

District 4, Tracey Phillips 

Toronto 

District 5, Don Organ 

Toronto 

District 6, Zita Semeniuk 

Etobicoke 

Council Observers 

District 9, Bonnie Hauser 

Vice President 

Dunnville 

District 12, Peter Gdyczynski 

Brantford 

District 8, Saheed Rashid 

Ancaster 

Amber Walker 

Pharmacy Technician 

Tracy Wills 

Pharmacy Technician 

District 10, Gerald Cook 

London 

Public Members 

Margaret Irwin 

Sault Ste. Marie 

Javaid Khan 

Markham 

Lew Lederman 

Ottawa 

Aladdin Mohaghegh 

Toronto 

Gitu Parikh 

Toronto 

Joy Sommerfreund 

London 


7

committee appointments 2009/2010 

EXECUTIVE 

Elected Members: 

Stephen Cement – President 

& Chair 

Bonnie Hauser - Vice President 

Tracy Wiersema - Past President 

Sherif Guorgui 

Public Members: 

Tom Baulke 



Staff Resource: 

Deanna Williams 

ACCREDITATION 


Shelley McKinney (Chair) 

Zita Semeniuk 


Cora dela Cruz 


NCCM: 

Roger Ball 

Norm Lee 


Nicole Balan 

COMMUNICATIONS 


Gerry Cook 


Joseph Hanna 

Saheed Rashid (Chair) 



Lew Lederman 

NCCM: 

Erik Thibault 

Pharmacy Technician Observer: 

Amber Walker 


Connie Campbell 

DISCIPLINE 


Stephen Clement 

Peter Gdyczynski (Chair) 


Joseph Hanna 

Chris Leung 

Jon MacDonald 

Sanjiv Maindiratta 

Doris Nessim 

Don Organ 

Jake Thiessen 

Tracy Wiersema 


Tom Baulke 

Bob Ebrahimzadeh 

James Fyfe 


Javaid Khan 

Lew Lederman 



NCCM: 

Larry Boggio 

Erik Botines 

Wayne Hindmarsh 

Tony Huynh 

Dave Malian 

Barb Minshall 

Mark Scanlon 

Jeanette Schindler 

Dan Stringer 

David Windross 

Simon Wong 


Maryan Gemus 

FINANCE 


Gerry Cook 

Peter Gdyczynski 



Gitu Parikh (Chair) 


Connie Campbell 

FITNESS TO PRACTISE 


Chris Leung (Chair) 

Doris Nessim 

Zita Semeniuk 


Joinal Abdin 


Lew Lederman 

NCCM: 

Magued Hannalah 

Ken Potvin 


Maryan Gemus 

INQUIRIES, COMPLAINTS 

AND REPORTS (ICRC) 


Elaine Akers 

Stephen Clement 

Gerry Cook (Chair) 

Bonnie Hauser 


Saheed Rashid 

Zita Semeniuk 






Javaid Khan 

Lew Lederman 


Gitu Parikh 

NCCM: 

Kalyna Bezchlibnyk-Butler 

Larry Boggio 

Gurjit Husson 

Eva Janecek-Rucker 

Elizabeth Kozyra 

Dave Malian 

Remi Ojo 

Greg Purchase 

Beth Sproule 

Flora Thay 


Maryan Gemus 

PATIENT RELATIONS 


Elaine Akers 

Gerry Cook(Chair) 


Tom Baulke 

James Fyfe 

Javaid Khan 

NCCM: 

Dan Stringer 


Anne Resnick 

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 



Jon MacDonald 


Henry Mann 

Tracey Phillips (Chair) 

Don Organ 

Saheed Rashid 


Joinal Abdin 




NCCM: 

Larry Boggio 

Canaan Guta 

Magued Hannalah 

Sherry Peister 

Pharmacy Technician Observer: 

Tracy Wills 


Nicole Balan 

QUALITY ASSURANCE 


Shelley McKinney 

Tracey Phillips (Chair) 


James Fyfe 



NCCM: 

Gurjit Husson 

Lilly Ing 

Les Wilkinson 


Sandra Winkelbauer 

REGISTRATION 


Elaine Akers 

Bonnie Hauser 

Chris Leung (Chair) 

Doris Nessim 






NCCM: 

James Buttoo 

Christine Donaldson 

Dave Malian 

Dean: 

Jake Thiessen 


Susan James 

PTWG 


Elaine Akers (Chair) 

Gerry Cook 


Bonnie Hauser 

Don Organ 


Joinal Abdin 

NCCM: 

Bonnie Bokma 

Catherine Graham 

Mark Scanlon 

Catherine Schuster 

Amber Walker 

Tracy Wills 


Susan James 

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE 

WORKING GROUP: 


Chris Leung 

Shelley McKinney 

Saheed Rashid (Chair) 



Javaid Khan 

NCCM: 

Zubin Austin 

Larry Boggio 

Elizabeth Ivey 


Anne Resnick 

NCCM=Non-Council 

Committee Member 


council report - September 2009 

Council Approves 2010 

Capital and Operating 

Budget 

At the September 2009 Council 

meeting, College Council voted in 

favour of approving the proposed 

capital and operating budget for 2010, 

which takes into account the additional 

resources required to address 

significant changes in the profession 

that are anticipated in the next couple 

of years. These include: 

• Integration of Pharmacy Technicians 

into the College’s regulatory 

framework; 

• Legislative changes to expand the 

scope of practice for the profession; 

and 

• Technology innovations relating to 

pharmacy services. 

The budget also provides for an 

anticipated prosecution of a nonpharmacy 

operation through the 

provincial courts. 

To cover the increase in costs, the 

budget proposes an adjustment of 

approximately 11 per cent increase to 

fees associated with registration, accreditation 

and renewal. In addition, 

Council approved a deficit budget for 

the current operating year 2009 to 

reduce accumulated reserve funds. 

Specific increases proposed are: 

• Part A annual fees from $537.91 

to $600 (initial filing after Sept 1 

and Part B - $300) 

• Pharmacy Technician annual fees 

from $355.02 to $400 (initial filing 

after Sept 1 - $200) 

• Pharmacy annual fees from 

$771.72 to $860.00 

• Registration Fees – filing fee from 

$118.33 to $130.00 

• Registration Application Fees 

from $184.89 to $205.00 

• Registration Training Fees from 

$369.78 to $410.00 

• JP Seminar Fees from $79.24 to 

$90.00 

• All JP Examination fees from 

$153.19/$306.39 to $200.00 

The fee increases will deliver a 

small operating surplus with the deficit 

after capital to be drawn from 

reserves. 

Council further discussed the 

rationale for setting Pharmacy Technician 

annual fees equal to two-thirds 

that of Part A Pharmacist fees and 

while it was acknowledged that the 

cost of regulating a profession may 

be similar across membership classes, 

Council considered the ranges in fees 

to appropriately reflect the respective 

scopes of practice for each class of 

registrant. 

Approved 2010 Budget Summary 

Council Approves Appointment 

of Clarke Henning LLP 

as Auditors for 2009 

Consistent with Finance policy that 

external services be tested against the 

market every five years, the financial 

and audit services were taken to the 

market in the spring of 2008. Following 

a comprehensive analysis, the 

Finance Committee recommended 

that the firm Clarke Henning LLP, 

Chartered Accountants, be appointed 

as Auditors for the College for that 

year. The firm has since undertaken 

three audits—an audit of the College’s 

Defined Contribution Pension 

Plan, an audit of the College’s Registration 

Practices and a Financial Audit 

and Preparation of Year End Financial 

Statements for 2008. Clarke Henning 

is registered with the Canadian Public 

Accountability Board and has committed 

to not raising their fees beyond 

the CPI for the first three years of 

their engagement. 

Member Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7,223,500 

Pharmacy Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,020,150 

Health Profession Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 36,300 

Registration Fees and Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,565,250 

Investment Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10,000 

Total Projected Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,855,200 

Expenses 

Council, Committee & District Meetings . . . . $ 2,959,866 

College Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 8,661,805 

Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 182,244 

Total Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,803,915 

Excess of Revenue over Expenses . . . . . . . . . . $ 51,285 

Capital Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (165,000) 

Surplus (Deficit) after Capital . . . . . . . . $ (113,715) 


9

council report 

Registration Regulations 

Ratified 

Following the College’s submission 

of its proposed Registration Regulation 

to the government for approval 

in the fall of 2008, the College was 

requested to make the necessary 

labour mobility amendments so that 

they can be included in the Regulation 

as it proceeds through the government’s 

approval process this fall. 

Accordingly, changes were made to 

various sections of the regulations 

(sections 23, 24, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 

45) and circulated for feedback. Very 

few responses were received and no 

significant concerns or issues raised 

by any of the respondents. Accordingly, 

Council ratified the registration 

regulation and directed that it be resubmitted 

to the government. 

Principles for Remote 

Dispensing Approved 

College Council discussed and approved 

key principles respecting the 

practice of remote dispensing (refer to 

the OCP website for a complete set 

of principles as well as the proposed 

standards associated with remote 

dispensing), and approved them in 

principle for circulation to and consultation 

with members and other 

stakeholders through fall 2009. Council 

noted that while the College has 

already held focus groups on this matter, 

there will be another opportunity 

for consultation through upcoming 

district meetings beginning September 

22, 2009. The key areas for consideration 

include the following: 

• A remote dispensing location is 

operated through an authorized 

accredited pharmacy in Ontario 

and all requirements, rules, policies, 

laws and standards apply 

• A remote dispensing location must 

enable, not prohibit or prevent the 

pharmacist’s patient care practice 

or his/her role in Medication Therapy 

Management 

• A remote dispensing location must 

be safe and secure 

• Patient privacy and confidentiality 

must be maintained 

• Remote dispensing locations must 

protect against drug diversion and 

sub-standard products 

The membership is invited 

to provide written comments 

regarding these principles by 

Monday, November 2, 2009 to 

aresnick@ocpinfo.com in order to 

be considered by Council at its 

December meeting. 

Following this process and subsequent 

to the passing of Bill 179, the 

drafting of appropriate regulations to 

the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation 

Act will begin. These draft regulations 

will then be circulated to the 

membership and stakeholders prior to 

ratification by Council in 2010. Both 

the legislative change and approval of 

the regulations by the Ontario government 

must occur before remote 

dispensing to the public of Ontario 

can take place. 

Model Standards of Practice 

for Canadian Pharmacists 

Adopted by Council 

The Professional Practice Committee 

of the College was directed 

to review the Model Standards 

of Practice for Canadian Pharmacists 

as developed by the National 

Association of Pharmacy Regulatory 

Authorities (NAPRA) in 

March 2009. The committee considered 

the history of standards 

development in Ontario and the 

desirability of a national, externally 

produced set of standards 

which are applicable to the different 

settings in which pharmacists 

practice. Council agreed that not 

all pharmacists perform each of 

the roles described in the Model 

Standards, but that when they do, 

regardless of setting, the expectation 

of care associated with the 

role will be consistent. Accordingly, 

Council agreed to adopt 

the Draft Standards, and further 

noted that they will be included 

on the agenda of the upcoming 

district meetings for member 

consultation. 

Council also noted that the Professional 

Practice Committee has 

undertaken to consider details of 

any specific differences between 

this document and the existing OCP 

Standards of Practice for inclusion in 

future updated policies or guidelines 

for the purpose of member clarity. 

Proposed Structured 

Practical Training (SPT) 

Program for Pharmacy 

Technicians Approved by 

Council 

Council approved the proposed SPT 

Program for Pharmacy Technicians 

for the purpose of pilot testing in 

fall 2009. The primary objective of 

the SPT program is to provide an 

opportunity for new graduates to 

assimilate and apply their learning 

in the work environment and to 



demonstrate their readiness to assume 

individual accountability for 

their practice as a regulated health 

professional. The proposed program 

mirrors the existing model for 

pharmacists. Pharmacy technician 

applicants will be required to complete 

the program at an approved 

site and under the supervision of a 

preceptor approved by the College. 

The Pharmacy Technician Working 

Group and the Registration Committee 

have established preceptor 

and site criteria consistent with 

the criteria used for students and 

interns. 

While the objective of the program 

is to ensure demonstration of 

competence, a minimum length of 

time in the program is required to 

ensure there is sufficient opportunity 

for learning and observation for 

the preceptor to make a judgment 

about performance. For the purpose 

of the pilot, a minimum of 12 weeks 

has been recommended and the 

timeframe will be evaluated during 

the pilot to determine if the program 

length is appropriate. 

Council further noted that although 

the proposed Registration 

Regulation has not yet been approved 

by government, the College 

continues to anticipate this will occur 

this fall or early 2010, so that the first 

group of pharmacy technicians can 

be registered in time for their participation 

in Council elections in June 

2010. Council will be advised of the 

results of the pilot, when program 

approval is requested prior to full 

implementation in 2010. 

Council was also updated on 

the development and implementation 

of the process and programs 

needed to regulate pharmacy technicians 

in Ontario. In summary, 

there continues to be tremendous 

progress made in all aspects of this 

initiative, and a continued commitment 

and strong response from 

both the pharmacy technicians and 

their pharmacist colleagues as each 

new component is introduced. The 

College’s website provides comprehensive 

information respecting the 

registration process (a synopsis is 

provided in the chart below). 

New Pharmacy Technician 

Observers Welcomed at 

Council Table 

Council welcomed Ms. Amber 

Walker and Ms. Tracy Wills to their 

inaugural Council meeting. Both 

pharmacy technicians have been 

appointed by the President to sit as 

observers at the Council table for 

the 2009-2010 Council term and will 

also serve on the Pharmacy Technician 

Working Group as well as other 

Committees of the College. 

Office of the Fairness 

Commissioner/Labour 

Mobility 

In accordance with the Fair Access 

to Regulated Professions Act and the 

Regulated Health Professions Act, 

the Office of the Fairness Commissioner 

requires certain professions 

to review their registration practices, 

submit reports about them 

and undergo compliance audits to 

ensure that registration is fair. As 

reported in the May/June issue of 

Pharmacy Connection, the College 

received a clean audit, however, 

following a request by the Office 

of the Fairness Commissioner, an 

addendum was provided by the 

auditors. The auditors’ recommendations 

for improvement include: 

an easier to navigate website and 

the ability by registrants to complete 

various forms online; the 

formalization and documentation of 

the responsibilities of the Pharmacy 

Examining Board of Canada and 

dissemination of more information 

by the College to assist applicants 

in finding preceptors to complete 

their structured practical training, 


11


all of which Council noted the 

College has already commenced 

pursuing. 

On a related matter, Council 

noted that following the introduction 

of Bill 175, the Ontario Labour 

Mobility Act (OLMA) 2009, in May 

2009, which will allow the Ontario 

Government to fulfill its obligations 

under the amended Agreement 

on Internal Trade (Chapter 7), the 

College was requested by the government 

to, where possible, enable 

movement of professionals across 

Canada. Accordingly, the Registration 

Committee has been requested 

to embrace the spirit of labour mobility 

and that Registration panels 

consider using currently available 

exemption provisions, where possible 

and appropriate, to license 

individuals until the labour mobility 

legislation has passed. 

Bill 179 - Regulated Health 

Professions Statute Law 

Amendment Act, 2009 

Following the introduction by the 

Minister of Health and Long-Term 

Care of an omnibus bill that will 

increase access to health care 

services by the public of Ontario 

through expanding the scopes of 

pharmacists and other health care 

professionals, at Council’s direction, 

Registrar Williams has been 

in regular communication with 

Ministry officials as well as the 

Federation of Health Regulatory 

Colleges of Ontario to identify 

issues that will have an impact on 

the profession. A request was also 

made for the College to appear and 

present to the Standing Committee 

on Social Policy (following the 

Council meeting, the College was 

granted the request and President 

Stephen Clement and the Registrar 

Deanna Williams presented to the 

Committee on Social Policy on 

Monday, September 28, 2009). 

Council agreed that in essence, 

the College is in strong support for 

Bill 179 and the proposals that will 

give effect to an enhanced scope 

of practice for pharmacists. It was 

noted that in order to give full 

effect to the revised scope of practice, 

there were several regulatory 

amendments that were required, 

such as amending the Public Hospitals 

Act to allow hospital pharmacists 

to write orders (adapt or extend a 

prescription and order a lab test) and 

an amendment to the regulations 

under the Laboratory Specimen and 

Collection Centre Licensing Act to 

include pharmacists as practitioners 

who may order lab tests. 

College Council however, expressed 

serious concerns respecting 

the proposed provision that would 

give the Minister the power to, in 

the absence of any articulated or 

defined criteria, appoint a “college 

supervisor” to assume control 

of a health regulatory college in 

Ontario. While there was strong 

support expressed at the table for 

the principle of accountability and 

transparency, Council also supported 

the principle of fairness and 

agreed that if the provision were 

to go forward, it should only do so 

where the criteria for appointment 

of a College supervisor are clearly 

articulated, where parameters as to 

the role and responsibilities of such 

a supervisor once appointed are 

defined, and where due processes 

are in place and followed to ensure 

that such measures are only taken 

in the interest of public protection. 

A watching brief will be kept on this 

matter. 

E-Health Initiatives/ 

Extension of EPrescribing 

Project 

E-Health Ontario launched Canada’s 

first e-Prescribing Project 

through two sites selected for the 

demonstration projects (Sault Ste. 

Marie and Collingwood) in April 

2009. This college, together with 

the College of Physicians and Surgeons 

of Ontario and the College 

of Nurses of Ontario, has agreed 

to support an extension of the 

project until December 31, 2009. 

Evaluation and assessment of the 

project will provide learning for 

the colleges as well as the ministry 

prior to the provincial roll out of 

e-Prescribing. 

On a related matter, OCP has 

been identified by the Ministry of 

Health and Long-Term Care as one 

of the top five priority regulatory 

colleges in support of e-health solutions 

and we have been approached 

by the ministry to work with them 

on their Data Feed Limited Release 

Project. Although specific details 

are not yet available, and meetings 

have been scheduled with ministry 

officials to discuss logistics, Council 

was cognizant that there will be significant 

resource implications (both 

staff and financial) to the College. 

Further information will be provided 

as the College receives it. 



Educational Grants 

In keeping with the College bylaws, 

which permit the College to 

provide funding for relevant educational 

events, Council endorsed the 

Executive Committee’s decision to 

sponsor $2,000 for an education 

event entitled “Knowledge Translation 

Event for Integrating Family 

Medicine and Pharmacy to Advance 

Primary Care Therapeutics”, as well 

as to CAPSI (Canadian Association 

of Pharmacy Students and Interns) 

for an amount of $1,000 for their 

Professional Development Week 

(PDW) which will be hosted in Toronto 

in January 2010. 

Communications Update 

Council received an update on the 

activities that the Communications 

Committee has undertaken over the 

past several months. Public communication 

will continue to target 

the 50+ demographic, as they are 

most likely to be on multiple medications 

and stand to benefit greatly 

from the knowledge and care pharmacists 

can deliver, and this will 

occur through print media to provide 

optimal reach and frequency 

for the College’s investment. Print 

ads will be appearing in targeted 

publications in the fall of this year. 

Social media tools (i.e. Twitter, 

Facebook) are also being assessed 

to determine if this growing trend 

can be leveraged to support College 

objectives to reach and further 

engage our target audiences. Also 

discussed was the concept of developing 

messages complimentary to 

the public campaign but targeted to 

other health care partners that will 

help promote the valuable role pharmacists 

play as a member of a health 

care team. Publications that target 

these professional groups will be 

sourced and placement of advertisements 

in these publications will be 

considered at the time of the public 

media buy for this fall. 

Council endorses policies 

respecting the Quality 

Assurance Program 

Following enquiries from the membership 

respecting the length of 

time that their learning portfolio 

records must be kept, the Quality 

Assurance Committee considered 

this matter and determined, and 

Council endorsed, that a policy 

requiring maintenance of records 

for a minimum of five years be 

established. 

Council also agreed to the establishment 

of a volunteer program 

which will allow pharmacists to volunteer 

to undergo the Peer Review. 

This will allow the College to not 

only maximize the use of available 

spaces at each Peer Review (and in 

turn, maximize the use of College 

funds), but also enable these pharmacists 

to then participate in the 

Peer Review process as assessors or 

as case developers. The volunteer 

program would be in addition to the 

usual random selection process, and 

will commence as a pilot to be reviewed 

after two years. 

Council Meeting Dates 

2009-2010 Term 

• Thursday 10th and Friday 

11th December 2009 

• Monday 8th and Tuesday 

9th March 2010 


8th June 2010 

Congratulations to 


14th September 2010 

For more information respecting 

Council meetings, please contact 

Ushma Rajdev, Council and Executive 

Liaison at urajdev@ocpinfo.com 

Jon MacDonald 

District 15 

on his acclamation to Council 


13

pharmacy practice 

Model Standards 

of Practice 

A 

t its September 2009 meeting 

College Council approved the 

adoption of the Model Standards 

of Practice for Canadian 

Pharmacists which have been 

developed by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory 

Authorities (NAPRA). These Standards will replace 

the current OCP Standards of Practice and Standards of 

Practice for Managers, effective January 1, 2010. 

Although the format and wording of the Model Standards 

is different from that of the College’s current 

Standards, there is no reduction in the expectation of the 

College regarding the practice of its members. While there 

are a number of professional roles fulfilled by pharmacists, 

not all pharmacists perform each of the roles as part of 

their daily work; when they do, they will be expected to 

do so to the level specified in the Standards. In this way, 

regardless of setting, the expectation of care associated 

with a particular role will be consistent. As well, the College 

will be able to use the Model Standards to explain 

the responsibilities of pharmacists to their stakeholders in 

a meaningful and understandable manner. Therefore the 

descriptions of the activities which pharmacists undertake 

in safe and effective practice use commonly recognized 

terms. 

Policies and guidelines pertaining to the role of Designated 

Managers will be developed and communicated to 

members in the future. The following is a summary of the 

Standards. The entire document can be downloaded from 

the OCP website at www.ocpinfo.com 

NAPRA has clarified that the Model Standards are not 

applicable only to pharmacists at entry to practice but are 

minimum standards for all pharmacists. 

The College encourages all members to read and familiarize 

themselves with these Standards. 

SUMMARY OF MODEL 

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE 

The framework for the Model Standards of Practice 

(MSOP) incorporates four domains of standards of 

practice. Within each of these domains the MSOP 

are grouped under general standard statements to 

provide structure and ease of reading as follows: 

1. Expertise in medications 

and medication-use 

• Pharmacists maintain their competence. 

• Pharmacists apply their medication and medicationuse 

expertise while performing their daily activities. 

• Pharmacists provide evidence of application of their 

medication and medication-use expertise through 

documentation. 

2. Collaboration 

• Pharmacists work constructively with students, 

peers and members of the inter-professional team. 

• Pharmacists communicate effectively. 

3. Safety and Quality 

• Pharmacists undertake continuing professional 

development, quality assurance and quality 

improvement. 

• Pharmacists respond to safety risks. 

4. Professionalism and Ethics 

• Pharmacists demonstrate professionalism and apply 

ethical principles in their daily work. 


quality assurance 

Quality Assurance Update 

LEARNING PORTFOLIO RETENTION 

Members are required to retain 

their learning portfolio records and 

supporting documents for a minimum 

period of five years. 

A number of pharmacists have requested information 

on the length of time that their learning portfolio records 

must be kept. As a result, pharmacist retention of learning 

portfolios was discussed at the March 27, 2009 Quality 

Assurance (QA) Committee meeting. 

Learning portfolio retention requirements at other Colleges 

in Ontario range from two years to seven years, 

with most Colleges requiring five year retention. The 

Committee agreed to a policy requiring maintenance of 

records for a minimum of five years. 

VOLUNTEERS FOR PEER REVIEW 

A pilot program allowing pharmacists to volunteer to 

undergo the Peer Review will begin in February 2010. 

Allowing pharmacists to volunteer to undergo the Peer 

Review was discussed at the March 27, 2009 Quality Assurance 

Committee meeting. The benefits of allowing 

volunteers include: 

• Maximizing use of available space at each Peer Review 

(thus maximizing use of College funds) 

• Enabling pharmacists to participate in the Peer Review 

process as assessors or as case developers. Current 

policy indicates that pharmacists invited to 

be part of the Peer Review process are required 

to have completed the Peer Review. 

A volunteer policy will allow pharmacists, 

who have not yet been randomly selected, 

to complete the Peer Review requirement 

and then be eligible to participate in the above described 

working groups. 

The volunteer program will be in addition to the usual 

random selection process, with the aim of maximizing 

resources. 

Volunteers will be required to sign an undertaking 

which states that he or she will comply with all the same 

laws/regulations and obligations as though he or she were 

randomly selected. The contract will indicate that, in 

the event of failure to meet standards, the volunteer 

pharmacist will be required to go through remediation. 

The undertaking would also outline the exemption 

policy (which is the same as that for randomly selected 

pharmacists). 

Pharmacists interested in volunteering to undergo the 

Peer Review will be placed on a volunteer list and selected 

in a first come, first served fashion. The volunteer pharmacist 

would be given notice of potential participation one 

to three weeks prior to the Peer Review. 

To volunteer for the Peer Review, please e-mail your 

name, OCP number and phone number to 

Lori Sheppard at lsheppard@ocpinfo.com. 


15

on-the-job training 

Hands-on learning key to c 

Marc-André Gravel, B.Sc., B.Ed., B.Sc.Phm. Candidate 

School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo 

and 

Certina Ho, B.Sc.Phm., MISt., M.Ed. 

Project Manager, ISMP Canada 

Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo 

S 

ince the University of Waterloo 

launched the first 

Canadian pharmacy co-op 

program in January 2008, 

Ontario pharmacists have 

become increasingly aware of the valuable hands-on 

opportunities that experiential learning can offer to undergraduate 

students. Throughout the four years of their 

pharmacy studies, Waterloo pharmacy students are exposed 

to a variety of real-life pharmacy experiences during 

their co-op placements. Students also bring their practical 

learning back to the classroom to further their knowledge 

and skills. 

The patient safety curriculum at the School of Pharmacy, 

University of Waterloo, introduces students to the 

Medication Safety Self Assessment ® (MSSA), a tool that 

will help health care practitioners assess medication safety 

in their practice setting or pharmacy. The MSSA was 

originally developed by the Institute for Safe Medication 

Practices (ISMP) in the United States. A Canadian version 


ulletin board 

o-op students 

of the MSSA tool has been developed by the Institute for 

Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada) and 

pharmacy students at the School of Pharmacy have received 

in-class training on how to perform this assessment. 

The MSSA tool consists of a series of self-assessment 

items (with multiple choice options) and analyzes medication 

safety based on 10 key elements, ranging from 

patient information, drug information, communication of 

drug orders, to environmental factors, staff and patient 

education, etc. Completion of the MSSA usually takes 

two to three hours. However, dividing the MSSA exercise 

or discussion among staff members into two or three 

one-hour sessions may be a more feasible option for most 

pharmacy practice settings. Further information on MSSA 

for Community/Ambulatory Pharmacy and MSSA for Long 

Term Care can be found in the November/December 

2005 and November/December 2007 issues of Pharmacy 

Connection or by visiting the ISMP Canada web site at 

www.ismp-canada.org/mssa.htm. 

A research initiative entitled “Making Patient Safety 

Real: An Outcome-Driven Classroom to Co-op and Back 

Again”, which aims to measure how co-op experiences 

complement students’ classroom learning (and vice versa), 

was also brought to the attention of pharmacy students 

and co-op employers in 2009. One component of this research 

initiative involves the administration of MSSA in 

the student’s co-op placement (where drug distribution 

or direct patient care is available). With the employer’s 

consent to conduct a MSSA, the pharmacy student works 

with other staff members at his or her placement, completes 

the safety assessment, and identifies opportunities 

for quality improvement and medication safety initiatives. 

Co-op work terms are great opportunities for University 

of Waterloo pharmacy students to gain knowledge and 

skills through real life pharmacy experience. Employers or 

preceptors offer students valuable experiential learning. 

At the same time, pharmacy students can contribute to 

enhancing patient safety in pharmacy practice settings by 

adopting what they learn. 

The College would like to extend their best 

wishes to the following staff as they move on 

to new adventures outside of the College: Eric 

Bruce, Decisions Coordinator; Catherine Mc- 

Cormick, I&R Administrative Assistant; and 

Sue Rawlinson, Communications Advisor. After 

nine years with the College, Chris Schillemore 

has decided to move on to new challenges but 

will remain connected with the College through 

project work. 

Susan James has transitioned into the role of 

Manager, Registration Programs. Susan has 

been with the College for the past three years 

as Project Director responsible for directing the 

activities of the Pharmacy Technician regulation 

and will continue to oversee the integration of 

Pharmacy Technicians within the College. 

We welcome the following new staff members: 

Cynthia D’Souza, who was hired on a temporary 

contract, has recently joined the College on 

a permanent basis. Cynthia is the Administrative 

Assistant in the Investigations and Resolutions 

department. Cynthia’s experience includes 

over eight years with Apotex Inc. where she 

held a variety of positions as executive and administrative 

assistant and most recently as the 

Coordinator for the Operations and Compliance 

department. 

Anjali Baichwal recently joined the College as 

the Communications Advisor. Anjali spent the 

last 11 years with the University of Toronto in 

Communications Management roles in Research, 

Advancement and Alumni Affairs. Prior to U of 

T, Anjali held communications roles with the 

Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario Ministry 

of Transportation. Anjali has a BA in Political 

Science and French, as well as a Certificate in 

French language studies from the University of 

Paris Sorbonne, France. 


17

patient safety 

The article below first appeared in Dialogue, the journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 

Pharmacist-physician 

collaboration 

key to patient safety 

COMMUNICATION CAN STRENGTHEN WORKING RELATIONS 

A 

group of pharmacists and 

physicians in southern 

Ontario has developed a 

number of communications tips designed 

to provide safer, seamless, 

more efficient care to patients. 

The Ancaster-Dundas Pharmacist-Physician 

Collaboration project 

developed a set of easily implemented 

protocols to strengthen 

physician/pharmacist working relations 

and improve patient care. 

The recommendations specifically 

aim to: reduce unnecessary 

calls/faxes between pharmacists 

and physicians; enhance patient 

care; facilitate up-to-date patient 

profiling at the pharmacy; allow 

monitoring of patient adherence and 

re-enforcement of the most current 

directions; prevent discontinued 

medications from being ordered in 

error; and improve availability of a 

current patient profile for planned 

or unexpected hospitalizations. 

Dr. Lori Chalking, a family physician 

in Burlington, was one of the 

physicians involved in developing the 

recommendations. Her family practice 

has been using them for several 

years now, with excellent results. 

“As health-care professionals, it is 

so important that we communicate 

regularly to ensure our patients are 

getting the best and safest possible 

health care,” she said. 

Ms. Kerry Monaghan, a Burlington 

pharmacist, said she was 

recently made aware of the need 

Recommendations to Decrease Unnecessary Calls/Faxes 

Communication 

Item 

Dosage Changes 

Discontinued Meds 

Prescription Directions 

Potential Allergy 

Potential Interaction 

CPSO Number 

Multiple Office Locations 

Physician Action 

Write on Rx: 

• intention to change dose of 

prescription 

• subsequent verbal changes 

communicated to pharmacist 

Write on Rx: intention to stop or 

change prescription 

Write on Rx: Complete dosage 

instructions as discussed with 

patient rather than as directed 

Write on Rx: “aware of allergy – 

will monitor” 

Write on Rx: “aware of 

interaction – will monitor” 

Include your CPSO number on 

all prescriptions 

When the prescription includes 

several office or hospital 

locations, indicate where the 

patient was seen 

for enhanced clarity in regard to the 

patient’s medication treatment plan. 

“A patient was discharged from the 

hospital and the cardiologist had 

discontinued the patient’s warfarin, 

which he had been taking for atrial 

Pharmacist Action 

• Reinforce rationale for change to 

improve adherence 

• Update patient profile 

Ensure patient understands rationale for 

change & note discontinued med as 

“inactive” on profile to prevent 

inadvertent refilling 

Reinforce physician directions & assess 

patient adherence 

Counsel patient on potential signs & 

symptoms; document patient-specific 

allergy & follow-up with patient to 

determine tolerance 

Counsel patient on potential signs of 

interaction; follow-up with patient to 

determine tolerance 

When there is difficulty deciphering your 

signature, the pharmacist can check the 

CPSO website to ensure correct spelling 

of your name and contact information 

Ensure the correct location is entered 

on the patient file, to facilitate future 

communication, when needed 


fibrillation. Since the discharge 

prescription did not indicate that 

warfarin had been discontinued, the 

family doctor reordered the warfarin, 

which was then delivered to 

the patient’s home. It took several 

phone calls to both physicians to 

sort out that he was not to take the 

warfarin,” she said. 

Dr. Rayudu Koka, President of 

the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 

said he is much impressed 

with the common sense, practical 

approach of the project. “Incorporating 

these small steps into our 

daily routines will go a long way 

in providing patients with optimal 

care, while making the most productive 

use of everyone’s time.” It 

would make sense to encourage 

these recommendations at the medical 

and pharmacy school level, said 

one pharmacist. “That would allow 

practitioners to develop life-long 

habits to enhance communication 

among all health-care practitioners 

in the interest of efficiency and improved 

patient care,” said Ms. Janie 

Bowles-Jordan, a primary care 

pharmacist in Hamilton. 

Recommendations to Enhance Patient Care 

Communication 

Item 

Indication clarification 

Recommendations for 

Patient Care 

Prescription Clarification 

&/or Pharmacist 

Recommendation 

Referral for Consultation 

Information Sheets 

Patient Annual Physical 

Planned Hospital 

Admission 

Patient Discharged from 

Hospital 

Physician Action 

Write on Rx: indication for use 

if possible 

Write on Rx: treatment goals 

Respond to Rx clarification 

or pharmacist-initiated 

recommendation in a timely 

manner 

Refer patient to pharmacy 

services including medication 

review, diabetes education, 

heart health, etc. 

Write on Rx: counseling 

preferred (verbal, written, both) 

When patient books their 

appointment, office staff 

suggest having a MedsCheck 

review with their pharmacist 

Hospital or family physician 

suggests the patient have a 

MedsCheck review with their 

pharmacist 

Any medication changes made 

during the hospitalization are 

readily available for the family 

physician to follow-up post 

discharge 

Pharmacist Action 

Note indication on prescription label & 

reinforce MD treatment goals 

Reinforce rationale for goals & increase 

patient awareness on current/target 

levels 

Fax MD utilizing standardized 

Pharmaceutical Opinion template 

Provide requested service 

Pharmacist will conduct verbal 

counseling only 

Pharmacist performs MedsCheck review 

to develop ‘Best Possible Medication 

Record’ and gives a copy for the patient 

to take to their physician 

Pharmacist performs MedsCheck review 

to develop ‘Best Possible Medication 

Record’ and gives a copy for the patient 

to take for their pre-op assessment and/ 

or hospital admission 

Pharmacist reviews list of discharge 

medications, revises the patient’s ‘Best 

Possible Medication Record’, explains 

changes to patient and/or caregiver, 

gives them a copy, and faxes a copy of 

the revised ‘Best Possible Medication 

Record’ to the family physician 

Keep on Checking for Up-To-Date Pandemic Information 

With an anticipated influenza pandemic upon us, it is more critical than ever that, as pharmacists, 

you are up-to-date on the most current news and information so that you are able to provide the 

best care for your patients. 

OCP posts all up-to-date information on its website at www.ocpinfo.com regarding 

H1N1 preparedness and protocols including links to the latest information from the 

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The Ministry’s BBS (Bulletin Board System) 

includes much additional information, including up-to-date fact sheets. 

It is vital that you check our website and BBS daily in order to have 

the most current information. 


19

pharmacy technician Q&A 

Susan James 

Manager, Registration Programs 

I’ve heard that there is a practical training 

Q requirement for pharmacy technicians who are 

already in the profession. I thought that requirement 

was only for individuals who are new to the 

profession. Can you explain this? 

There are two different practical evaluation requirements 

for pharmacy technicians who wish to become registered 

with the College. For individuals the College has identified 

as “in the profession” there is a structured practical evaluation 

(SPE) built into the Bridging Education program. 

For graduates of CCAPP accredited education programs, 

(referred to as “New to the profession”) there is a structured 

practical training (SPT) program, to be completed 

following graduation. 

Structured Practical Evaluation 

This evaluation is to be completed following the Drug 

Distribution and Management course in a pharmacy practice 

setting (ideally your current workplace) under the 

supervision of an evaluator (currently a pharmacist, or in 

the future a registered pharmacy technician). 

The purpose of this evaluation is to ensure each individual 

can accurately perform the “independent double 

check” of prescriptions in the work environment. 

Once registered with the College, pharmacy technicians 

will be authorized to sign-off on the final product 

release, having first completed an independent double 

check (IDC) to confirm accuracy of the technical components 

of dispensing. Given the importance of the 

task, and since accountability for this function will lie 

with the pharmacy technician, demonstration of their 

competency in performing this skill is important for 

everyone. 

Most pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals 

are already familiar with this kind of evaluation and can 

anticipate a process very similar to what they have now. 

For community pharmacies the process will be new. A 

pilot of the SPE will be completed this fall and once finalized 

will be offered to all eligible technicians to complete. 

Structured Practical Training 

This training program is similar to the existing internship 

program for pharmacists. The primary objective is to provide 

an opportunity for new graduates to assimilate and 

apply their learning in the actual work environment and to 

demonstrate their readiness to assume individual accountability 

for their practice as a regulated health professional. 

As with pharmacy interns, pharmacy technicians will 

complete their SPT program under the supervision of a 

preceptor at a site approved by the Registration Committee. 

Initially preceptors will be pharmacists (and in the 

future may be a registered pharmacy technician) who have 

completed the College’s preceptor training requirements. 

A number of structured activities, linked to each of 

the nine competency units from the document Professional 

Competencies for Canadian Pharmacy Technicians 

at Entry-to-Practice (NAPRA, 2007) are included in the 

program. These activities relate to actual patient care 

activities in the workplace, and promote learning through 

reflective practice, self assessment, and mentoring from 

the preceptor. Some activities will require supporting 

documentation while others are to be observed and discussed 

with the preceptor. 

In addition, the program includes the technician’s selfassessment 

of performance on each competency, which is 

then to be reviewed and compared with the preceptor’s 

evaluation of performance at monthly intervals during the 

training program. This program will also be piloted this fall, 

as a 12-week program. More details about each of these 

evaluations will be provided following the initial pilots. 


health canada advisories & notices 

October 21, 2009 








September 25, 2009 





August 21, 2009 

August 21, 2009 

Health Canada wishes to inform you of updated prescribing information for ceftriaxone when used with calciumcontaining 

solutions via the intravenous (IV) route. This new safety information is based on the results of 2 recent in 

vitro studies that showed an increased risk of ceftriaxone-calcium precipitates in neonatal plasma. 

Health Canada is warning patients who take the antidepressant Trazorel (50 mg) or the anti-nausea medication 

Cesamet (1 mg) of a mislabeling issue that may potentially result in patients getting the wrong medication. 

Since 2007, Health Canada has received reports of 4 patient deaths resulting from bed entrapments. The Notice to 

Hospitals provides recommendations to reduce this risk. It also reminds health care facilities of standards recognized 

by Health Canada regarding bed entrapment risks. 

Tibotec, a division of Janssen-Ortho Inc., in collaboration with Health Canada, is notifying health care professionals 

of important safety information regarding post-marketing reports of severe skin reactions, hypersensitivity reactions 

sometimes accompanied by hepatic failure, and a report of a fatality due to toxic epidermal necrolysis in patients 

receiving Intelence (etravirine) tablets. 

When dispensing commercially manufactured Tamiflu Powder (oseltamivir phosphate) for Oral Suspension (12mg/ 

ml), pharmacists should ensure that the units of measure on the prescription instructions match the dosing device 

provided. 

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following foreign health products due to concerns about possible 

adverse reactions - Bao Ling, Dynasty Worldwide Jinglida So Young Formula, STEAM (lot#80214 and lot#90260), 

Syntrax Fyre, Texiao Fengshi Gutong Ling and Kam Yuen Brand Wan Ying Yang Gan Wan. 

Health Canada is informing consumers and health professionals of recent changes to the labelling information of 

prescription sleep aid medications used in the short-term treatment of insomnia. 

You can report any suspected adverse reactions to drugs and other health products to the Canada Vigilance Program 

by visiting the Reporting Adverse Reactions to Drugs and Other Health Products page. 

Hospira is conducting a recall of certain Hospira devices that have defective AC power cords. Potentially-affected 

devices include infusion pumps. This recall is limited to device power cords with a prong and ground-pin insert design. 

Health Canada is aware of an alert issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today (http://www.fda. 

gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm183649.htm) regarding dosing errors associated with the liquid 

form of Tamiflu (the brand name for the drug oseltamivir) and is investigating the issue in Canada. Tamiflu is used in 

the treatment of influenza. 

Notice to Hospitals: Tyco Healthcare Canada is recalling 80 lot numbers of its PediCap End-Tidal CO2 Detectors 

(PediCap and PediCap 6). Recent manufacturing modifications to the affected devices could result in ineffective 

patient ventilation, inadequate detection of CO2 levels, and potential patient injury. 

Health Canada is informing Canadians that Apotex, a prescription drug manufacturer, has voluntarily, as a 

precautionary measure, recalled selected lots of three health products currently on the Canadian market. Selected lots 

of the following products have been voluntarily recalled by Apotex: APO-AMILZIDE (5-50mg), APO-MELOXICAM (7.5 

& 15mg) and APO–RANITIDINE (75 & 150 mg). 

Health Canada is warning Canadians that the use of stable cesium compounds (non-radioactive form of cesium salts, 

primarily cesium chloride) may pose the risk of life-threatening heart problems. 

The FDA warned consumers not to buy or use certain lots of Hardcore Energize Bullet liquid energy drinks due to 

suspected tampering involving the report of a utility knife blade found in one vial of the product - Jin Yuan Pai Xue 

Guan Qing Dao Fu Jiao Nang, Kam Yuen Brand Xue Guan Qing Dao Fu tablet, Libipower Plus, LibieXtreme, Y-4ever, 

Powermania, Libimax X, Herbal Disiac, Dr. Health Series SB Factor, Dr. Health Series GQ Factor, Slim House: Green 

algae fat-melting agent, One Weight Loss Pill, SlimDemand and Botanical Weight Loss. 

Health Canada is informing health care professionals and Canadians that it is working with manufacturers to further 

strengthen product labelling for the class of drugs known as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers with respect to an 

increased risk of cancer in children and young adults. 

Further to the recent publication of scientific reports related to Plavix (clopidogrel) safety, sanofi-aventis Canada 

Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co. are notifying patients of new safety information regarding a potential 

interaction between Proton Pump Inhibitors and Plavix that can lead to a reduction in the effect of clopidogrel. 

For complete information & electronic mailing of the Health Canada Advisories/Warnings/Notices subscribe online at: 

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/index_e.html 

MedEffect e-Notice is the new name which replaces Health Canada’s Health_Prod_Info mailing list. 

The content of the e-notices you receive will remain the same and are now part of MedEffect, a new Health Canada Web site dedicated to adverse 

reaction information. MedEffect can be visited at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/index_e.html 

Health Canada Notices are also linked under “Notices” on the OCP website: www.ocpinfo.com 


21

practice Q&A 

Shakti Sawh 

Practice Advisory Officer 

Where can members locate new updates or 

Q proposed scheduling changes to the national 

drug schedules, which were recommended by the 

National Drug Scheduling Advisory Committee 

(NDSAC)? 

All updates or proposed scheduling changes to the National 

drug schedules are available at the following locations: 

• Printed on the ‘Laws and Regulations’ section of the 

Pharmacy Connection magazine, i.e. the inside cover 

page of publication. 

• Notices are posted on the Drug Schedules Notice 

Board, which is located at the NAPRA website, 

www.napra.org 

• Posted on the College’s website, www.ocpinfo.com, 

in the section entitled, ‘Notices’. All members are 

reminded to check this section frequently for all drug 

scheduling updates, Health Canada advisories, Health 

Canada warnings, foreign product alerts and drug and 

device recalls. 

Past Presidents’ Reunion 2009 

This fall, OCP hosted a reunion for Past Presidents and Registrars. Back row, left to right: Steve Clement, Ron Elliott, 

Don MacInnes, Tracey Wiersema, Shelley McKinney, Bill Mann, Peter Gdyczynski and Jim Dunsdon. 

Front row, left to right: Bill Wensley, Steve Balestrin, Marty Belitz, Deanna Williams, Iris Krawchenko. 


egistration Q&A 

Susan James 

Manager, Registration Programs 

What tests scores do I need to meet OCP’s fluency 

Q requirement? 

The College has adopted the language proficiency tests 

and cut scores for pharmacists that were set nationally by 

the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities 

(NAPRA). The details of these tests and cut scores 

are posted on the College website at www.ocpinfo.com 

under licensing >training and assessments>fluency. Since 

fluency refers more specifically to spoken language, we 

use the term “language proficiency” because it encompasses 

all the domains of reading, writing, listening and 

speaking, which are all important to support effective 

communication. You will see however that these terms 

are often used interchangeably. 

Is this requirement the same across the country? 

Q At this time, all of the provincial regulatory authorities 

have agreed to apply the same requirements for pharmacists. 

Since tests are not perfectly designed, there is 

a statistical calculation, the standard error of measurement 

(SEM) which testing agencies use to address the 

variability of a test score. The cut score is the minimal 

accepted score to pass a test and when it is reported it 

may or may not take the SEM into account. In Ontario, 

if a candidate’s results are below the cut score but within 

the recommended SEM for that test, he or she may apply 

to a panel of the Registration Committee to determine 

whether the results are acceptable. 

would reflect the language proficiency needed for a pharmacy 

technician to fulfill the requirements of their role. 

Recommendations from the workshop will be considered 

at NAPRA’s fall board meeting, and once approved the 

College will consider adopting the same requirements for 

Ontario. More details about the requirements for pharmacy 

technicians will be posted once they are available. 

What is “non-objective evidence of fluency?” 

Q There may be situations where candidates do not 

wish to take an objective test and may request to have a 

panel of the Registration Committee consider other information 

(often subjective) as a measure of evidence of 

their language proficiency. Each situation is unique so it’s 

difficult to provide “guidelines” of what a panel will accept. 

An example of non-objective evidence that panels 

have accepted is where a candidate has completed their 

pharmacy education abroad but has evidence of completing 

grade school and high school in Canada. While there is 

no restriction on the type of information you may submit 

to a panel, it must be sufficiently reliable and persuasive 

to satisfy a panel that you possess reasonable language 

proficiency in English or French. Further information and 

examples of non-objective evidence can be found on the 

College website as noted above. 

Are the fluency requirements the same for 

Q pharmacy technicians? 

Candidates pursuing registration to practice as a pharmacy 

technician will also be required to demonstrate language 

proficiency, however the requirements are still under development. 

NAPRA and OCP co-hosted a workshop this 

past summer to determine the tests and cut scores that 


23

Help! 

We’ve been robbed 

Tips on avoiding a break-in and what to do if you’re unlucky 

Detective Darrin Sutcliffe, Toronto Police Service 

and 

Nadia Sutcliffe, R.Ph., Inspector 

Despite the fact that crime statistics have been decreasing 

for violent offences in Canada over the 

past five years, pharmacies continue to be a target 

for both break-and-enters and robberies. The reason is 

simple: pharmacies stock a commodity that perpetrators of 

these crimes want–narcotics. An inventory of high grade, 

high quality, addictive and abusive narcotics makes your 

business a target. 

Experience has shown that the most successful security 

strategies rely on a combination of deterrence, detection 

and delay tactics applied in that order. Failure to employ 

any of these reduces your chances of preventing a breakin 

or robbery. 

In the March/April 2008 Pharmacy Connection article, 

“Securing Your Pharmacy,” a number of points 

were outlined to help decrease the likelihood of your 

pharmacy becoming a target of crime. Some of these 

include Crime Prevention Through Environmental 

Design (CPTED), video surveillance, store security 

systems, and proper securing of narcotics and controlled 

drugs. The article is available on the College’s website 

at www.ocpinfo.com 

What if, despite your best efforts, your pharmacy does 

get robbed? Imagine that you are working diligently behind 

the counter or farther back, in the dispensary. The day 

has been slow, with very few patients coming in. As you 


go about your business you hear a sound, or perhaps see 

a person approach. You walk over to investigate, and encounter 

an armed intruder demanding you hand over all 

your “oxy’s” or you are going to get hurt. Do you know 

what to do or how to act? Does your staff? 

If you have difficulty answering these questions in 

the affirmative, then it may be time to acquaint yourself 

with your local police service and work with them to 

develop a plan for situations such as this. Your safety 

and that of your staff is paramount. Neither the money 

in the cash register nor the narcotics in the safe are 

worth your getting injured. Your local police service 

has officers willing and able to provide you with useful 

information, including pamphlets that could assist you 

in preparing a safety plan. 

Some tips to remember during a robbery: 

• Remain calm. 

• Do not try to be a hero – your personal safety is paramount. 

• Obey the robber’s commands. 

• Do not antagonize the robber. 

• Consider all firearms to be loaded. 

• Look at the robbers – notice details to aid you in 

describing them and their mannerisms. Note age, 

weight, clothing, tattoos, scars, accents, hair colour or 

length. 

• Take note of the weapon. 

• Watch the direction the robbers take on leaving– if 

they use a vehicle, try to see the license plate and 

write down the number immediately. 

After a robbery, you should: 

Call police immediately (911) and give your name and the 

phone number and address of the pharmacy as well as 

a description of the suspect(s), direction of travel, and 

license number. Specify whether or not weapons were 

used. 

• Write down all information immediately–do not rely 

on your memory. 

• Protect the crime scene. Keep customers and other 

employees away from the area of the pharmacy where 

the robbery occurred. 

• If your pharmacy is so equipped, secure any video surveillance 

that may have captured the robbery or the 

identity of the suspect. 

• Ask witnesses to wait until police arrive (or get their 

names, phone numbers, and addresses). Lock the 

door until police arrive 

• Do not touch anything. 

• Save any notes that were used–do not handle them or 

let others touch them. 

• Cooperate with the police–they are there to help you. 

Similarly, if your pharmacy has been 

broken into: 

• Call police (911); give your name and the phone number 

and address of the pharmacy. 

• Protect the crime scene–do not touch anything. 

• Secure any video surveillance footage, if you have it. 

• Lock the door until police arrive. 

All of these steps and more can be accessed through 

a majority of the municipal, regional and provincial police 

services websites. Simply search under “police services” 

and your municipality’s name. 

After a robbery or a break-in, you will have to conduct 

a narcotic/controlled drug inventory count to determine 

what drugs have been stolen and in what quantities. This 

is where regular documented counts are invaluable. You 

cannot always trust the perpetual inventory which may 

be found on your computer system. Nothing can replace 

a manual count. With such a count and information such 

as N/CD purchase records and a drug usage report, you 

can determine the amount of medication which should 

be in stock and then calculate how much is missing. Any 

theft of narcotics and controlled drugs must be reported 

to the Office of Controlled Substances in Ottawa within 

10 days of the loss. 

A break-in or a robbery can be a traumatic experience 

for everyone involved. With some planning and preparation, 

you and your staff can be well equipped to handle 

either of these situations. Staying calm and focused will 

help you get through the event and will assist the police 

in apprehending the perpetrators. 


25

PHARMACY PRACTICE: 

Did You Know? 

Jessie Dufour, R.Ph. and Nadia Sutcliffe, R.Ph. 

Did You Know? is a new feature in Pharmacy Connection. It’s a series of quick pointers 

reminding pharmacists and technicians of their legal and practice obligations from an 

inspector’s perspective. It’s aimed at getting you to think about the issues and possibly 

incorporating new best practices into your pharmacies. 

DID YOU KNOW … 

… that whenever a pharmacist changes his or her 

place of practice or any personal contact information 

(such as home address or phone number), the 

change must be updated in the OCP database within 

seven days? You can do this on our website (www. 

ocpinfo.com) by logging into the member log-in and 

managing your profile. In any case, you should periodically 

check your profile to ensure that it is up to date. 

… that the pharmacist should always be easily distinguishable 

from other dispensary staff? This can 

be achieved by wearing a lab coat, a name tag, or a 

Point of Care pin. This applies to all pharmacists– both 

regular staff and those working as relief pharmacists. 

… that the designated manager of a pharmacy must 

post his or her license in the primary place of practice. 

If you are a DM in more than one location, you may not 

photocopy your license and post copies in the other dispensaries. 

Instead, you must hang a sign stating the name 

of the designated manager, for example, “Joe Smith, R.Ph. 

is the designated manager of this pharmacy.” This sign 

must be posted in an area clearly visible to the public. 

… that if the hours of operation of your pharmacy 

have changed, you must notify Client Services at 

OCP? If there is a planned closure of a pharmacy for an 

extended period of time, such as a vacation, they should 

be notified as well. This can also be done by e-mailing 

ocpclientservices@ocpinfo.com. 

… that the U&C fee sign and the Notice to Patients 

sign must be clearly displayed in an area visible to 

patients where they drop off prescriptions? The 

signs cannot be obscured in any way. Please ensure 

that your fee is clearly marked (in dark ink) and matches 

the one reported in OCP records. 

… that there was a new Notice to Patients sign 

mailed out to all pharmacies early in 2008? It contains 

an additional statement regarding the release of 

medical information to emergency rooms for patients 

who get their prescriptions filled under the ODB plan. 

If you have not received one of these signs, or need to 

replace a U&C fee sign, please use the following link to 

submit an e-mail request for new signs: http://www. 

ocpinfo.com/client/ocp/OCPHome.nsf/Email. 

… that if your pharmacy has lock-and-leave capabilities, 

the designated manager is responsible for 

ensuring that all Schedule III products in the front 

shop are located within the lockable enclosures? 

Make sure that your staff is aware of which products 

must be stored in these fixtures. When there is a 

planogram change, you should also check to make sure 

some of these products have not been moved outside of 

the lockable area. 

… that you can easily check the most current 

drug schedules on the NAPRA website at 

www.napra.ca? 


update on technology 

Embracing leading-edge technology, the College has been working hard to review processes and evaluate 

opportunities to improve and refine the way we manage our everyday work in support of our mandate and objectives. 

Here is some recent news and reminders in this area: 

Technicians online pilot program a success 

In September the College launched a new online registration process for the pilot group of pharmacy technicians. This 

process allows applicants to register with the College, upload documents, sign up for the College’s jurisprudence exam 

and pay online. 

Client Services staff are able to monitor the incoming applications in real time during business hours and each morning 

review applications received electronically over night. 

Once a Client Services representative has reviewed and approved the electronic submission, a record is created for the 

applicant with the click of a button. An automatic e-mail notification is then sent to the individual providing login 

information and outlining next steps. 

This group has access to their personal profile online and can manage their personal information and review their 

personal information and on an ongoing basis. 

During the first week 110 of the 154 people in the pilot group had registered with the College and signed up for the 

October jurisprudence exam. 

‘Pharmacy Connection In Brief’ Available Now! 

All members were recently sent an e-mail with a link to “Pharmacy Connection In Brief”, a web page containing 

highlights of the major stories in this issue. In an effort to minimize our use of paper, we would like to give you the 

choice to opt-out of receiving the paper copy of Pharmacy Connection. If you are interested, please send an email to 

pconline@ocpinfo.com with your name and OCP number. 

Online fee renewal for 2010 approaching 

Following the success of last year’s online renewal process, we will proceeding with the same system for 2010. The 

Annual Fee Renewal process will begin in the new year. All renewals will be processed online. No form will be mailed to 

you. We will, however, be sending out e-mail reminders, so please ensure the College has your current e-mail address. 

In the next issue of Pharmacy Connection, we will include more information on how to complete your online renewal. 


27

preceptor workshops 

Call for Preceptors 

Are you looking for a way to recapture the excitement of practising pharmacy? Consider becoming a preceptor in 2010 

and attend an Orientation Workshop close to home or in Toronto. 

Please visit www.ocpinfo.com > Licensing > Training & Assessments > SPT for more information. 

2010 Workshops 

DATE CITY WORKSHOP & TOPIC 

Tuesday January 12th Toronto Orientation 

Wednesday February 10th Toronto Orientation 

Wednesday February 17th Toronto Advanced 

(Past, Present & Future of Pharmaceutical Care Practice) 

Thursday March 11th Toronto Orientation 

Tuesday March 30th Ottawa Orientation 

Wednesday March 31st Ottawa Advanced 

(Training Program for Preceptors/Mentors of IPGs) 

Thursday April 8th Toronto Orientation 

Tuesday April 20th Burlington Orientation 

Wednesday April 21st Toronto Advanced 

(Past, Present & Future of Pharmaceutical Care Practice) 

Wednesday May 5th London Orientation 

Thursday May 6th London Advanced 

(Training Program for Preceptors/Mentors of IPGs) 

Tuesday May 18th Toronto Orientation 

Wednesday May 26th Toronto Orientation 

June (to be determined) Kingston Orientation 

Tuesday June 1st Toronto Advanced 

(Helping IPGs Practise in a Multicultural Pharmacy) 

Thursday June 17th Toronto Orientation 

Tuesday July 6th Toronto Orientation 

September to December 2010 workshop dates will be posted later in the year. 

Pharmacists who are actively serving as a preceptor for students or interns are required to attend 

an Advanced Workshop if more than 3 years have passed since they last attended a workshop. 

To arrange a workshop in your community, please have your CE Coordinator contact 

Vicky Clayton-Jones at 416-962-4861 or 1-800-220-1921 x 2297 or at vclayton-jones@ocpinfo.com. 

Please visit our website for regular updates. 


summer student 

A Summer Student’s Perspective 

of the College 

by ManYing Ho 

This past summer, I 

had a unique opportunity 

to work 

at the College as a summer 

student. My experience 

has left me with a deeper 

understanding of both the 

College’s regulatory function 

and its function of 

providing professional support 

for its members. 

I am very fortunate to 

have worked at the College 

at a time when our profession 

is undergoing many 

changes. Changes such as 

increased scope of practice 

for pharmacists, labour 

mobility, the regulation of pharmacy technicians and the 

introduction of new technology, all require modification 

to the current pharmacy Acts and Regulations in order 

to become operational. By attending the June council 

meeting and various committee meetings, I got to see 

first hand the process by which College staff support the 

work of elected Council members to determine how these 

changes can become incorporated into existing laws. I 

came to appreciate the accountability, transparency and 

hard work the College puts into these changes in order to 

ensure that they are the best for the profession and more 

importantly, in the best interest of the public. 

During my four months at the College, I also had the 

opportunity to work within different departments and as 

a result, I developed a better understanding of the mission 

and purpose of the College. I came to learn how each department 

fulfills certain objects of the College and I was 

inspired by the collaboration and team work that exists 

not only within each department but also among different 

departments. By having the opportunity to work in the 

various departments, I saw 

first hand how the 13 objects 

of the College are met and 

how the fulfillment of these 

objects allows the College to 

carry its mission of regulating 

the pharmacy profession. 

Overall, my summer experience 

has enhanced my 

understanding of the College. 

The College serves 

as an invaluable and easily 

accessible resource that 

provides professional and 

educational support to not 

only its members, but also to 

the public. While working in 

the registration department, 

I was impressed with the support and guidance the College 

provides to international pharmacy graduates. My 

time in the continuing competency and quality assurance 

departments showed me how practising pharmacists are 

supported in their professional development through programs 

such as the online self-assessment and the online 

learning portfolio. I also learned that practising pharmacists 

are supported by the College through site visits, 

which appear to be mutually educational experiences for 

both the pharmacy/pharmacists and the College. Finally, 

through my work in the investigations and resolutions department, 

I learned about the support and accountability 

provided to the public by the College. 

I look forward to the changes ahead for our profession 

as it continues to evolve. From my experience, I feel reassured 

that the College will be there to provide us with 

support and guidance. 

ManYing Ho is a third-year pharmacy student at the 

University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. 


29

focus on error prevention 

The accurate and complete labelling of prescription drugs 

is a critical component of patient safety. However, when 

dispensing extemporaneously prepared products, the 

contents as it appears on the prescription label is often 

truncated due to limitations of many software systems. 

This can lead to misidentification of the prepared product 

and may result in medication errors. 

Case: 

Ian Stewart, R.Ph., B.Sc.Phm 

Toronto Community Pharmacist 

Accurate and Complete Labelling 

A dermatologist prescribed the following for a fifty-yearold 

patient: Rx 

Metronidazole 10% cream 

Toleriane Cream Equal Parts 

Mitte: 80 g 

Sig: Apply to face bid 

The prescription was taken to a local community 

pharmacy for processing. Forty grams Flagyl ® Vaginal 

Cream (containing metronidazole 10% in a cream base) 

and forty grams La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche Cream 

was extemporaneously compounded and dispensed. The 

prescription label listed the contents as “10% metronidazole 

and toleriane compound.”. 

One year later, the patient needed a refill of the same 

medication. The patient decided to take the empty jar to 

her family doctor and requested that the same medication 

be prescribed. Not knowing exactly what was originally 

prescribed by the dermatologist, the physician read the 

prescription label on the jar and wrote the following prescription 

(see above, right column). 

The prescription was taken to the same pharmacy for 

processing. The pharmacy technician interpreted and 

entered into the computer the written prescription as 

10% metronidazole powder in Toleriane cream. A pharmacist 

later prepared the extemporaneous product as 

entered in the computer. The product was dispensed to 

the patient. As a result, the patient received a product 

containing metronidazole 10% instead of the intended 5% 

final concentration as before. In addition, the pharmacist 

did a poor job in triturating the metronidazole powder into 

the mixture. As a result, the prepared product was very 

gritty and therefore irritating to the patient’s face upon 

application. This prompted the patient to return to the 

physician to express displeasure regarding the quality of 

the product and its effect. Upon checking the consistency 

of the prepared product and reading the prescription label, 

the physician detected the error. 

Possible Contributing Factors 

• The physician wrote the prescription using the incomplete 

information printed on the original prescription label. 

• Both the pharmacy technician and the pharmacist failed 

to detect the change in formulation when compared to 

the initial prescription. 

• The pharmacist did not adequately dissolve and triturate 

the metronidazole powder into the prepared 

product. 

Recommendations 

• When preparing extemporaneous products, seek out 

information regarding its appropriate preparation. Do 

not assume that powders such as metronidazole can 

readily be dissolved in alcohol. 

• Document the specific steps taken in preparing the 

product in order that it can be duplicated for future 

refills and for auditing purposes. 

• Ensure that the information printed on the prescription 

label adequately expresses the contents of the 

container. 

• Always check the patient’s medication history to detect 

any change in therapy. 

• When incorporating powders and other solids into 

extemporaneous products, if possible, check the 

consistency of the final product to ensure that it is appropriate. 


deciding on discipline 

Case 1 

Submitting claims for patients 

who had died or moved; record 

keeping discrepancies 

Member: Andrij (Andrew) Chabursky 

Pharmacy: Symington Drugs, 

Toronto 

Hearing Date: July 6, 2009 

Facts 

This case proceeded by way of 

Agreed Statement of Fact and 

Joint Submission on Penalty. It was 

heard together with the hearing into 

allegations against Ms. Christine Bolubash 

and Mr. Gerald Biderman. 

The allegations against the Member 

related to dispensing and/or 

claiming payments for patients after 

they had died or moved. An auditor 

with the Drug Programs Branch of 

the Ministry of Health and Long- 

Term Care conducted an audit in 

relation to Ontario Drug Benefit 

(“ODB”) claims submitted by Symington 

Drugs (“the Pharmacy”). 

ODB records revealed that the 

Pharmacy had submitted claims on 

a weekly basis for patient PL from 

the date of his death on May 12, 

2002 until December 2, 2003, in a 

quantity totaling 1,010 prescriptions 

valued at $24,091.62; patient GJ 

from the date of his death on April 

25, 2003 until February 23, 2004, 

in a quantity totaling 327 prescriptions 

valued at $12,480.61; patient 

FA from the date of his death on 

July 5, 2003 until February 23, 

2004, in a quantity totaling 423 

prescriptions valued at $6,046.59; 

and patient NR from the date of 

his May 24, 2002 departure from 

the residential care facility to which 

the Pharmacy had been delivering 

the prescription drugs to him until 

February 23, 2004, in a quantity 

totaling 282 prescriptions valued at 

$7,534.45. Records also revealed 

that another pharmacy was concurrently 

submitting claims to ODB 

for drugs NR was receiving while 

residing at the facility to which he 

had moved. 

Pharmacy staff told the auditor 

they had been notified about patient 

PL’s death in December 2003 but 

were unaware that GJ and FA had 

died and that NR had moved. 

Pharmacy staff reported that the 

prescriptions for all four patients 

were ordered by someone and 

were either picked up or delivered. 

Staff also advised the auditor that 

the Pharmacy did not telephone 

physicians for refill authorizations 

because the physicians had previously 

authorized one year of repeats 

for the medications dispensed to the 

four patients. 

The auditor contacted physicians 

who were identified as prescribers 

on the relevant prescription hardcopies. 

The auditor learned that 

none of the physicians with whom 

he spoke had prescribed the medications 

associated with the impugned 

prescriptions. 

The Pharmacy reimbursed ODB 

for the amounts charged with respect 

to the four patients. The 

Drug Programs Branch filed a formal 

complaint with the College. 

The College investigation showed 

the Member to be the Designated 

Manager of the Pharmacy, and Mrs. 

Bolubash and Mr. Biderman to have 

been the dispensing pharmacists for 

the impugned transactions. 

Further record keeping discrepancies 

were also identified. For 

example, it was identified that ODB 

records relating to the post-death 

dispensing of medications to the patients 

revealed a change in the days’ 

supply period or instructions for use 

of particular medications. 

If he testified, Mr. Chabursky 

would describe that he experienced 

a number of significant health and 

personal problems during the relevant 

period. He would state that 

he customarily worked in his office 

in the Pharmacy approximately two 

mornings each week, for a total of 

four hours per week, but was not 

present in the Pharmacy for extended 

periods of time. Despite his 

absences, Mr. Chabursky did not 

appoint another pharmacist to act as 

Designated Manager. 

If he testified, Mr. Chabursky 

would state that he initiated his own 

investigation and determined that 

one of the pharmacy technicians has 

assisted with all of the impugned 

transactions and had failed to take 

appropriate steps to obtain physician 

authorizations. He would state that 

he reassigned that pharmacy technician, 

hired a more experienced 

pharmacy technician and provided 

additional training for another pharmacy 

technician already on staff. 

He would also state that the Pharmacy 

introduced a new procedure 

requiring staff to contact patients’ 

residential facilities to confirm their 

resident status before dispensing 

medications for them. 


31


Admission of Professional 

Misconduct 

The Member acknowledged that 

during the relevant period he failed 

to adequately supervise the Pharmacy, 

monitor the activities of 

pharmacists and technicians at the 

Pharmacy, and ensure there were 

established protocols for obtaining 

and documenting physician authorizations 

and delivery of drugs to 

patients. The Member pled guilty 

to acts of professional misconduct 

including: 

• failure to maintain a standard of 

practice of the profession; 

• failure to keep records as required 

respecting his patients; 

• contravening the Drug and Pharmacies 

Regulation Act; 

• contravening the Food and Drug 

Regulations and Benzodiazepines 

and Other Targeted Substances 

Regulations; 

• engaging in conduct or performing 

an act relevant to the practice of 

pharmacy that, having regard to all 

the circumstances, would reasonably 

be regarded by members of 

the profession as disgraceful, dishonourable 

or unprofessional. 

The Panel accepted the guilty 

plea and agreed with the College’s 

and Member’s request to withdraw 

the remaining allegations. 

Decision and Reasons 

The Panel agreed that the guilty 

plea was supported by a long-term 

consistent period of dispensing drugs 

after patients had died, and by the 

apparent complete lack of procedures, 

recordkeeping and assumption 

of professional responsibility. The 

misconduct occurred over a twoyear 

period and involved billing 

claims of over $50,000. There was 

no evidence of fraudulent intent by 

any of the members involved, but 

there was serious misconduct in 

the operation of the pharmacy and 

a seeming complete abdication of 

responsibility. The Panel acknowledged 

that repayment was made 

to ODB immediately on the finding 

of overbilling, and that procedures 

have been implemented within the 

Pharmacy to prevent these types of 

issues in future. 

The Panel empathized with 

the difficult set of personal circumstances 

that Mr. Chabursky 

experienced during the relevant 

time period. However, the public 

has a reasonable expectation that 

a pharmacist in such circumstances 

would, as a Designated Manager, 

take steps to ensure the needs of 

the pharmacy would be provided 

for. In those circumstances it was 

incumbent on Mr. Chabursky to 

recognize his limitations and ensure 

a competent person was placed as 

a Designated Manager in his stead. 

That is his legal and professional 

responsibility. Notwithstanding his 

absences from the pharmacy when 

it would appear these events took 

place, Mr. Chabursky has accepted 

that he is ultimately responsible and 

ensured restitution was made. 

Order 

1. A reprimand. 

2. Specified terms, conditions, or 

limitations on Mr. Chabursky’s 

Certificate of Registration: 

a. that he complete successfully, 

at his own expense, within 

nine months of the date of the 

Order: 

i. the Jurisprudence seminar 

and evaluation offered by 

the College; 

ii. Law Lesson 2 (Regulation 

of Pharmacy Practice), 

Law Lesson 4 (Standards 

of Practice) and Law Lesson 

7 (Professional Liability) 

from the Canadian Pharmacy 

Skills Program offered 

through the Leslie Dan 

Faculty of Pharmacy at the 

University of Toronto; 

b. prohibiting him from acting as 

a Designated Manager in any 

pharmacy for three years commencing 

October 6, 2009. 

3. A suspension of Mr. Chabursky’s 

Certificate of Registration for a 

period of four months, with one 

month to be remitted on condition 

that the Member complete 

the remedial training exercises 

specified above; 

4. Costs to the College in the 

amount of $20,000. 

Reprimand 

The Panel noted that irregular 

billing practices are very serious 

matters. They are not to be tolerated 

on any level, whether they are 

intentional or not. The Panel could 

tell that the Member acknowledged 

the wrongdoing that occurred under 

his watch. 

The Panel sympathized with the 

Member’s unfortunate personal 

circumstances. However, they are 

not justification for falling below the 

College’s standards of practice for a 


Designated Manager. The Member 

has acknowledged that he should 

have appointed an interim DM in his 

absence. 

The Panel was satisfied that by 

accepting the greatest penalty in 

this case, the Member has accepted 

responsibility for the misconduct 

that occurred, and trusted that he 

has learned a very valuable lesson 

about practice management. 

The Panel gathered from the reference 

letters filed on the Member’s 

behalf that he is a dedicated professional 

and has a lot to offer the 

profession. The Panel encouraged 

the Member to continue to place his 

patients first, but to balance his own 

health and personal circumstances 

with the safe and efficient operation 

of the pharmacy. The Panel hoped 

the remedial time is a reflective one 

that will serve the Member well in 

continuing his practice. 

Case 2 




Member: Gerald Biderman 


Toronto 


Facts 


Agreed Statement of Fact and Joint 

Submission on Penalty. It was heard 

together with the hearing into allegations 

against Mr. Andrij Chabursky 

and Mrs. Christine Bolubash. 

The allegations against the 

Member related to dispensing and/or 

















25, 2003 until February 23, 2004, in 

a quantity totaling 327 prescriptions 

valued at $12,480.61; patient FA 

from the date of his death on July 5, 

2003 until February 23, 2004, in a 

quantity totaling 423 prescriptions 

valued at $6,046.59; and patient 

NR from the date of his May 24, 

2002 departure from the residential 

care facility to which the Pharmacy 

had been delivering the prescription 

drugs to him until February 

23, 2004, in a quantity totaling 282 

prescriptions valued at $7,534.45. 

Records also revealed that another 

pharmacy was concurrently submitting 

claims to ODB for drugs NR 

was receiving while residing at the 

facility to which he had moved. 



























to the four patients. The Drug 

Programs Branch filed a formal 

complaint with the College. The 

College investigation showed Mr. 

Chabursky to be the Designated 

Manager of the Pharmacy, and the 

Member and Mrs. Bolubash to have 

been the dispensing pharmacists for 

the impugned transactions. 


were also identified in the 

College investigation. For example, 

it was identified that ODB records 

relating to the post-death dispensing 

of medications to the patients 

revealed a change in the days’ supply 

period or instructions for use of 

particular medications. 

The Member had owned and 

operated the Pharmacy for several 

years before selling it to Mr. 

Chabursky in 1999. The Member 

recalled the four patients but had 

no specific recollection of any of 

the dispensing transactions. He reported 

that as a general practice, 


33


he would check prescriptions filled 

by the pharmacy technician against 

computer records or new prescriptions 

to ensure that the medication 

and the dosage were correct before 

he signed a prescription. 

The Member told the investigator 

that he relied on the pharmacy 

technician to seek and obtain appropriate 

physician authorizations 

whenever necessary and that he had 

dispensed prescriptions, including 

the impugned prescriptions, on the 

basis of his understanding that the 

technician had obtained all required 

authorizations. 


Misconduct 

The Member acknowledged his failure 

to take adequate steps to obtain 

and document physician authorizations, 

among other things, and pled 

guilty to acts of professional misconduct 

including: 




respecting his patients; 






Regulations; 



pharmacy that, having regard to all 

the circumstances, would reasonably 

be regarded by members of 

the profession as disgraceful, dishonourable 

or unprofessional. 








consistent period of dispensing drugs 

after patients had died, and by the 

apparent complete lack of procedures, 

recordkeeping and assumption 

of professional responsibility. The 

misconduct occurred over a twoyear 

period and involved billing 

claims of over $50,000. There was 

no evidence of fraudulent intent by 

any of the members involved, but 

there was serious misconduct in 

the operation of the pharmacy and 

a seeming complete abdication of 

responsibility. The Panel acknowledged 

that repayment was made 

to ODB immediately on the finding 

of overbilling, and that procedures 




While the Panel acknowledged 

that the Pharmacy’s Designated 

Manager assumed responsibility for 

what transpired, the Panel felt that 

the Member and Mrs. Bolubash 

had frontline responsibility. The 

Member did not do what was expected 

of him as a pharmacist. His 

actions amounted to a complete 

and utter abdication of the responsibilities, 

duties and obligations of 

pharmacists. Given Mr. Biderman’s 

extensive experience in serving the 

public as a pharmacist, the Panel 

found it appalling that he was so 

deficient in meeting the standards 

of practice of the profession. As a 

dispensing pharmacist, he failed to 

exercise proper judgement and oversight 

of the pharmacy. 

Order 



limitations on Mr. Biderman’s 


a. that he complete successfully, 

at his own expense, within 


Order: 













University of Toronto; and 

b. prohibiting him from acting as 


pharmacy for three years. 

3. A suspension of Mr. Biderman’s 


period of three months, with one 







Reprimand 

The Panel was deeply troubled 

that the Member appeared to 

admit responsibility in the Agreed 

Statement of Facts, but that his 


counsel’s submissions led the Panel 

to question whether the Member 

understood how inappropriate his 

actions were. His actions were a 

complete collapse of his responsibilities 

as a pharmacist. 

To deflect the blame for his ineptness 

onto his support staff is 

weak, and angered the Panel. The 

Panel felt that the Member knew 

how ill Mr. Chabursky was and was 

well aware of the personal torment 

he was undergoing. 

As a one time owner, regardless 

of the fact that he was not the 

Designated Manager, the Panel felt 

that the Member had a professional 

responsibility to step in to assist in 

the smooth operation of the pharmacy 

by drawing attention to the 

problems encountered by Mr. Chabursky’s 

continued absence from 

the pharmacy and the fact that the 

pharmacy was essentially operating 

without a Designated Manager. 

The Member’s counsel’s suggestion 

that this case was on the “light” 

side of seriousness was preposterous. 

Improper billing, intentional or 

unintentional, is misconduct in the 

scope of the duties of a practising 

pharmacist. This negatively impacts 

on the credibility of the profession 

as a whole and the way in which 

third parties deal with and respect 

pharmacists in general. 

The Panel acknowledged that this 

process was likely embarrassing and 

difficult. The Member has nearly 50 

years of practice in this profession. 

There is always something to be 

taken from every experience. The 

Panel hoped that the Member had 

learned from this episode and can 

use this to better his own practices. 

The Panel also hoped that the 

Member had learned that as a 

pharmacist, he has the ultimate 

responsibility in the dispensary for 

establishing the level of professionalism 

and competency for each and 

every staff member. 

Case 3 




Member: Christine Bolubash 


Toronto 


Facts 


Agreed Statement of Fact and Joint 

Submission on Penalty. It was heard 

together with the hearing into allegations 

against Mr. Andrij Chabursky 

and Mr. Gerald Biderman. 

The allegations against the Member 

related to dispensing and/or 

















25, 2003 until February 23, 2004, in 

a quantity totaling 327 prescriptions 

valued at $12,480.61; patient FA 

from the date of his death on July 5, 

2003 until February 23, 2004, in a 

quantity totaling 423 prescriptions 

valued at $6,046.59; and patient 

NR from the date of his May 24, 

2002 departure from the residential 

care facility to which the Pharmacy 

had been delivering the prescription 

drugs to him until February 

23, 2004, in a quantity totaling 282 

prescriptions valued at $7,534.45. 

Records also revealed that another 

pharmacy was concurrently submitting 

claims to ODB for drugs NR 

was receiving while residing at the 

facility to which he had moved. 


























35




to the four patients. The 

Drug Programs Branch filed a formal 

complaint with the College. 

The College investigation showed 

Mr. Chabursky to be the Designated 

Manager of the Pharmacy, and 

the Member and Mr. Biderman to 

have been the dispensing pharmacists 

for the impugned transactions. 


were also identified. For 

example, it was identified that ODB 

records relating to the post-death 

dispensing of medications to the patients 

revealed a change in the days’ 

supply period or instructions for use 

of particular medications. 

The Member was not acquainted 

with the four patients and had no 

recollection of any particulars concerning 

the dispensing transactions. 

When dispensing drugs, it was her 

practice to ensure that the correct 

drug and correct dosage were 

in the dosette before signing the 

prescription. 

The Member told the investigator 

that she relied on the pharmacy 

technician to seek and obtain appropriate 

physician authorizations 

whenever necessary and that she 

had dispensed prescriptions, including 

the impugned prescriptions, on 

the basis of her understanding that 

the technician had obtained all required 

authorizations. 


Misconduct 

The Member acknowledged her 

failure to take adequate steps to 

obtain and document physician 

authorizations, among other things, 

and pled guilty to acts of professional 

misconduct including: 




respecting her patients; 






Regulations; 



pharmacy that, having regard to 

all the circumstances, would reasonably 

be regarded by members 

of the profession as disgraceful, 

dishonourable or unprofessional. 








consistent period of dispensing 

drugs after patients had died, 

and by the apparent complete 

lack of procedures, recordkeeping 

and assumption of professional 

responsibility. The misconduct 

occurred over a two-year period 

and involved billing claims of over 

$50,000. There was no evidence 

of fraudulent intent by any of the 

members involved, but there was 

serious misconduct in the operation 

of the pharmacy and a seeming 

complete abdication of responsibility. 

The Panel acknowledged that 

repayment was made to ODB 

immediately on the finding of 

overbilling, and that procedures 




While the Panel acknowledged 

that the Pharmacy’s Designated 

Manager assumed responsibility 

for what transpired, the Panel felt 

that the Member and Mr. Biderman 

had frontline responsibility. The 

Member did not do what was expected 

of her as a pharmacist. Her 

actions amounted to a complete 

and utter abdication of the responsibilities, 

duties and obligations of 

pharmacists. Given Mrs. Bolubash’s 

extensive experience in serving the 

public as a pharmacist, the Panel 

found it appalling that she was so 

deficient in meeting the standards 

of practice of the profession. As 

dispensing pharmacist, she failed 

to exercise proper judgement and 

oversight of the pharmacy. 

Order 



limitations on Mrs. Bolubash’s 


a. that she complete successfully, 

at her own expense, within 


Order: 















University of Toronto; 

b. prohibiting her from acting as 


pharmacy for three years. 

3. A suspension of Mrs. Bolubash’s 


period of three months, with one 







Reprimand 

The Panel was deeply troubled 

that the Member appeared to 

admit responsibility in the Agreed 

Statement of Facts, but that her 

counsel’s submissions led the Panel 

to question whether the Member 

understood how inappropriate her 

actions were. Her actions were a 

complete collapse of her responsibilities 

as a pharmacist. 

To deflect the blame for her ineptness 

onto her support staff is 

weak, and angered the Panel. The 

Panel felt that the Member knew 

how ill Mr. Chabursky was, and 

was well aware of the personal torment 

he was undergoing. 

As a long-time employee, regardless 

of the fact that she was not the 

Designated Manager, the Panel felt 

that the Member had a professional 

responsibility to step in to assist in 

the smooth operation of the pharmacy 

by drawing attention to the 

problems encountered by Mr. Chabursky’s 

continued absence from 

the pharmacy and the fact that the 

pharmacy was essentially operating 

without a Designated Manager. 

The Member’s counsel’s suggestion 

that this case was on the “light” 

side of seriousness was preposterous. 

Improper billing, intentional or 

unintentional, is misconduct in the 

scope of the duties of a practising 

pharmacist. This negatively impacts 

on the credibility of the profession 

as a whole and the way in which 

third parties deal with and respect 

pharmacists in general. 

The Panel acknowledged that this 

process was likely embarrassing and 

difficult. The Member has nearly 50 

years of practice in this profession. 

There is always something to be 

taken from every experience. The 

Panel hoped that the Member had 

learned from this episode and can 

use this to better her own practices. 

The Panel also hoped that the 

Member had learned that as a 

pharmacist, she has the ultimate 

responsibility in the dispensary for 

establishing the level of professionalism 

and competency for each and 

every staff member. 

CIRCLE OF CARE 

New publication aims to eliminate confusion 

over key element of health privacy law 

Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner has released a new publication 

that includes practical examples to help clarify any confusion over when health 

information custodians can assume a patient’s implied consent to collect, use or 

disclose personal health information. The brochure, Circle of Care: Sharing Personal 

Health Information for Health-Care Purposes is available at www.ipc.on.ca 

“Personal health information may be shared within the circle of care – among 

health-care providers who are providing health care to a specific patient – but not 

outside that circle,” says Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian. 

“Any sharing of personal health information with other health-care providers for 

purposes other than the provision of health care – or the sharing of personal 

health information with persons or organizations that are not health-care 

providers, such as insurers and employers – requires the express consent of 

the patient.” 


37

CE resources 

Visit the College’s website: www.ocpinfo.com for a complete listing of upcoming events and/or 

available resources. A number of the programs listed below are also suitable for pharmacy technicians. 

ONTARIO 

November 2009 (various locations 

and dates) 

Enhancing MedsCheck: Best 

Possible Medication History 

(BPMH) seminars 

Institute for Safe Medication 

Practices Canada (ISMP) 

Contact: Carol Lee 

clee@ismp-canada.org 

November 10, 2009 

Family Health Team pharmacist 

networking day 

Contact: Lisa Dolovich 

ldolovic@mcmaster.ca 

www.impactteam.info/events.php 

January 30-February 3, 2010 

CSHP Professional Practice 

Conference 2010 

Contact: Desarae Davidson 

613-736-9733, ext. 229 

February 20, 2010 

Update/Mise à jour 2010 

The Ottawa Valley Regional Drug 

Information Service 

Ottawa, ON 

Contact: 613-737-8347 

Register from Dec. 1, 2009 at 

www.asksam.com/ovrdis 

GTA 

November 2009 

Advanced Cardiology Pharmacy 

Practice Part II (online) 

November 4-6, 2009 

Thrombosis Management 

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, 

University of Toronto 

Contact: Ryan Keay 

416-978-7562 

http://cpd.phm.utoronto.ca 


Advanced Issues in Opioid 

Dependence Treatment 

Canadian Association for Mental 

Health (CAMH) 

Contact: Robin Steidman 

416-535-8501, ext. 6640 

November 13-15, 27-29, 2009 

Certified Geriatric Pharmacist 

Preparation Course - Part 1 & 2 

Ontario Pharmacists’ Association 

Contact: pyoung@dirc.ca 

416-441-0788 ext. 2209 

www.opatoday.com 


Annual General Meeting (AGM) 

Canadian Society of Hospital 

Pharmacists Ontario Branch 

www.cshpontario.ca 


Essential Psychosocial Skills for 

Health and Mental Health Professionals 

Responding to Disaster 

Mount Sinai Hospital 

Contact: jwan@mtsinai.on.ca 

416-586-4800 Ext. 5185 

December 4-5, 2009 

Psychiatry Certificate Program 


BMO Institute for Learning, Toronto 

Contact: pyoung@dirc.ca 

416-441-0788 ext. 2209 


ON-LINE/ WEBINARS 

Fall 2009 

Natural Health Products 

Certificate Program 



November, 2009 

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis 

(FMEA) 

An Introduction to Proactive Risk 

Analysis in: - Acute Care (Nov 11, 

2009). - Long Term Care and Community 

Settings (Nov 25, 2009). 

Institute for Safe Medication Practices 

Canada (ISMP) 

Contact: webinars@ismp-canada.org 

www.rxcertified.ca 

Online fee-based certificate courses 

developed by the Drug Information 

and Research Centre (DIRC) and rx- 

BriefCase.com. Currently available: 

- Diabetes Patient Care Level 1 

- Obesity Program 

www.opatoday.com/web.asp 

Vitamin D in Osteoporosis 

Drug Information and Research Centre 

(DIRC) 

www.opacti.org/ 

Online Clinical Tobacco Interventions 

for Health Care Professionals 

www.pharmacygateway.com 

On-line CE lessons 

www.rxbriefcase.com/ 

On-line CE lessons 

http://cpha.learning.mediresource. 

com/select_catalog.asp 

CE lessons on the CPhA Home Study 

Online Learning Centre 

http://www.diabetespharmacists.ca 

Diabetes strategy for pharmacists 

online or live workshop 


laws & regulations 

Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA) * s 

June 4, 2008 

Regulations to the DPRA: 

Regulation 545 – Child Resistant Packages 

Regulation 297/96 Amended to O.Reg. 173/08 

Regulation 551 Amended to O.Reg. 172/08 

Drug Schedules ** 

Summary of Laws 

June 2007 OCP 

National Drug Schedules (NAPRA) 

July 16, 2009 (or later) 

Recent amendments to National 

Drug Schedules (NDS): 

Naproxen Sodium 220mg – June 2009 

Scheduling status finalized by NDSAC (October 21, 2009): 

Methocarbamol (except for parenteral use) – be retained in 

Schedule III 

Diphenhydramine and its salts and preparations (for topical use 

in conc. of 2% or less) when sold in containers of 300 mg or 

less – Unscheduled 

NDSAC Meeting - Dec 2009 

Request for Schedule II status for oral purgatives containing 

Na picosulphate (10mg/pk) 

Request for Schedule III status for fluconazole 150 mg single 

dose administration 

Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) * s 

Amended June 4, 2009 

Regulations to the RHPA: 

Regulation 39/02 - Amended to O.Reg. 666/05 

Regulation 107/96 – Controlled Acts 

Regulation 59/94 – Funding for Therapy or Counseling for 

Patients Sexually Abused by Members 

Pharmacy Act (PA) & Regulations * s 

June 2007 

Regulations to the PA: 



Standards of Practice s 

Standards of Practice for Pharmacists, 2003 

Standards of Practice for Pharmacy Managers, 2005 

Standards for Pharmacists Providing Services to Licensed 

LTC Facilities, 2007. 

Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act 

(DIDFA) & Regulations * s 

June 2007 

Regulations to the DIDFA: 



Ontario Drug Benefit Act (ODBA) & Regulations * s 

June 2007 

Regulations to the ODBA: 


Controlled Drugs and Substances Act & 

Regulations (CDSA) ** 

Act current to September 17, 2009 

All regulations current to September 22, 2009 

Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations 

Marihuana Medical Access Regulations 

Narcotic Control Regulations 

Precursor Control Regulations 

Regulations Exempting Certain Precursors and Controlled 

Substances from the Application of the Controlled Drugs and 

Substances Act 

Food and Drugs Act (FDA) & Regulations ** ' 

Act current to September 17, 2009 

To Schedule F: 

Project #1597 - Addition of 3 medicinal ingredients (Idebenone, 

Idursulfase, Nesiritide), October 1, 2009 

Project #1623 - Addition of 4 medicinal ingredients 

(Desvenlafaxine, Eplerenone, Fosaprepitant and Moclobemide), 


Project #1625 - RESCINDED Medical Ingredient Hyoscine and its 

salts, September 1, 2009 

Project #1627 Proposed Addition of 1 Medicinal Ingredient 

(Vorinostat), June 26, 2009 


(Golimumab), May 15, 2009 


(Lapatinib and its salts), June 09, 2009 


(Collagenase), June 10, 2009 


(Hyoscine and its salts), June 9, 2009 

Project #1624 Proposed Addition of 2 Medicinal Ingredients 

(Ustekinumab, Romiplostim), May 15, 2009 

OCP By-Laws By-Law No. 1 – June 2009 s 

Schedule A - Code of Ethics for Members of the Ontario 

College of Pharmacists - December 2006 

Schedule B - “Code of Conduct” and Procedures for Council 

and Committee Members - December 2006 

Schedule C - Member Fees - January 2009 

Schedule D - Pharmacy Fees - January 2007 

Schedule E – Certificate of Authorization – January 2005 

Schedule F - Privacy Code - December 2003 

Reference s 

OCP Required Reference Guide for Pharmacies in 

Ontario, September 2009 

* Information available at Publications Ontario (416) 326-5300 or 1-800-668-9938 www.e-laws.gov.on.ca 

** Information available at www.napra.org 

' Information available at Federal Publications Inc. Ottawa: 1-888-4FEDPUB (1-888-433-3782) 

Toronto: Tel: (416) 860-1611 • Fax: (416) 860-1608 • e-mail: info@fedpubs.com 

s Information available at www.ocpinfo.com 


39

Volume 16, Number 6 

2009/2010 

Left to Right: President Stephen Clement, 

Registrar Deanna Williams, 

and Vice President Bonnie Hauser

November/December 2009 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

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