ACPNews SeptOct2012 REV ACPNews - Alberta …†news is published six times per year by the Alberta College of Pharmacists. Send submissions for publication to [email protected]

newsSeptember / October 2012

Are “points” good for the profession?

These two comments represent ends ofthe spectrum ACP heard over the pastmonth in registrant surveys, stakeholderinterviews and public focus groups.Thank you to everyone who took time toshare their opinions.

ACP’s job is to optimize the health ofAlbertans and the work environmentsfor pharmacy practitioners. In the pastyear, we have observed changes in theforms, quantities, and frequency ofinducements and the targeting ofvulnerable populations that haveheightened our concern that theseprograms are not conducive to the bestpatient or pharmacy practice.

Therefore, it is an issue that council hasmarked as a priority.

When we talk about inducements andpharmacy, the conversation iscomplex. ACP council is taking stepsto better understand the issues and itsoptions for dealing with inducements.First, council commissioned a reportto examine policies and legalprecedent in other jurisdictions.Across the country, regulations andopinions vary.

In Alberta, physicians, dentists, andphysiotherapists all have some type ofinducement prohibition in place.

continued on page 2

IN THIS ISSUE...Quality Pharmacy Practice

3 n How 3 pharmacists are ADAPTingtheir practices

5 n New pharmacy licence? Updateyour website

6 n Finding and fixing commonpharmacy deficiencies

8 n Best practices for compliancepackaging

9 n New form streamlines drug errorreviews

10 n Assigning beyond-use dates tonon-sterile compounds

11 n What to expect when you’reexpecting a student

12 n Are you in The Link?n Adapting: What would you do?

Partners in Practice

12 n Thank you, preceptors

18 n In memory

19 n Naturopath profession recognizedunder HPA

n OSCE Assessors needed

20 n Prescription validity FAQs

Healthy Albertansthrough excellencein pharmacy practice

I think inducements degrade our profession

and take away from the value of services.

Reward points improve patients’ compliance with their

medications. The points motivate them to pick up their initial prescription

and refills.

aφnews is published six times per yearby the Alberta College of Pharmacists.Send submissions for publication [email protected]

The deadline for submissions for the Nov/Dec 2012 issue is October 6.

Alberta College of Pharmacists1100, 8215 - 112 Street NWEdmonton AB T6G 2C8780-990-0321 / 1-877-227-3838Fax: 780-990-0328

President: Kaye Moran President Elect: Kelly OlstadVice President: Krystal WynnykPast President: Anjli Acharya

Councillors:Brad Willsey, District 1Clayton Braun, District 2Rick Hackman, District 3Ahmed Metwally, District 3Krystal Wynnyk, District 3Kelly Olstad, District 4Kamal Dullat, District 5Kaye Moran, District 5Kelly Boparai, Pharmacy Technician

Public members:Vi BeckerBob KruchtenPat Matusko

Pharmacy technician observer:Robin Burns

You can contact council members by emailvia our website under About ACP/ Council,or by using the search feature to locatethem by name.

Staff DirectoryAll staff are available at 780-990-0321 or 1-877-227-3838 or by fax at 780-990-0328.

Their email addresses are available onour website at pharmacists.ab.ca underContact Us.

Registrar: Greg EberhartDeputy Registrar: Dale CooneyComplaints Director: James KrempienPractice Development Director:

Debbie LeeProfessional Practice Director: Shao LeePharmacy Practice Consultants: Tom

Curr, Monty Stanowich, Jennifer VoiceOperations and Finance Director:

Lynn PaulitschRegistration and Competence Director:

Heather BakerRegistration Manager: Linda HagenCommunications Director: Karen Mills

pharmacists.ab.ca

news

2

When ACP surveyed the public in 2010and stakeholders in 2011, we found that51% of the public and 65% ofstakeholders considered it inappropriateto receive points, rewards or incentivesin return for products or servicesreceived from a health professional.

What happens next?Council will review the informationgathered from the research of the pastmonth and discuss it at their Septembermeeting. We will also share highlights ofthe research results and any councildecisions with you in future editions ofThe Link and acpnews.

How can you be involved?If you have not yet had the opportunityto provide your views on inducements,it’s not too late. You can:

n Contact your councillor – contactinformation is available on the ACPwebsite under About ACP/council.

n Email Karen Mills, ACPCommunications Director([email protected]). She is collating the information forcouncil’s review.

Are “points” good for the profession? continued from page 1

Province Status

British Columbia Inducements and loyalty programs are prohibited ongovernment-insured prescriptions, services and supplies

Alberta Prohibition if potential harm to patients (Code of Ethics,Principles 1.13 and 7)

Saskatchewan Silent

Manitoba Inducements to transfer pharmacies prohibited

Ontario Prohibits inducements and loyalty programs

Quebec Prohibits advertising of inducements and loyalty programs

New Brunswick Silent

Nova Scotia Silent

Newfoundland Prohibits advertising of inducements and loyalty programs

NWT/Nunavut Silent

Yukon Silent

Inducements[in’du:smǝnts] n. Inducements include programs,promises, or rewards that createan incentive for a patient to fillprescriptions or to obtain servicesfrom a specific pharmacy.Inducements in the pharmacyprofession have historicallyfocused on loyalty programs (e.g.,Air Miles, “point” collector cards).However, inducements canencompass a range of incentivesfor consumers to changepharmacies, or to stay with acompany, or to buy more of aproduct. Inducements couldinclude in-store coupons, giftcertificates, or bonus products.

In general, an inducement isanything that may persuade anindividual to act in a particularway. The inducement is meant topush an individual to make achange or to behave differently.

Pharmacy and inducements: a pan-Canadian view

aφnews – September / October 2012 3

Pharmacy practice in Alberta haschanged a lot over the last five yearsand it can be a challenge to keep up.To stay on the top of their games,several Alberta pharmacists areenrolling in the ADAPT program.

ADAPT is a 19-week course designedspecifically for practising pharmacists.It was developed by the CanadianPharmacists Association (CPhA) andthe Canadian Society of HospitalPharmacists (CSHP). Using interactiveonline learning, supportivemoderators and plenty of peerinteraction, ADAPT helps pharmacistsmaster skills and build confidence in:

n Medication assessment

n Collaboration

n Patient interviewing and assessment

n Making evidence-based clinicaldecisions

n Documentation

n Developing and implementing patientcare plans

We spoke with three pharmacists whohave completed the ADAPT program tofind out about their experiences and seekadvice for prospective participants.

All three pharmacists agreed that thecourse required a significant timecommitment (an average of about eight

hours a week), but found that the morethey put into it, the more they got out of it. Some units required more time,depending on the subject and thepharmacist’s experience. “The patientcases were all based on adult medicine –my practice has been in paediatrics,neonatology ... the only experience I havewith adult medicine is working in thedispensary,” explained Christy Gilkes. “I had to teach myself a lot.”

As you might expect, given their differentpractice experiences, their opinionsdiffered when it came to other aspects ofADAPT. We’ll let them explain.

Christy Gilkes ... practices in general paediatrics at AlbertaChildren’s Hospital. She has been inpractice for 20 years. “We precept a lot ofpharmacy students and residents,”Christy notes. “I felt like I needed toupdate my skills to better reflect what isbeing taught in pharmacy school now.”

Ryan Stempfle ...maintains a community practice andworks in long-term care and assistedliving in Edmonton. He has only beenout of school for three years, butenrolled in ADAPT because, “I wantedto integrate better into multidisciplinaryteams, and learn a standardized format for relaying critical informationabout clients.”

Maryann Chmilar ...works in a small hospital in Redwater. Inher 29 years of practice, she has workedin both retail and hospital settings. “I hadbeen puzzled by our changing scope –why did we have to change? An emailfrom CPhA describing the ADAPT pilotcourse caught my eye. The subject matterof Module 1 (a review of the backgroundof healthcare in Canada, and how it hasled to our expanded and changing scopeof practice) really caught my interest.”

QualityPharmacyPractice

How 3 pharmacists are ADAPTing their practices

continued on page 6


Did you learn anything newor surprising?Christy: Adult medicine was new tome. I didn’t have a lot of experience inevidence-based medicine; I often usejournal articles, but the idea ofevidence-based medicine was new –this wasn’t taught when I was inschool. Other than that, it builds onexisting skills and knowledge.

Ryan: I’m a fairly recent graduate, so I think it mostly built on what I alreadyknow. It did provide a nice approach tobuilding multidisciplinary teams,though, and it sharpened skills neededto build patient relationships. It alsoprovided an invaluable one-page toolon evidence-based medicine.

Maryann: I did pick up some newskills and knowledge. The history ofhealthcare in Canada was reallyinteresting – and a very good basis forunderstanding the need forpharmacists to practice in our newexpanded scope.

What area of your practice doyou think ADAPT helped yougrow in the most, and how?Christy: Documentation, evidence-based medicine, and patientinterviewing skills were the big ones.ADAPT taught me a concise, organizedformat for documenting – it was betterthan the previous system I used. Theformat highlights medication problems,is more relevant, and is more useful forother healthcare professionals, too.

Ryan: It helped me standardize anapproach to documenting clinicalinterventions and care plans. Practisingthis throughout the week reallyinstilled confidence.

Maryann: It’s hard to narrow it to onearea. I feel that the skills I gained inADAPT have helped almost all aspectsof my practice. I am finding it sorewarding to be discussing medicationchoices with the physicians when theyare deciding on the patients’ care, andthe skills and confidence I gained fromthe course have really helped me in thisnew role.

Can you describe a scenariowhere you used the skillslearned in ADAPT to providebetter patient care?Christy: There was an instance wherewe were uncertain about whatmedications a patient was on. Usingskills from ADAPT, I communicatedwith the patient’s communitypharmacy, neurology clinic, andparents. The actual medications he wason were very different from what wason his chart.

Ryan: Working in a multidisciplinaryteam in assisted living. It has reallyenhanced and improved outcomes andconfidence in these scenarios for me.

Maryann: We had an outpatient cometo our emergency department with aquestion about a prescription. Herquestions had already been dismissedby a very busy MediCentre. I did aquick basic history (format I hadlearned in ADAPT), assessed weeks ofpregnancy, did a drug database searchof pregnancy risk with her Rx andprinted a copy of the same to give toher, answered her questions about thesafety of the antibiotic prescribedduring pregnancy, and explained thedifference between a bladder infectionand a kidney infection. She left,reassured that the Rx was appropriateand safe for her, and I was reassuredthat pharmacists are very able to helpease the pressure in our health system.

What is the most valuablething you learned in ADAPT?Christy: The last module, where youput all the pieces together to make acomplete patient care plan, was themost valuable. It takes you throughthe whole process so you can see howall the skills work together, and makesit more realistic as it applies to yourown practice.

Ryan: How to document thoroughly,the patient interview process, and howto build rapport with patients (andkeep tangential patients focused).

Maryann: I learned that pharmacistsare very capable of assisting patientsand working together with ourcolleagues in healthcare (physicians,nurses, physiotherapists, socialworkers, and so on).

Is there anything you wish youwould have known beforestarting the program? Whatadvice would you give tosomeone who wants to takethe program?Christy: Get familiar with evidence-based medicine, and the terminologyused in it. This is where I struggledmost, since I had no background in thisarea. If you studied it in school fiveyears ago, it won’t be as difficult.

Also, though the new course unitsstart on Wednesdays and the unitsrun Wednesday through Tuesday, thedeliverables are due on Saturday.Saturday through Tuesday is fordiscussions and feedback. So, while itlooked like there would be a week todo assignments, there was really onlyfour days.

3 Pharmacists continued from page 3


New pharmacy licence? Update your websiteThe 2012-2013 pharmacy licences have just been issued - ensure yours isuploaded onto your pharmacy website. Section 23 of the Pharmacy and DrugRegulation requires that pharmacy websites display a scanned copy of thecurrent pharmacy licence.

Ryan: I recommend that pharmaciststry to look at ways to integrate into amultidisciplinary team as soon aspossible, so that when they get into thecourse, they’re not searching for thoseoptions or team members.

Maryann: I definitely wish that I hadknown it would take a good seven toeight hours of work per week.

Who would be a goodcandidate for ADAPT? Christy: Someone who wants toimprove and elevate their practice, andknow what students coming out ofschool are learning. Preceptors wouldbe good candidates, as well as thosewho really want to become betterpharmacists.

Ryan: I recommend this program toanyone. If you have discipline, you’llhave no trouble completing it.

Maryann: I feel that anypharmacist – young or old,experienced or new—who puts theirpatient/customer as their prioritywould benefit from ADAPT. Thereare so many tools and skills offeredthat even a very experiencedpharmacist will find something newthey were not yet familiar with.

•••

How can you ADAPT yourpractice?The next session runs October 17 toMarch 5. Register online now atwww.pharmacists.ca/adapt.

ADAPT is accredited for 76 CEUs.Pharmacists who successfullycomplete ADAPT may also challengea Certificate Assessment process andbe awarded a Certificate in PatientCare Skills.

Your pharmacy website must alsodisplay:

n the location, mailing address, emailaddress and telephone number ofthe pharmacy

n the name, pharmacist practicepermit number, and businessaddress of the licensee

n a statement that the licensee isrequired to provide, on the requestof a patient, the name and practicepermit number of any regulatedmember who provides a pharmacyservice to the patient or whoengages in the practice ofpharmacy with respect to a patient

n the name and business address ofthe proprietor

n if the proprietor is a corporation,the name of the proprietor’srepresentative

n a scanned copy of the PatientConcerns poster (a link to theposter on the ACP website is alsoacceptable)


The backgroundACP pharmacy practice consultantscontinue to help pharmacy teamscorrect deficiencies, improve workflow and enhance practice. Over thelast six months, the consultants haveidentified the most commondeficiencies in pharmacies acrossAlberta. We will review all of them inaφnews and The Link over thecoming months.

While we know that change isn’talways easy or fast, we hope that withour support and educational toolssuch as Chat, Check and Chart,pharmacy teams will be able to makeincremental changes to their practiceand operations that are SMART(Specific, Measurable,Achievable, Relevant, and Timely).

The deficiency: Insufficientdocumentation of patient careactivities

Have you ever had an uncomfortableencounter with a patient when youcouldn’t answer their question becausethere wasn’t enough (or any)information about what anotherpharmacist in your pharmacy had donewhen they were treating the patient theday before?

Don’t you hate it when you go to check apatient’s history and the story in the filedoesn’t match their story at all?

And, have you ever provided patientcare but not documented it eventhough it frustrates you when othersdon’t document? (You don’t have toanswer out loud.)

If you answer yes to any of thesequestions, then you know whyinsufficient documentation of patientcare activities tops the list of pharmacydeficiencies ACP pharmacy practiceconsultants have identified and want tohelp you fix.

According to Standard 18 of theStandards of Practice for Pharmacists andPharmacy Technicians, pharmacists mustcreate and maintain patient records eachtime they dispense, prescribe, oradminister a Schedule 1 or 2 product.

Why? Documentation of patient careactivities provides a record of yourhaving:

n assessed the patient and their therapy,

n resolved actual or potential drugtherapy problems,

Notes from the field

Finding and fixing common pharmacy deficiencies


n implemented a care plan,

n provided information to the patient tosupport their medicationmanagement, and

n provided the appropriate follow upfor monitoring.

This is invaluable information in futureencounters with the patient.

The fixes1. Document assessments, care plansand follow-up

For most pharmacy interactions, anumber of patient care activities musttake place and therefore must also bedocumented in the patient’s record.These activities include but are notlimited to:

n completing a patient assessment toevaluate the appropriateness,effectiveness, safety of and thepatient’s adherence to any medicationto be dispensed;

n developing a care plan; and

n establishing a follow-up plan.

Documenting these activities also meetsStandard 18.2(c), which indicates that thepharmacist must make an appropriateentry in the patient record when theyestablish a follow-up plan or otherpatient care plan and Standard 18.3(c)which indicates that the patient recordmust include drug therapy problemsand/or interventions, monitoring plansor actions related to drug therapyproblems, and other information relatedto patient care practice.

2. Know what constitutes a patientrecord

There is a misconception thatdocumentation must be voluminous.Instead, think quality over quantity.Standards 18.3 and 18.4 outline theelements of the record of care that mustbe documented in the patient record.

A patient record must include:

a) patient demographics,

b) a profile of drugs provided, and

c) a record of care provided includingbut not limited to:

i. drug therapy problems identifiedand/or interventions, monitoringplans or actions related to drugtherapy problems;

ii. prescriptions written;

iii. drugs, blood products, or vaccinesadministered;

iv. other information related to patientcare practice.

A patient record must also meet therequirements of Appendix A of theStandards.

Records must always be clear, concise,and easy to read (Standard 18.7)

3. Know the record keepingrequirements

Standard 18.10 stipulates that theserecords must be retained for at least 10years after the last pharmacy service ortwo years past the age of majority,whichever is greater.

If you are not already documenting atthis level, make a plan to incorporate itinto your practice at once. Start with twopatients per shift (a new and a refill oradaptation), work with your pharmacyteam to support each other, decide howyour computer system best supportsyour ability to document, and graduallywork this into your practice.

Need more help? n Use the Chat, Check and Chart tool

card and Record Retention Chart,found on the ACP website underPractice Resources>Info sheets & posters

n See the Documentation & RecordRetention FAQs on the ACP websiteunder Practice Resources > Practiceguidelines and references

n Talk to your ACP pharmacy practiceconsultant. They can help you withLEAN management techniques andcharting efficiency.

Use efficient (lean) workflowmanagement and the Chat,Check, and Chart system to helpyou effectively assess yourpatients, evaluate their therapy,form a care plan, and documentinteractions clearly and concisely.

The eDAP (efficient Data,Assessment, Plan) format is short,effective, and gets the job donein less than a tweet (144characters). It is a practical waythat a busy pharmacist candocument. eDAP encapsulates

n the Data the pharmacistgathers,

n the Assessment of the therapy,and

n the follow-up Plan for thepatient once they leave yourpharmacy after getting a newor refill prescription, injection,or a Schedule 2 product.

See an eDAP example on theChat, Check and Chart tool card.


A recent compliance packaging errorresulted in a community pharmacypatient receiving her methotrexate daily,when the methotrexate was prescribed tohave been taken once weekly. As onepart of our response to this veryunfortunate situation, ACP is providingall pharmacists with the following bestpractices for providing medications incompliance packaging.

Set up sound procedures1. Scan verify the DINs of all

medications to be placed incompliance packaging.

2. Highlight medications which have anirregular dosing schedule or have anarrow therapeutic index (e.g.,methotrexate, warfarin) on thecompliance package worksheet andexplicitly identify the dosingschedule. Highlight or segregate thestock bottles of these medications toallow for easy recognition.

3. Never place medications intocompliance packaging directly frommanufacturer stock bottles.

Initially place all medications to bedispensed into a compliancepackage into a vial and make aninitial check at this point to ensurethe medications to be packaged areaccurate. This intermediate stepallows you to individually countand check all medications foraccuracy, thereby preventing youfrom inadvertently placing thosemedications with unusual dosingrequirements (such as once weeklyor alternate days dosing) intocompliance packaging for dailyingestion.

4. Document on the patient record allchanges made to a patient’scompliance packaging. Have thesechange records readily accessible atthe time of packaging and reviewed

by all pharmacy staff involved inpreparing and checking thecompliance package.

5. In addition to the labelingrequirements for all dispensedprescriptions outlined in Standard 7.5of the Standards of Practice forPharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians,include for every blister themedication’s name, strength and abrief visual description to assist thepatient in identifying whichmedications he/she is taking in everyblister. The Dispill® PackagingSystem available through mostmedication wholesalers is oneexample of a compliance packagingsystem that allows for theidentification of each medicationwithin each blister.

6. Never amend a patient’s previouslysealed and dispensed compliancepackage. If changes are made to apatient’s medication therapy, recallany previously prepared compliancepacks and then prepare, check anddispense a new compliance packagein accordance with all of the patient’scurrent medications.

7. Consider packaging medicationswith irregular dosing schedules in aseparate card.

Use staff wisely8. Ensure your pharmacy has clear,

written policies and procedures forcompliance packaging that allpharmacy staff, including locumstaff, are aware of and adherent to.

9. Allocate sufficient, uninterruptedtime to prepare and checkcompliance packs.

10. Have compliance packs preparedand then checked independently byat least two different pharmacy staffmembers. The patient’s compliance

packaging audit trail records mustidentify all pharmacy staff involvedin the preparing, checking anddispensing of the compliancepackage in accordance withStandards 7.15 to 7.17 of theStandards of Practice for Pharmacistsand Pharmacy Technicians.

11. If circumstances do not permit animmediate second check by anothermember of the pharmacy team, delayreleasing the compliance packageuntil the next day when anothermember of the team is available tocheck the package or when thepharmacist then has an opportunityto review his/her own work withfresh eyes.

12. Pharmacy licensees shouldincorporate discussions and feedbackabout compliance packaging issuesinto their regular pharmacy staffmeetings.

Turn patients into participants13. Implement a system which requires

pharmacist counselling for allcompliance packaging that includesmedications with an irregular dosingschedule, to ensure patients arereminded of once-weekly dosing, etc.

14. Highlight irregular dosing schedules,medication additions or medicationdiscontinuations on the compliancepackaging labels to help the patientto be more aware of any changes tothe medication therapy he/she isreceiving.

15. During counselling sessions, askpatients to describe theirunderstanding of the informationyou provide. Notably, ask patients todescribe all irregular dosingschedules within their compliancepackages, such as weekly doses,increasing doses, and discontinued ornewly initiated medications.

Best practices for compliance packaging

Standard 6.6 of the Standards for the Operation of Licensed

Pharmacies requires licensees to, at least quarterly:

n review the pharmacy’s drug-error reports to evaluate

whether practice changes or preventative measures are

required to prevent future drug errors, and

n assess whether any changes implemented as a result of a

drug error were successful in advancing patient safety.


New form streamlines drug error reviews

Once you have documented a drugincident, how can you ensure thatyou and your pharmacy teamimplement the changes, sustain theimprovements and achieve thedesired outcomes you set?

One way is to monitor for repeatedsimilar errors. To support yourmonitoring, ACP has created theDrug Incident Quarterly ReviewReport Form. It helps youdocument:

1. Drug incidents and requiredactions reviewed

2. Any significant findings (e.g.,repeated incidents of similarerrors - are there any patterns?)

3. Further actions implementedand whether those actionsresolved the issue

Appendix 9 in The Systems Approachto Quality Assurance for CommunityPharmacies manual shows anexample of a drug incidentquarterly review report. A tear-outcopy of the form is included in boththe manual and the IncidentAnalysis Process Summary and QuickReference Guide. It is also availableas a PDF on the ACP website.

The incident analysis processprovides a structured andconsistent method to help teamsunderstand how incidents occur sothat they can take steps to reducethe likelihood of recurrence.

The incident analysis goals and process are aligned with the Standards for the Operationof Licensed Pharmacies; undertakingthis type of analysis when incidentsoccur will help pharmacy teamsmeet the quality assuranceobjectives of the Standards.

Resources: On the ACP website, under PracticeResources/Drug Error Management,you can find the:

n Systems Approach to QualityAssurance for CommunityPharmacies

n Incident Analysis ProcessSummary and Quick ReferenceGuide

n Drug Incident Report Form

n Drug Incident Quarterly ReviewReport Form

Want to earn CEUs?Review The Systems Approach toQuality Assurance for CommunityPharmacies materials and watchthe three audio/visual onlinepresentations on ACP’s website.You can document these activitiesusing the Non-AccreditedLearning Record template underContinuing Competence/RxCELlearning portfolio.


According to the United StatesPharmacopeia (2012)1:

n Beyond-use dates (BUD) should beassigned conservatively. Whenassigning a BUD, compounders shallconsult and apply drug-specific andgeneral stability documentation andliterature when available and shallconsider:

• the nature of the drug and itsdegradation mechanism

• the dosage form and itscomponents

• the potential for microbialproliferation in the preparation

• the container in which it ispackaged

• the expected storage conditions

• the intended duration of therapy

n When a manufactured product isused as the source of the activepharmaceutical ingredient for anon-sterile compoundedpreparation, the product expirationdate cannot be used solely toassign a BUD for the compoundedpreparation.

n At all steps in the compounding,dispensing, and storage process,the compounder shall observe the

compounded drug preparation forsigns of instability.

n In the absence of stabilityinformation that is applicable to aspecific drug and preparation, thefollowing table presents maximumbeyond-use dates recommended fornon-sterile compounded drugpreparations that are packaged intight, light-resistant containers andstored at controlled roomtemperature, unless otherwiseindicated. Drugs or chemicalsknown to be labile to decompositionwill require shorter BUDs.

General guidelines for assigning beyond-use dates to non-sterile compounds

Adapting: What would you do? Did you miss the discussion that arose from the adapting skills test wefeatured on the back cover of the July/Aug aφnews? See the recap inthe July 10 edition of The Link. Click The Link icon on the left of theACP website homepage to access all Link archives.

By type of formulation

For non-aqueous formulations The BUD is not later than the time remaining until the earliest expiration date of any active pharmaceutical ingredient or 6 months, whichever is earlier.

For water-containing oral formulations The BUD is not later than 14 days when stored at controlled cold temperatures.

For water-containing topical/dermal and The BUD is not later than 30 days.mucosal liquid and semisolid formulations

Please also refer to Standard 10 in the Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians for more information.

1 USP-NF Online <795>. Copyright 2012 The United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Used by Permission.

Congratulations; you’re about to be anew preceptor. So you’re a little happy,excited and nervous about the pharmacystudent who is coming. Perhaps you areworried that you won’t be a goodpreceptor and that the role won’t comenaturally to you.

What will I call him? What will he beable to do? Will I have enough cleanwhite lab coats to get through the firstfew days?

These are all natural questions forpreceptors, and the answers can befound in the regulations, Standards ofPractice, and preceptor manuals.

Student pharmacists are regulatedmembers of the Alberta College ofPharmacists and must be registered toperform restricted activities.

Any U of A student who comes to yourpractice location has registered with ACPas a student. Students who come toAlberta from another province tocomplete structured practical training(SPT) are required to register with ACP.Please ensure that your student isregistered if he or she is going to performrestricted activities under supervision.

How do I identify if my studentis registered with the college?Your student or intern will be able toproduce a practice permit. You can alsoverify that a student or intern isregistered by making a quick call to thecollege office.

What will we call him? If you have a registered undergraduatestudent working for you who is

participating in an SPT program, youmay call him a pharmacist student orpharmacy student. A provisionalpharmacist may use the titles pharmacyintern and pharmacist intern.1

If the student working in your pharmacyis not part of a structured program, theyare considered an “individual” employedin your pharmacy. You may not call himby either of the restricted titles, i.e.,pharmacist student or pharmacy student,but rather by an unrestricted title such aspharmacy assistant.

How do I supervise mystudent?

Pharmacy students may work onlyunder the direct supervision of thepreceptor pharmacist. The preceptormust be a registered clinical pharmacist.Further, for a preceptor to be able tosupervise and evaluate a student’srestricted activities, that preceptor mustbe authorized to perform that activityand must not have any condition on theirpractice permit that restricts supervision.

Direct supervision means that you mustbe present when supervising the

restricted activity and be able to observeand promptly intervene and stop orchange the actions of the individual youare supervising.

How do I supervise my intern?Once an intern is registered on ACP’sprovisional register, a preceptor mayprovide either direct or indirectsupervision of that intern. The preceptormay allow the intern to work underindirect supervision if the followingconditions are met:

n the pharmacy has procedures in placethat:

• comply with the Standards ofPractice,

• ensure the safety and integrity ofthe drugs dispensed orcompounded by the individual youare supervising;

n you can ensure that the interncomplies with the procedures; and

n you are readily available forconsultation by the intern and,if necessary, available toprovide hands-on assistance tothat individual.


1 Section 15, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Profession Regulation

What to expect whenyou’re expectinga student


Save a tree – get your ACP newsletters electronicallyClean up the environment and your post office box. To receive acφnewselectronically:

1. Go to the ACP homepage (pharmacists.ab.ca)

2. Click on the Registrant profile login button.

3. Log in and then click on View Profile.

4. Click the “edit” icon in the Contact Information box (second from the top).

5. For your newsletter preference, select email.

Do you known Does a pharmacist have to assess a

patient’s drug therapy and healthhistory for every one of their blisterpacks?

n If you are the only pharmacistworking with a pharmacy technician(i.e., a regulated health professionalwho has met all the conditionsrequired for that restricted title), canyou step out for coffee for 15 minutes?What about going to a meeting for anhour?

Readers of The Link, ACP’s e-newsletter,know the answers. Not reading The Linkmeans you’re missing out on practicetips and tools, news about upcomingevents, and changes to legislation andstandards that may affect you and yourpatients. (And you’ll want to review theJuly 24, 2012 edition to find the answersto the questions at the beginning of thearticle.)

Use the link on the left of the ACPwebsite to access all archived editions.

The Link is emailed every secondTuesday. Make sure the college has yourcurrent email (a requirement of Section41(1) of the Pharmacists and Pharmacy

Technicians Profession Regulation) andthat your spam filter is not blockingdelivery.

You can update your emailaddress online at any time. Follow these steps:

1. Click on Registrant profile login on themenu on the left of the ACPhomepage.

2. Click on Login/Logout and then enteryour user User ID (registrant number)and your password.

3. Click on View Profile. Click on the Editbutton in the appropriate section andupdate your information.

4. Click Save.

5. Your record is now updated.

Forgot your password? To reset your password online:

1. Click on Registration profile login. Thiswill take you to the login screen.

2. Click on the Click here if you forgot yourpassword link found below the loginscreen.

3. Follow the prompts to reset yourpassword.

Are you in The Link?


Thank you, preceptors

Partnersin Practice

Throughout this past year, the pharmacy community in Albertacontinued to contribute substantially to the experiential program of theFaculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Over 235community and institutional pharmacy practice sites volunteered toaccept our first-, second- and fourth-year students. Nearly 400pharmacists served as primary preceptors for one or more of thesestudents; a further 230 pharmacists were identified by students ashaving contributed significantly to their rotation experiences. With thisoutstanding level of support and involvement, we continue tograduate the very best pharmacists in Canada.

My sincere thanks to everyone who participated in our program. Yourcontributions are essential to what we do, and greatly appreciated.

James P. Kehrer, Dean

L to R: student Sheneez Virani with institutional preceptor Holly Reeves, community preceptorChandel Lovig with student Andrew Wong

Clinical placementsites and preceptors,August 2011 to June 2012 (Primary* preceptors are in bold)

Airdrie

n Calgary Co-op #19: Rebecca Chin,Marion Chorney

n Drugstore Pharmacy #1540: AmyBecker, Leslie Leontowich

n Highland Primary Care Network:Cyndy Brocklebank, MichelleMacDonald

n Rexall Pharmacy #7231: Patrick Zacharn Safeway Pharmacy #281: Carol Wei

Alix

n Alix Drugs: Shannon Glover, TrishVerveda

Athabasca

n Athabasca Healthcare Centre: CindyJones

n Athabasca Value Drug Mart: NeilCameron, Louise Zachoda

n Rexall Pharmacy #7217: RobertBownes

Banff

n Banff Mineral Springs Hospital: CarolVorster

n Gourlay’s Pharmacy Banff: PeterEshenko, Alma Steyn

n Safeway Pharmacy #208: Kim Purdy,Phil Wong

Barrhead

n Barrhead Health Centre: RichardAnderson, Wilfred Klemp

n Fyfe’s Friendly Pharmacy: LorraineGrant, Jane Morrow

n Rita’s Apothecary & Home Healthcare:Margaret Krikke, Rita Lyster

Beaverlodge

n Beaverlodge Drugs Ltd.: Terri Clegg,Cody Hauger, Lana Lojczyc, MichaelLojczyc, Erin Scheidegger

Bellevue

n Turtle Mountain Pharmacy: DarseyMilford


Black Diamond

n Pharmasave #364: Jason Spicer, PeterTristram

Blairmore

n Crowsnest Pass Health Care Centre: LisaDenie, Joanne Larison

Bonnyville

n Bonnyville Health Centre: Sonia Shapka,Lianne Warburton

n Clinic Dispensary: Curtis Conradn Pharmasave #325: Tyler Cronk, Peter

Davey

Bow Island

n Apple Drugs Pharmacy: ScarletChampagne, Taria Gouw, StefanOnischuk

Brooks

n Pharmasave #345: Merle Ann Howard,James Kitagawa

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2344: AmgadHabeeb, Doug Levy, SimisolaOyadiran, Larry Pratt, Reiko Wenzel

Calgary

n Alberta Children’s Hospital: TannerBengry, Laura Bruno, CurtisClaassen, Susana Cocic, HeatherGanes, Christy Gilkes, DorindaGonzales, Terri Hamlin, Kim Hugel,Rick Kaczowka, Timothy Kraft, GinaKwan, Krista Lade, Karen Leask,Angela Liang, Angela MacBride,Michael Mill, Joni Shair, Jaimini

Tailor, Sarah Williams, Teresa Wong,Eldon Zaretski

n Beacon Pharmacy: Amy Rego, RichardRego

n Calgary Co-op #1 (Midtown): WinnieCheng, Victoria Leost, ChelseyZubkow

n Calgary Co-op #7: Cathy Cornfield,Ijenna Osakwe

n Calgary Co-op #9: Charlene Christian,Matt Faulman, Sunil George, AyodejiOmosun, Irena Sedlakova

n Calgary Co-op #10: Rahim Khalfann Calgary Co-op #11: Nathan Chiu,

Denise Dillman, Fern McNaughtonn Calgary Co-op #13 (Crowfoot): Sonal

Ejnern Calgary Co-op #16: Mihir Ejnern Calgary Co-op #20 (Rocky Ridge): Ryan

Kellern Calgary Co-op #21 (Westsprings):

Nadine Abou Kheirn Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network:

Giselle Scott-Woo, Mike Thompson,Esmond Wong

n Calgary West Central Primary CareNetwork: Paula Elgar

n Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre – Carewest:Terry Chan, Marjorie Cheng, ScottGelfand, Noor Jamal, RobertMaclachlan, Jill Sexsmith, TrumanTong, Judy Yip

n Foothills Medical Centre: NicoleCasavant, Raahil Cassim, ChelseaHaines, Patricia Hung, JosephineLiu, Samir Patel, Negar Sharif-

Bajestani, Melanie Sunderland,Jennifer Syrota

n Health Select Pharmacy (Whitehorn):Kristine Ewing

n London Drugs #30: Farah Mussa n London Drugs #31: Alex Chu, Erica

Evertn London Drugs #33: Jason Chan

Remillardn London Drugs #40: Stephanie Stabler,

Paul Trann London Drugs #58: Garth Bozwuell,

Helen Lee, Mason Szutun Paragon Pharmacy Mission: Fred

Janzen, Brian Jonesn Peter Lougheed Centre: Adrian Abu-

Ulba, Duane Bates, Tara Bruneski,Julie Carney, Tracy Chin, AngelaGiang, Robin Hellweg, Imran Khan,Scott Kirby, Rose Mah, ChristineMorris, Judi Parrott, Jane Ward

n Pharmacy Plus: Nermen Kassamn Rexall Pharmacy #7259: Christa Bartel,

Pamela Boultonn Richmond Square Pharmacy: Jennifer

Iwanicki, Sarah Sunn Rockyview General Hospital: Diane

Blair, Art Chernick, Sharon Eyolfson,Esther Kanegawa, Gordon Lee, AnneMiller, Julie Min, Dean Tatlow,Marion Uniat, Pat Wassill, JosephWernikowski, Tiffany Woo, MeitiYang, Zeke Zobatar

n Safeway Pharmacy #276: KimberlyMasker

n Safeway Pharmacy #283: Mike Han Safeway Pharmacy #287 LTC:

Gilles Lamerton, Anne-Marie Taylor,Elska Walton

n Safeway Pharmacy #293: Curtis Rossn Safeway Pharmacy #296: Kristen

Skogen, Erin Stantonn Safeway Pharmacy #874: Nader

Hammoudn Safeway Pharmacy #2243: Rita Arthur,

Sherman Sung, Hong Trieun Shoppers Drug Mart #356: Amyn

Kanjee, Rasma Muiznieks, MargaretSayers

n Shoppers Drug Mart #373: MichaelChan, Amal Hashim, Donna Newton

n Shoppers Drug Mart #376: Brian Jones,Lindsey Markusson, Sarah Perez,Sharon Wong

n Shoppers Drug Mart #389: DianeSchroeder

[My preceptor] truly cared about my experience as a student

and wanted to know what the best way for me to learn was. Throughout the rotation

he would adapt to my learning style (through my active feedback) to further

enhance my experience.4th year student, Class of 2012


n Shoppers Drug Mart #2335: Blake Cycan Shoppers Drug Mart #2413: Hollie

Neilson, Allan Rajeskyn Signature Medicine Centre Pharmacy:

Julia Bonnett, Kim Mettimanon Southern Alberta Clinic for HIV/AIDS

(“SAC”): Jeff Kaplern Southport Pharmacy: Anar Sulemann The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy #212:

Anita Dobson, Warren Dobsonn The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy #260:

Randy Howdenn Tom Baker Cancer Centre: Kristin

Anderson, Norma May, KarinNadori, Nikki Ryan, Naureen Sheikh,Patrick Yau

n University of Calgary Medical ClinicSheldon Chumir and Sunridge:Jolene Polack

Camrose

n Camrose Primary Care Network: PhamieGotaas

n Camrose Rxellence: Colleen Hancar,Paula Searle, Brian Thiessen

n Pharmasave #390: Dean Jarrettn Safeway Pharmacy #821: Roger

Brousseau, Cheryl Feth, Bailey Seredan St. Mary’s Hospital: Anita Kupkan Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3181: Steve

Smith, Jeff Sutton

Canmore

n Bow Valley Primary Care Network:Catherine Deane

n Canmore General Hospital: ThereseBrodeur, Bronwyn Jones

n Gourlay’s Clinic Pharmacy: DarrenBelik, Tanya Sprague, Alma Steyn

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2332: GlenAusten

Cardston

n Cardston Health Centre: Alan Wiley

Chestermere

n Safeway Pharmacy #2731: ShaneCherrington, Sandy Huynh

Claresholm

n Claresholm General Hospital: KendellLangejans

Cochrane

n Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network:Sharon Pregitzer

n Rexall Pharmacy #7268: Richard Chan

Cold Lake

n Cold Lake Healthcare Centre: SharonRandell

n Marina Mall Value Drug Mart: RonMattice

n Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3640: Janelle Fox

Daysland

n Daysland Community Health Centre:Randy Skiba

Drayton Valley

n Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre:Safder Rizvi

n Drayton Valley Value Drug Mart:Corwin Felstad, Laurie Tkachuk, JeffZalitach

Drumheller

n Anderson Drug/The Medicine Shoppe#211: Patrick Doyle

n Drumheller Health Centre: MarvinMenssa, Susan Wemp

n Riverside Value Drug Mart: RayAinscough, Mike McGillvray, LindsayPiller

Edmonton

n Alberta Hospital Edmonton: AndreaLewczyk, Mark Loowell

n Allin Building Pharmacy: EmanuelaDoan, Kara May, Kevin Neumann,Betsy Thomas

n Capital Care Dickinsfield: LynnSalanchy

n Capital Care Grandview: Helen Girard

n Cross Cancer Institute: Gail Campbell,Kristine Ferguson, Christina McCaw,Gwen Petryk

n Edmonton General Hospital: PatriciaAtkinson

n Edmonton North Primary Care Network:Ihor Pecuh, Oliver Semonis

n Edmonton Oliver Primary Care Network:Mark Makowsky, Kara May, BetsyThomas

n Edmonton West Primary Care Network:Brenda Lamoureux, Tessa Mondoux

n Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital:Monique Bielech, Cheryl Green,Diane Lapointe, Darren Okrainec,Shannon Pappas, Judy Story

n Grey Nuns Community Hospital &Health Centre: Karly Achtymichuk,Francie Beattie, Larissa Fedor, LisaForster, Leanne Hains, KelseyHeartwell, Alice Jim

n Hawkstone Home Health Care Pharmacy:Jordan Allen, Thomas Tam, EmilyVuong

n Lois Hole Hospital for WomenMenopause Clinic: Nese Yuksel

n London Drugs #21: Steven Chen,Christine Gessell, Jason Pepper,Kathryn Pon

n London Drugs #22: Wilmer Bong, KenFu, Nathan Morin, Dianne Stewart

n London Drugs #45: Twila Ellis, SoniaManfrin, Vicky Truong

n London Drugs #57: Karen Ng, ThomasSchadek

[Our preceptor] was very open and honest with us.

He would regularly provide us with feedback,encouragement, and thoughts on areas for

improvement. Even at the end of our time there, hecontinued to encourage us to become the best

pharmacists we can be. 4th year student, Class of 2012


n Market Drugs Medical: RonMarcinkoski, Marie Muszynsky,Katrina Slovinsky, James Wu

n Medi-Drugs Millcreek: TomGrigoropoulos

n Misericordia Community Hospital:Nosheen Ahmed, Stephanie Bali, JoyDeRoche, Katherine Ewchuk,Hiromi Koriyama, Michael Lee,Karen Lu, Deanne Mason, CatherineOevering, Jan Orris, Kelly Tran

n Northern Alberta HIV Program:Christine Hughes

n Rexall Pharmacy #7220: Pete Dean,Akram Said

n Rexall Pharmacy #7229: DavidAndersson, Edna Dmytryshyn, SallyEliwa

n Rexall Pharmacy #7230 (Heritage):Joanne Mah, Anh Nguyen, AndreaWillie

n Rexall Pharmacy #7232: SylvieDruteika, Aliya Kassamali, Chris Lee,Marwa Rady, Andrew Roberts

n Rexall Pharmacy #7236: ChristineHoang, Aaron Lim, Katherine Luu

n Rexall Pharmacy #7251: Trang Bui,Stacey Liew

n Rexall Pharmacy #7253 (Southgate): JoelGhitter, Willi Wangert

n Rexall Pharmacy #7257: Marion Kan,Jason Wu

n Rexall Pharmacy #7265: KathleenWoloszyn

n Royal Alexandra Hospital: RyanBeaucage, Colleen Benson, CathyBiggs, Jody Bobinski, Jennifer Bong,Dave Bonuccelli, Daniel Cyr, PamelaFlasha, Stacey Ginther, LisaGromnisky, Susan Haggarty, BrentHoryn, Kevin Kastner, DanielleKuzyk, Cecilia Laskoski, Erin Lowe,Erin Manchuk, Robert Ng, LyndseyRomaniuk, Dave Segatto, ErikaSprake, Kevin Tam, Wendy Wan,Keith Woo, Rosanna Yan

n Safeway Pharmacy #809: JackieAlexandruk, Carrie Ali, Nicole Bredo

n Safeway Pharmacy #824: JacquelineCheang, Cathy Hensel, Jennifer Tran

n Safeway Pharmacy #848: Jasmin Dizon,Dixie Richardson, Kit Seto

n Safeway Pharmacy #873: Susan Lin Safeway Pharmacy #877: Pardeep

Purchase

n Save On Foods Pharmacy #6609: SuzanFlanders, Gillian Lee

n Save On Foods Pharmacy #6662: SuzanFlanders, Maxine Wong

n Shoppers Drug Mart #302: Lilian Davis,Hanaa Hawa, Brian Lysak, BeverleyRushton, Michelle Tynchuk

n Shoppers Drug Mart #317: FayazRajabali

n Shoppers Drug Mart #344: David Fongn Shoppers Drug Mart #352: Neelam

Khera, Amy Lee, Heidi Melvynn Shoppers Drug Mart #363: Davy Sam,

Samayeh Sattarin Shoppers Drug Mart #381: Nancy

Fakry, Corinne Fontaine, DebbieL’Heureux

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2301: VincentLee

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2440: EstherChun, Jodi Croll, Saly Zachariah,Cathy Zhang

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2441: TariqChughtai, Andrea Glasgow, SamehMoharram

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2443: BonnieGratton, Jillian Pan, AmandaVisscher

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2446: EugeniaBraz, Chad Edmonds, Ranjit Dhillon

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2448: AshleyDavidson, Kelly Laforge, AlbertWong

n The Bay Pharmacy Southgate: CherylPorcina

n The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy #185:Hugo Leung, Bob McQueen

n The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy #315:Michelle van der Molen

n University of Alberta Hospital: ChrisBroscheit, Tammy Bungard, LorieCarter, Dustin Cooper, Norelle Cote,Nicola Devlin, Mark Diachinsky,Melissa Dutchak, Angela Gee, KirstenGeorge-Phillips, Rachel Heisler,Rachel Kligman, Stacy Laird, SherifMahmoud, Lindsay Meyer, CindyPolivchuk, Dylan Pollman, KristenRowntree, Heather Schmidt, Jane Xu

n Village IDA Pharmacy: Janice Cline,Doug Weiss, Deborah Yee

n Wal-Mart Pharmacy #1094: JoannaCheung, Amy Chow, CraigMacAlpine

n Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3029: Irene Hua

n Zellers Pharmacy #294: CatherineDunham, Claudia Wong

n Zellers Pharmacy #496: Hanif Kanji

Edson

n Drugstore Pharmacy #9099: MayaMathews, Robert Naherny, AndreaRushfeldt

n Shoppers Drug Mart #336: BrianClouston, Jodi Cunningham, BrendaHayes, Kendra Watt

n Switzer’s Drugs: Matt Rushfeldt,Laurie Stuve, Harold Switzer

Fort McMurray

n Northern Lights Regional Health Centre:Nadia Khan, Deanna Miller, MeganWilliams

n Safeway Pharmacy #833: AshleighGenyk, Mark Nadon

n Walmart Pharmacy #3157: MohammedAzeem, Shannon Huyber, TahirMalik, Pauline Tijani

n Wood Buffalo Primary Care Network:Randy Sloan

Fort Saskatchewan

n Fort Saskatchewan Health Centre: JaneFrey, Carol Furrer

n Rexall Pharmacy #7216: MargaretBooker

n Shoppers Drug Mart #378: GraceAlmond, Corinna Fontaine, JoanneMacDonald, James Warburton

n Sobey’s Pharmacy #3116: Betty Law,Lauren Melnychyn

Grande Prairie

n London Drugs #34: Ashley Baxter, ErinKing, Lynne Schamehorn

n Queen Elizabeth II Hospital: ElizabethDodd, Ian Hamilton, Carol Renfree,Debbie Rusling, Heather Tangen,Curtis van Bushkirk

n The Medicine Shoppe #291: CurtisCrough, Donna Oman

n Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3147: JanetRamsey

Hinton

n Hinton Healthcare Centre: AudreyMcVey

n King Drug & Home Healthcare: EricHolt, Jessica Lang

Hobbema

n Roots & Berries Pharmacy: RobertaTaylor, Shelly Wright


Lacombe

n Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre:Marlene Slipp

Leduc

n Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary CareNetwork: Nandini Desai

n Leduc Community Hospital & HealthCentre: Ramona Bosnyak, MarianHanna

n Sobeys Pharmacy #3144: AlenaGoulko, Cheryl Hier

Lethbridge

n Chinook Regional Hospital: MichaelBain, Eva Chang, Chris Clack, JulieCuthbertson, Janna Federkeil, AliceHinman, Seth Ontkean

n Drugstore Pharmacy #1541: JustinJensen

n London Drugs #38: Ryan Lopes,Maureen McCleary, Rick Siemens,Kim Smith

n Pharmasave #369: Becky Anderson,Jay Joyal, Andree Mallet

n Shoppers Drug Mart #308: LoaBarendregt, Amanda Polkinghorne

n Stafford Pharmacy: Igor Shaskin

Lloydminster

n Lloydminster Health District Hospital:Karen Gossen, Stephanie McGonigal,Leanne Proctor

n Safeway Pharmacy #867: BrandiBerquist, Melynda Bottorff, JamieClarkson-Herle, Jocelyn Grise

n Sprucewood Pharmacy & Homecare:Jody Gilby, Sandra Shepherd

Mayerthorpe

n Mayerthorpe Healthcare Centre: HeatherBellerose

n Medicine Bottle Rexall Drug #7201:Kathy Roszko

Medicine Hat

n Costco Pharmacy Medicine Hat: MaryEntezary

n Crescent Heights IDA: Gary Joachim,James Larson, Adrianna Maik, KenWalker

n Fourth Street Pharmacy: JanelleKettner

n Medicine Hat Regional Hospital: JustinFichter, Jodi Kerr, Mike Laevens,Joyce Nishi, Velvet Reiling, BurkeSuidan

n Palliser Primary Care Network: ChandelLovig**

n Safeway Pharmacy #2220: Salam Ahjel,Alana Angstadt, Denise Selwood

n Shoppers Drug Mart #322: BrendaLegare, Charity Mastel, LeanneWeisgerber

n The Medicine Shoppe #128: Dan Reich,Allana Scott

Okotoks

n Calgary Rural Primary Care Network:Taryn Bomersback

n Costco Pharmacy Okotoks: GeorgeLeung, Don Manson, Owen Moore

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2401: AnitaBrown, Robert Brown, Chris Carter,Alexsandra Trkjula

Olds

n Olds Hospital and Care Centre: LorraineMaybank

Peace River

n Peace River Value Drug Mart: MichaelKinshella, Patrick Kinshella, VandaKinshella

n Wal-Mart Pharmacy #1068: Jamie Hoy,Stacy Jardine, Tony Nickonchuk

Pincher Creek

n Koegler’s Pharmasave: Aaron Koeglern Pincher Creek Health Centre: Florrie

MacDougalln Rexall Pharmacy #7266: Greg Finnson

Ponoka

n Centennial Centre for Mental Health andBrain Injury: Chad Laughy, RobNeumann, Holly Reeves**, BradSteeves

n Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre:Deanna Waknuk

n Rexall Pharmacy #7223: Greg Bendera

Raymond

n Raymond Health Centre: Ricks Smith

Red Deer

n Red Deer Co-op Pharmacy #5: GrantFisher, Laura Morrison, JohnRudrum, Ken Sandquist

n Red Deer Primary Care Network:Stefanie Hanrahan

n Red Deer Regional Hospital: TamsenBirch, Dean Bruce, Harry Ewasiuk,Michael Gibson, Martine Giguere,Marissa Hutchison, Lisa Johnson,Donna Kwong, Donna Lee Johnson,Tim Leung, Ilze Schwartz, Kim Zubot

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2415: Todd Law,Kim Overbo, Prashantkumar Patel

n The Medicine Shoppe #251: KevinBredo

n Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3194: DeanBaayens, Kevin Biller

Rimbey

n Pharmasave #375: Marg Barr, SheldonParsons, Rod Tkach, Carl Ziegler

n Rimbey Hospital & Care Centre:Heather Rurka

In a short amount of time my preceptor helped contribute

to my transition from a pharmacy student to a practising pharmacist. I look up to

[my preceptor] as a role model and he inspires me to be as dedicated to this profession as he is.

He is a leader and I gained much from my time spent working with him.

4th year student, Class of 2012

aφnews – September / October 2012 18�

n Rimbey Value Drug Mart: AngelaCawsey, Patrick Rurka

n Wolf Creek Primary Care Network:Angela Cawsey, Patrick Rurka

Rocky Mountain House

n Rocky Mountail House Health Centre:Greg Carpentier

St. Albert

n St. Albert Primary Care Network:Melissa Dechaine, Tara Grimstead,Andrea Pickett

n Sturgeon Community Hospital: BlaineCoulter, Ivy Mung, Nick Steele

Sherwood Park

n London Drugs #20: Randeep Birdi,Aleasha Grattan

n Save On Foods Pharmacy #6679: KarenDubbelboer, Bethany Huybregts,Stephanie Ward, Jill Yates

Slave Lake

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2325: JulianaEben-Ebenau

Smoky Lake

n Smoky Lake (George McDougall)Healthcare Centre: Lorrie Verspeelt

Spruce Grove

n Safeway Pharmacy #857: Sharon Dicks,Dana Schult

Stettler

n Stettler Hospital and Care Centre:Charlotte Chase

Stony Plain

n Main Street Home Health Pharmacy: KitPoon, Mary Purschke

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2402: LascellesDreidger, Harriet Glasier, Philip Hall

n Westview Health Centre: FlorenceHenderson

Sylvan Lake

n Sylvan Lake Value Drug Mart: JamesBott, Val Langevin, Megan Simon,Linda Zouboules

Taber

n Safeway Pharmacy #2346: CameronHazell

n Taber Health Centre: John Brown,Marilyn Perl, Ralph Van Werkhoven

Three Hills

n Three Hills Health Centre: MaureenArvidson

Tofield

n Guardian Drugs: Corinne Parent

Vermilion

n Long’s Value Drug Mart: Lena Black,Ernest Peterson

n Vermilion Health Centre: DianneCalder, Shawna Reynolds

Vilna

n Vilna Pharmacy: Rashida Yamani

Wainright

n Drugstore Pharmacy #4379: DamolaOgbebor

n Wainright Health Centre: CindyMcMinis

n Wainwright IDA Pharmacy: MichaelEberhaidt-Storm

Westlock

n Shoppers Drug Mart #2342: JessicaChristenson, Sandra Heiken-Schroeder, Bonnie Ollikka, EricaScallion

n Westlock Healthcare Centre: DarleneRowe

Wetaskiwin

n Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre:Dallas Foulston, Rosanne Grant

n Wetaskiwin Family Pharmacy: MichelleReid

�In memory...� Ronald Babinec died on July3 at the age of 55. Ron was raisedin Calgary and graduated with adegree in pharmacy from the U of A in 1980. His fulfilling careeras a pharmacist spanned overthirty years.

� Gerald Maybank died in anaccident on his farm near Olds onJune 19 at the age of 68 years.Apart from his days as apharmacy student at theUniversity of Alberta, Gerry spenthis entire life in Olds. As a thirdgeneration pharmacist, hefollowed the footsteps of hisgrandfather Matthew, and hisfather Ralph, operating the familybusiness, Maybank’s Drugs. The family drugstore was aprominent business in Olds from1906 to 1990, with Gerry at thehelm from 1974 to 1990.

� Jack (John) Payne of Calgarypassed away on June 5 at the ageof 92 years. Jack graduated fromthe U of A’s pharmacy program in1950 and went on to own andoperate Payne Drug in Calgaryfor many years.

� Sandra Shepherd died onJuly 22 at the age of 61. Sandraobtained her BScPharm from theU of A in 1970. She practised mostrecently at Sprucewood Pharmacyand Homecare in Lloydminster.

* Primary Preceptor: the pharmacist who directly supervises and mentors the student during their rotation,and who completes the assessment and evaluation of the student.

** Recipient of the Preceptor of the Year sponsored by Teva Canada


On July 25, Health Minister Fred Horneannounced that a new regulation underthe Health Professions Act establishes theCollege of Naturopathic Doctors ofAlberta and gives that body theauthority to establish requirements forentry into the profession and ongoingprofessional development.

Naturopathic doctors are not permitted to prescribe drugs, order x-rays or ultrasounds or administerintravenous nutrition.

Naturopathic doctors focus on healthpromotion, illness prevention andtreating disease using natural therapiesand substances that promote the body’sability to heal. In addition toauthorizing self-governance, theregulation also describes the restrictedactivities naturopathic doctorsregistered with the College arepermitted to perform, including:

n injections;

n minor surgeries, such as removingwarts and moles, obtaining skinsamples for biopsies and doingsutures;

n ear examinations, cerumenmanagement, nasal lavage andplacing herbs in nasal passages; and

n with additional training approved bythe College, alternative medicaltreatments such as acupuncture,chiropractic treatments, andintravenous administration of ozone,chelation therapy or supplementalvitamins and minerals.

Currently, there are 144 practisingnaturopathic doctors in Alberta.Minimum education requirements arethree years of pre-medical education pluscompletion of a four-year professionalprogram at an approved, accreditednaturopathic college or university.

ACP emails and newsletters are official methods of notification to pharmacistsand pharmacy technicians licensed by the college. In addition to providingyou with timely information that could affect your practice, college emailsserve in administrative hearings as proof of notification. Make sure you getthe information you need to practice legally and safely by reading collegenewsletters and ensuring ACP emails are not blocked by your system.!�

OSCEAssessorsneededThe Pharmacy Examining Boardof Canada (PEBC) invitesinterested pharmacists toconsider participating as anassessor for the PEBC QualifyingExamination – Part II (OSCE).The national exam will be heldon Sat., Nov. 10, 2012 at sites inboth Edmonton and Calgary.

To qualify you must have beenlicensed in Canada for at least twoyears and you must currently be amember in good standing andproviding or directly supervisingpatient care services, includingdispensing, clinical and druginformation services.

Interested pharmacists outside ofEdmonton and Calgary arewelcome to apply as assessors.Some travel expenses may be paidto out-of-town assessors.

For more information, visit thePEBC website at:www.pebc.ca/EnglishPages/OSCEAssrs/AssrHomePage.html

Naturopath profession recognized under HPA

Canadian Publication Agreement Number: 40008642

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Alberta College of Pharmacists1100, 8215 - 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2C8news

We receive a lot of calls at the ACPoffice from pharmacists askingprescription questions. Here are the topthree and the answers.

If I receive a prescription fromout of province, may I fill it?If the prescriber is authorized to write theprescription in their province ofemployment, then you may fill it. Whichmedications various health professionalsare permitted to prescribe varies byprovince. To confirm prescriptionvalidity, check with the prescriber’scollege in their province of employment.

This answer applies to both TPP andnon-TPP prescriptions.

May I fill a prescription formethadone from a physicianoutside of Alberta?Health Canada has indicated that aphysician licensed in one provincecannot legally prescribe methadone inanother province. However, HealthCanada recognizes that it may benecessary for the physician in thepatient’s home province to continuemanaging their care for a short period toallow transition to an Alberta physician.

If you are filling a methadoneprescription, you must ensure that:

1. the prescription is current, authentic,complete and appropriate (Standard 6

of Standards of Practice for Pharmacistsand Pharmacy Technicians); and

2. the prescriber has the requiredexemption. Methadone may only beprescribed by a physician with anexemption under Section 56 of theControlled Drugs and Substances Act.

You may check with Health Canada’sMethadone Program (toll free 1-866-358-0453) if the physician holds an exemptionand if so, for which indication (treatmentof opiate dependence and/or analgesia).

Note: Many provinces in Canada do nothave a triplicate prescription program.Although methadone is on the triplicatelist in Alberta, you cannot ask aphysician from another province tocomply with Alberta’s triplicateprescription program.

Are prescriptions and refillsvalid if they were written by aphysician who has since diedor retired?Officially, if the prescription was writtenby a physician who was licensed topractise medicine in Canada at the timethe prescription was written, theprescription is still valid.

You must still ensure that theprescription is appropriate for thepatient at the time you dispense.Particularly in the case of refills,consider whether it is appropriate torefill a prescription when the patient isnot being monitored by a physicianand, if appropriate, for how long.

In all cases, encourage the patient to finda new physician.


Prescriptionvalidity FAQs

Documents

ACPNews SeptOct2012 REV ACPNews - Alberta …†news is published six times per year by the Alberta College of Pharmacists. Send submissions for publication to [email protected]