2020 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE - PTSA · The Alberta Pharmacy Technician Conference began in 1990 as a small learning seminar planned by a hospital pharmacy technician team. Since that time,

2020 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020 Via Zoom

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ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The Alberta Pharmacy Technician Conference began in 1990 as a small learning seminar planned by a

hospital pharmacy technician team. Since that time, the event has grown into one of the premier

continuing education and networking events for pharmacy technicians from all practice settings in

Canada.

This year, due to COVID-19 and restrictions on large gatherings, our conference will be held virtually,

via Zoom Webinar. Our theme is “Altered Reality: Transforming Pharmacy Practice in 2020”.

The objectives of the Virtual Conference are to:

1) Support the personal and professional development of pharmacy technicians with a modified

program in an on-line environment.

2) Provide registrants with learning opportunities that inform, motivate and offer tools to transform

themselves and adapt to current changes and challenges in pharmacy practice.

ABOUT ZOOM WEBINAR

Download Zoom to your desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device in advance of the Virtual

Conference weekend. https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting . On September 12th, log in via the

Zoom Webinar link that will be provided after registering for the conference. It is recommended to

log in early to ensure that you are able to connect and access the audio and video before the

presentations begin.

AVAILABLE CEUs

This conference is being assessed by the Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy

(CCCEP) for continuing education units (CEU) for both Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists.

Statement of Attendance will be available after the virtual conference upon completion of the session

and overall conference evaluations.

GET CONNECTED

Expand your network for the PTSA 2020 Virtual Conference by connecting to PTSA (@thePTSA) on

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIN, and Twitter. #PTSAVirtualConference2020 #PTSAAdapts

https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting

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PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Presenter biographies and session descriptions can be found on pages: 6 - 12.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

0830 - 0845 - Log onto Zoom Webinar and Ensure Connections are Working

0845 – 0900 - Opening Remarks

0900 – 1000 - Leadership Approaches to Transform Pharmacy Practice – Neil

MacKinnon, BSc (Pharm), MSc (Pharm), PhD, FCSHP, FNAP

1000 – 1015 - Break

1015 - 1115 - Burnout – Alexandra Fuller, RPhT

1115 - 1145 - Break

1145 - 1245 - Impact of Connect Care Technologies on Pharmacy Technician

Practice – John Edrick Mella, RPhT and Teresa Hennessey, RPhT

1245 - 1300 - Break

1300 – 1400 - Maximizing the Role of the Pharmacy Technician in Community

Practice – Lindsay Marks, RPhT

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

0830 - 0845 - Log onto Zoom Webinar and Ensure Connections are Working

0845 – 0945 - Townhall: Are We There Yet? – Pharmacy Technicians Under Review –

Morgan Lahl, RPhT

0945 – 1005 - PTSA AGM & Awards Announcements

1005 – 1015 - Break

1015 – 1115 - COVID-19 Behind Bars: Is a Clean Get-Away Possible? – Laura

Miskimins, RPhT

1115 - 1145 - Break

1145 - 1245 - The Journey to NAPRA Sterile Compounding Standard Compliance –

Kirsten Shead, RPhT

1245 - 1300 - Break

1300 - 1400 - D.A.N.C.E. Into the Future with Creativity – Dr. Caroline Brookfield,

DVM

1400 – 1415 - Closing Remarks

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AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our awards will be announced during the PTSA AGM on Sunday, September 13th. We look forward

to celebrating the accomplishments of pharmacy technicians! Awards will be sent out to the

recipients after the virtual conference.

SPONSORS

This virtual conference is supported in part by the generosity of industry partners. Their continued

commitment to ensuring pharmacy technicians have access to affordable, quality educational

opportunities is greatly appreciated.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

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PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES AND SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

Leadership Approaches to Transform Pharmacy Practice – Neil MacKinnon,

BSc (Pharm), MSc (Pharm), PhD, FCSHP, FNAP

In this presentation, Dean MacKinnon will discuss the role of leadership in the vision of the profession

of pharmacy and will share specific leadership strategies to help us achieve this vision. He will describe

the critical role of pharmacy technicians and assistants in helping to shape this vision, including the key

results from a national survey of Canadian pharmacy technicians and pharmacists, as well as insights

from his own research program on the quality and safety of the medication-use system. Participants

will leave the presentation with new strategies for transforming pharmacy practice in their own

practice setting.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of leadership in the vision and dream of the profession of pharmacy. Discuss some leadership strategies for ensuring that our vision for the profession of pharmacy

is put into practice. Consider how you can implement this vision in your own career.

Dr. Neil MacKinnon is Dean of the Winkle College of

Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati. Previously, he

was Director of State Office of Rural Health for

Arizona. Neil was also a Professor at Dalhousie

University.

A native of Nova Scotia, Dean MacKinnon completed

an undergraduate degree in pharmacy at Dalhousie, a

Master's degree in hospital pharmacy and residency at

the University of Wisconsin Hospital, and a PhD and a

fellowship at the University of Florida.

A pharmacist, Neil has practiced in both the

community and hospital settings. He is a past

president of the Canadian Society of Hospital

Pharmacists.

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Burnout and Supporting Your Co-Workers– Alexandra Fuller, RPhT

Burnout has become a concern amongst healthcare workers. This presentation will explore the

definition of burnout and how to identify the signs of burnout in yourself and amongst your team.

We will explore strategies that can be utilized to help prevent and reduce burnout.


Understand what burnout is and how it differs from stress.

Describe the signs and symptoms of burnout in individuals and within teams.

Learn strategies that can be used to develop a resilience plan for teams as well as self-care.

Alexandra Fuller is a Technical Practice Leader for AHS

and has 20+ years of experience as a pharmacy

technician. She graduated from Red Deer College in

1999 and has spent most of her career working within

the hospital setting for Covenant Health. Prior to

joining Technical Practice, she worked as a frontline

technician, as an educator and with the Medication

Management Safety Team. She is passionate about

pharmacy technicians working to their full scope of

practice, growing her patient safety knowledge, and

enhancing leadership skills.

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Impact of Connect Care Technologies on Pharmacy Technician Practice –

John Edrick Mella, RPhT and Teresa Hennessey, RPhT

Evolving technologies continue to impact pharmacy practice and the safety of medication distribution. Connect

Care, an electronic clinical information system, is being introduced across facilities and programs at Alberta

Health Services to improve the quality of patient care. As new technologies emerge, pharmacy technician

practice will evolve along with them.


Describe the components of closed loop medication management

Demonstrate how Connect Care technologies can improve pharmacy technician practice and

compliance with standards

Explore ways pharmacy technicians can prepare for practice changes as a result of technological

advances

John Edrick Mella is a registered pharmacy technician for Alberta Health Services. He graduated the Pharmacy

Technician Diploma Program at Bow Valley College in 2016. Edrick is currently a Barcoding Lead for Connect Care

Wave 4 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. He assisted with Connect Care Wave 1 barcoding implementation at the

University of Alberta inpatient pharmacy. He also took part in creating a couple of PTSA educational videos these

past years. He dedicated his years as a technician seeking opportunities to perpetually further his skills and gain

experience while being a valuable asset in providing patient-centered care.

Teresa Hennessey is a registered pharmacy technician and an Operations Manager with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

She is committed to supporting pharmacy technicians in the pursuit of professional advancement. Since receiving her

pharmacy technician diploma, Teresa has practiced in front-line and leadership roles within AHS as well as in

community pharmacy. For more than 20 years, she has been involved in advancing scopes of practice and educating

pharmacy technicians about how to implement distribution and patient care activities into their practices. Her passion

lies with helping pharmacy technicians understand and find new opportunities to practice to full scope.

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Maximizing the Role of the Pharmacy Technician in Community Practice –

Lindsay Marks, RPhT

Pharmacy technicians play an integral role within the pharmacy team. As pharmacists continue to take

on more direct clinical roles as health care providers, it is imperative for certain tasks to be

completed by registered pharmacy technicians. Integrating and utilizing a pharmacy technician to their

full scope of practice can come with its own set of challenges. For instance, pharmacy teams may need

to adjust daily workflow, educate staff and public on a technician’s scope of practice, or the transition

of some pharmacy assistants to regulated health professionals. As the Technician role continues to

evolve, it is critical for us to be Masters of the Dispensary. By motivating pharmacy technicians to step

into their full scope of practice, pharmacy teams can work towards achieving the best possible health

outcomes for patients in their care.


Present a suggested pharmacy workflow that successfully integrates registered pharmacy

technicians

Provide resources to educate staff and patients on the expanded role of a regulated pharmacy

technician

Motivate pharmacy technicians to become "Masters of the Dispensary" by promoting the

practice of full scope.

Lindsay began her practice in Pharmacy in

2010. She started as a pharmacy assistant and

worked to receive a license with the Alberta

College of Pharmacy as a Registered Pharmacy

Technician in January 2016. When not on shift

at the Sandstone IDA in Blackfalds, Alberta,

Lindsay serves as the Education Director for

the Pharmacy Technician Society of Alberta.

She is very passionate about advancing

Pharmacy practice, while working to the top of

her scope to provide the best possible health

outcomes for all patients.

.

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PTSA Townhall: Are We There Yet? Pharmacy Technicians Under Review –

Morgan Lahl, RPhT

An interactive session to provide attendees an annual review and audience participation in a townhall

discussion that focuses on reflecting on the current state and future PTSA initiatives.


Provide an update on current and future PTSA initiatives.

Present the results of the Pharmacy Technician National Needs Assessment and create

questions for open discussion amongst attendees

Reinforce the need for pharmacy technicians to work to full scope of practice in order to

continue to expand the current profession and inspire other provinces to do the same.

Morgan started her pharmacy journey at the early age

of 16, her high school offered a practicum placement

at a Texas community pharmacy. Later, she moved

back to her hometown of Calgary, AB and took the

pharmacy technician course at Robertson College.

After graduating, she was hired to work for Alberta

Health Services (AHS) at Foothills Medical Centre

inpatient pharmacy. Early on, Morgan began working

at SAC pharmacy specializing in caring for HIV positive

patients for the past 6 years. When she isn’t at the

pharmacy, she enjoys interacting with upcoming

technicians as an instructor at Robertson College. She

currently serves as the President of the Pharmacy

Technician Society of Alberta.

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COVID-19 Behind Bars: Is a Clean Get-Away Possible?

– Laura Miskimins, RPhT

This session will explore the impact COVID-19 has had on incarcerated populations and the unique

challenges faced by Correctional facilities managing and responding to the current pandemic. We will

discuss some of the approaches taken by healthcare professionals working within Alberta’s provincial

Correctional centres to help overcome these challenges and prevent the spread of COVID-19.


Learn the difference between jail (remand) and prison (sentenced), and a key unique difference

between the two populations.

Identify 3 unique challenges faced by Corrections staff and incarcerated people trying to

prevent the spread of COVID-19 in remand and sentenced facilities.

Explore the approach taken by healthcare professionals working within Alberta’s provincial

Correctional facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Laura Miskimins (she/her or they/them pronouns) is

the Pharmacy Operations Manager for Correctional

Health Services. She is a registered pharmacy

technician with 19 years of pharmacy experience.

Laura started her pharmacy career working in a

community pharmacy that focused primarily on

patients with substance use disorder. After the birth of

her daughter, Laura transitioned briefly to hospital

pharmacy before she moved to Corrections. Laura is

passionate about giving back to her profession and

community. She is a frequent volunteer with PTSA, as

well as with the Edmonton Pride Festival Society.

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The Journey to NAPRA Sterile Compounding Standards Compliance

– Kirsten Shead, RPhT

Together, we will explore the governance structure to support the implementation of NAPRA Model

Standards for Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Sterile Compounding Standards in Alberta Health

Services. We will explore key implementation strategies, such as staff and manager training,

implementation tools for frontline staff, as well as successes and lessons learned along the way.


Explore governance structure to support implementation of NAPRA Model Standards in AHS.

Examine key implementation strategies and tools used.

Discuss successes and lessons learned.

Kirsten Shead has over 17 years’ experience with Alberta Health

Services as a pharmacy technician. Kirsten has been dedicated to

leading teams at the University of Alberta Hospital, and Kaye

Edmonton Clinic through Alberta College of Pharmacy compliance

priority one and two deadlines in regard to NAPRA model standards.

Kirsten’s passion and expertise center around implementing process

and utilizing best practices related to sterile compounding. Over the

last year, Kirsten represented Alberta Health Services in the role of

Quality Assurance for the Edmonton zone, and has recently

transitioned to the Technical Practice Leader position for Alberta

Health Services. In these roles, Kirsten will continue to strive to meet

and exceed all of NAPRA’s sterile compounding standards. Kirsten

lives with her family in St Albert, Alberta and is involved in her

children’s school fundraising programs and activities, volunteering her

time in various capacities since 2016. When not working, Kirsten

spends time with her family and friends.

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D.A.N.C.E. Into the Future with Creativity – Dr. Caroline Brookfield, DVM

How do you prepare for the unknown? How will you motivate yourself, or your team, to accept

change, seize new skills, pioneer innovation, and thrive on ambiguity? Start with the foundation - it's

easy, but sometimes feels inaccessible. Everyone is creative.

Let’s examine creativity through a critical lens, as we explore this unique, elemental human skill. Learn

conditions for creative success, even for the staunchest skeptic. Use a creative practice to face

uncertainty with confidence, find joy in innovation, build resilience with self-expression, and thrive in

the rapidly changing workplace of continuous learning Based on data and personal experience as a

veterinarian and stand-up comic, Caroline will challenge your paradigms of creativity. Especially if you

think you are "not creative". Much more, and much less, than a paint night, creativity is the secret

sauce to success that is hiding in plain sight.


Describe the difference between Divergent and Convergent Creative Thinking.

Contrast the environments and applications of Divergent and Convergent thinking.

List 5 easy ways to increase creative potential (D.A.N.C.E).

I graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1997.

A lifelong learner, I have built two online businesses, and

just finished a 300-hr Certificate of Professional

Management (University of Calgary). I have worked in

most areas of veterinary medicine. I have also worked as

a Carnie at the Townsville fair in Australia. Nobody ever

comments on that on my LinkedIn Profile. A late diagnosis

of ADHD, combined with abundant curiosity, has inspired

a passion for learning. As a veterinarian, from a highly

competitive program, there is internal and external

pressure to be perfect, not to make any mistakes. With

experience in research, technical services, and being highly

data driven, I value the importance of peer review and

rigor in making claims about what works. As a parent, I

embrace failure on a daily basis.

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FEES AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration is exclusive to PTSA members. Registration will open on the PTSA website on August 1st,

2020 and will remain available until 8:00pm on September 11th, 2020.

PTSA Member

Two Day rate: FREE!

One Day rate: FREE!

Non-Member

Purchase a PTSA Membership through the PTSA website, then register for FREE!

DOOR PRIZES

All registrants will be entered into the draw for door prizes.

SPECIAL THANKS

This virtual conference would not have been possible without the efforts of the 2020 Virtual

Conference planning committee, who built upon the work of the former 30th Annual Alberta

Pharmacy Technician Conference planning committee:

Lindsay Fraser Susan Iannuzzi Allie Weaver

Teresa Hennessey Morgan Lahl Ivan Yu

REGISTRATION INQUIRIES

Please email any questions to [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

2020 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE - PTSA · The Alberta Pharmacy Technician Conference began in 1990 as a small learning seminar planned by a hospital pharmacy technician team. Since that time,