Alain

Nature of Action: The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (“CPBC”) conducted an investigation into the practice of Alain Vincent (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183.

The Inquiry Committee and the Registrant have agreed to resolve all matters arising from the investigation by way of a Consent Agreement under section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act.

Effective date: April 5, 2022

Name of registrant: Alain Vincent

Location of Practice: Victoria, BC

Admissions and acknowledgements:

The Registrant has admitted and/or acknowledged the following:

1. Between February 13 and June 30, 2021, while he was the pharmacy manager, the Registrant and other pharmacy staff processed 80 prescription transactions that had an incorrect dispensed quantity and/or incorrect directions for use.
    
2. The Registrant and other pharmacy staff did not enter prescription information and record it in PharmaNet at the time of dispensing and keep the patient record current for prescriptions involved in the matter, contrary to section 35(1) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act, S.B.C. 2003, c. 77 (“PODSA”) Bylaws.
    
3. The Registrant and other pharmacy staff did not complete an adequate final check of the prescriptions involved in the matter and did not take appropriate action respecting a drug therapy problem, contrary to sections 6(5)(e) and 10(6) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c.183 (“HPA”), Bylaws, Schedule F, Part 1 – Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice (“Standards of Practice”).
    

4. As the pharmacy manager, the Registrant did not ensure:

   1. That the pharmacy had documented policies and procedures;
       
   2. That narcotic reconciliations were performed pursuant to section 18(2)(s) of the PODSA Bylaws and Professional Practice Policy – 65 Narcotic Counts and Reconciliations (“PPP-65”).

Disposition:

The Registrant entered into a Consent Agreement with the Inquiry Committee, wherein the Registrant consented to the following terms (in part):

1. To not be a pharmacy manager and preceptor or supervisor of registered pharmacy students and/or international pharmacy graduates for a period of one year effective on October 5, 2022;

2. To pay a fine in the amount of $7,500;

3. To review and abide by applicable legislative standards;

   • Data entry of prescription information;

   • Incident reporting;

   • Managing relationships with physicians;

   • Clinical decision making and documentation;

   • Preventing medication incidents; and

   • Guidelines on mitigating substance-related risks in COVID-19.

Rationale:

The Inquiry Committee determined that the Registrant and other pharmacy staff did not complete an adequate final check of the prescriptions involved in the incidents as a result of failing to ensure that the correct quantity and directions were transcribed from the original prescription, contrary to sections 10(6), 9.1(1)(a), and 9.1(1)(b) of the Standards of Practice. Therefore, the Inquiry Committee determined that the Registrant and other pharmacy staff failed to enter prescription information and record it in PharmaNet at the time of dispensing and keep the patient record current, contrary to section 35(1) of the PODSA Bylaws.

The Inquiry Committee determined that in his role as pharmacy manager, the Registrant did not thoroughly investigate the incident and take appropriate action to adequately remediate recurring practice concerns related to the management of the pharmacy, or develop adequate policies and procedures for the operation of a pharmacy. The Inquiry Committee further determined that the Registrant did not ensure that narcotic and controlled drug inventory counts and reconciliations were completed in accordance with the College’s bylaws, legislation, and policies.

The Inquiry Committee, therefore, considered that the Registrant neglected and disregarded basic duties of a pharmacy manager and that the Registrant’s conduct demonstrated a breach of trust and constituted professional misconduct as defined by section 26 of the Health Professions Act.

The Inquiry Committee considered the Registrant’s conduct to be serious and that remediation was required to ensure compliance. Therefore, the Inquiry Committee considered the terms of the Consent Agreement necessary and appropriate to protect the public, as well as send a clear message of deterrence to the profession.