ReadLinks

The College Receives Canada Award for Excellence

On November 4, 2021, the College received its Canada Award for Excellence – Gold Certification in the Excellence, Innovation and Wellness category.

Achieving Excellence Canada’s Gold Certification further establishes the College as a modern, relevant and progressive organization, which is able to continue to fulfill its duty to protect the public within an ever-changing provincial health landscape.

Heavy Rain Causes Floods and Landslides Across BC - Accessing Medications and Providing Continuity of Care

Heavy rain over the weekend and into Monday has caused significant flooding and mudslides across southern British Columbia, resulting in a number of evacuation orders as well as highway and road closures.

With thousands of residents under evacuations orders, and many communities currently under flood watch or flood warning, registrants are reminded that patients who have been displaced by an evacuation can visit a pharmacy to access an emergency supply of medications they may need.

Nov 16, 2021

Fee Schedule Amendments for Pharmacy Professionals in Effect November 2021

As approved by the Board, the College filed amendments to the Fee Schedules under the HPA Bylaws with the Ministry of Health, in accordance with the College’s 2021/2022 budget.

Nov 05, 2021

Flu Season and the COVID-19 Pandemic

As BC continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccines are more important than ever in order to help alleviate the pressures already faced by our province’s health-care system.

Oct 29, 2021

Articles

Guest Post: UBC Therapeutics Initiative - Bringing Best Evidence to Clinicians 2021 Virtual Event

Every year the TI hosts a conference for physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and other allied health professionals who want a refresher on evidence around drug therapies for a variety of common conditions. This year our conference runs from October 16th, from 8:30 to 12:30 and features a variety of speakers.

PRP INSIGHTS: New PRP Support Tools Available for Hospital Pharmacy Registrants

New support tools are now available to help hospital pharmacy registrants prepare for their Pharmacy Professionals Review under the Practice Review Program

The College of Pharmacists of BC Joins the 2SLGBTQ+ Community in Celebrating PRIDE 2021

As part of Pride 2021, the College would like to remind all BC’s pharmacy and health professionals of the vital role they play in ensuring 2SLGBTQ+ people receive safe, effective and ethical care at all levels of our health system.

PRP INSIGHTS x REGISTRATION: Review of OAT and Drug Administration Certification Training and Declaration Requirements

To ensure OAT and injection/intranasal drug administration services are provided safely and in compliance with College standards, registrants must complete the required training and certification process prior to providing these services. During Pharmacy Professionals Reviews, Compliance Officers have been reviewing these certifications and declarations to ensure that the required training has been completed and appropriate certification has been received. This article will outline these requirements and explain what Compliance Officers look for during reviews.

Guest Post: 3 Reasons Why CareConnect Improves Patient Care in a Pharmacy Setting

CareConnect is BC’s secure, view-only electronic health record (EHR) that is utilized across the province to streamline and integrate the continuum of care.

Currently, over 480 pharmacies and 880 pharmacists are enrolled in CareConnect across BC with the goal being as many pharmacists as possible by the end of 2021.

The College Stands with The Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc and Ktunaxa First Nations and All Indigenous Communities in Canada

This past month, we were disheartened and appalled to learn of the discovery of the remains of 215 children in unmarked graves on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School as well as the more recent discovery of the remains of 182 children on the site of the former St. Eugene's Mission School. We stand with the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, and Ktunaxa First Nations and all Indigenous People in BC as they continue to process this news.

We call on all health professionals to practice vigilant cultural humility and safety. To learn about and understand the impacts of residential schools on First Nations Communities in Canada; to acknowledge and reflect on the social issues faced by Indigenous Peoples; and to understand the historical contexts from which these issues originate.

BC Heat Wave - Accessing Medications and Providing Continuity of Care

Historically high temperatures and low precipitation in BC over the past month have caused a significant increase in the wildfire danger rating across the province.

As of Friday morning, the B.C. Wildfire Service says 242 wildfires are currently blazing, with 60 evacuation orders covering just over 3,000 properties still in effect, while residents of nearly 19,000 other properties must be ready to leave on short notice.

If you have been displaced by an evacuation, you can visit a pharmacy near you to access an emergency supply of medications you may need. Under the College’s Emergency Supply for Continuity of Care policy, a pharmacist may use their professional judgement to determine if they can safely provide you with an emergency supply. The College’s Find a Pharmacy tool can help you locate a pharmacy in the community where you are staying.

Guest Post: Public Consultation – Principles of Professionalism

NAPRA invites all pharmacy professionals, pharmacy stakeholders, and members of the public to provide feedback on the draft Principles of Professionalism. We invite you to share these documents as widely as possible.

Guest Post: MindMapBC

Community pharmacists play an important role in ensuring equitable delivery of primary care. MindMapBC is a new tool that can be used by pharmacists to connect patients with low-barrier, low-cost, and 2S/LGBTQ -affirming mental health service.

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day

Monday, June 21st, 2021 marks the 25th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. On this day, and throughout the month of June, BC’s health professionals are reminded to take some time to celebrate,reflect on, and learn about the culture, heritage and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Communities

June 19th is Juneteenth

This Saturday, June 19th, the College encourages all British Columbians to join us in commemorating and honouring Juneteenth, and to continue to show our support for Black Communities in Canada, the US, and around the World and to stand with them in solidarity against systemic, anti-Black racism and police brutality.

While Juneteenth isn’t officially celebrated in Canada, it is an important time for Canadians to reflect upon, and learn about, Canada’s complicated history with racism and discrimination against the Black Community.