Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

341Chapter 14 – Profession of PharmacyThe scope of practice review found that, in today’s world, it is an expectedstandard of practice that pharmacists provide both information andeducation to patients respecting the use of drugs, health care aids anddevices. They are also asked to provide advice and analysis to other healthprofessionals concerning the best options for pharmacotherapeuticmanagement of patients and safe outcomes of drug therapy.The review also found that pharmacists are part of interprofessional teambasedcare, whether in the community or in hospitals, and work withpatients and other health professionals and providers to ensure optimalpatient care. Overall, the review concluded that pharmacist interventioncan positively influence the incidence of drug reactions, hospital length ofstay and continuity of patient care.As well, HPRAC found that other regulated health professions expressedsupport for the greater use of pharmacists in medication therapymanagement. Stakeholders agreed that pharmacists have the competence,knowledge, skills and judgment to carry out the additional responsibilitiesof medication therapy management.Overall, HPRAC concluded that “pharmacists in Ontario are highly educatedand that their formal education and training have evolved to incorporatethe skills and judgment required to undertake medication therapymanagement. Pharmacists have the potential to address an increasingpublic need for access to health care services related to medication therapyand continuity of patient care”. 2To give effect to this conclusion, HPRAC recommended to the Minister:1. That pharmacists be authorized to prescribe drugs for the purposesof medication therapy management. Within this authority,pharmacists could adapt, modify and extend an existing prescription.2. That pharmacists be authorized to initiate therapy for smokingcessation, including prescribing Schedule I drugs.3. That pharmacists be authorized to administer drugs throughinjection and inhalation for the purpose of patient education anddemonstration.4. That pharmacists be authorized to perform a procedure on tissuebelow the dermis for the limited purpose of patient self-careeducation and chronic disease monitoring, including the use oflancing-type devices (i.e., for the management of diabetes).5. That pharmacists be authorized to order laboratory tests for thepurpose of medication monitoring and management.6. That pharmacists not be authorized to independently initiate therapyfor travel prophylaxis.2Ibid. 60.HPRAC Critical Links January 2009