Pharmacy Technician Bridging Programs

Healthy Albertans through excellence in pharmacy practice

Pharmacy TechnicianBridging Programs

September 19, 2010Dale Cooney - Alberta College of Pharmacists

Crystal Lane – Bow Valley CollegeKim Campbell – NorQuest CollegeRock Folkman – Red Deer College


Who is ACP?

To fulfill its mandate, the college:– registers pharmacists and pharmacy technicians;– licenses pharmacies; – measures and supports the competence of

pharmacists & technicians; and, – resolves complaints about pharmacists‘ & technicians’

practices and pharmacies' operations.*Pending regulation

The Alberta College of Pharmacists governs the pharmacy profession in Alberta to support and protect the public’s health and well-being.


ACP’s Strategic Priority

The public and individual patients benefit from quality patient care from pharmacy practitioners.

Quality patient care is defined as care that:– Is accessible, acceptable and appropriate to the

patient;– Responds to the patient’s and the public’s health

needs; and – Is provided safely, effectively and efficiently by

accountable pharmacy practitioners within appropriate pharmacy care settings.


ACP’s six priorities for 2010

1. Help pharmacists embrace their full scope of practice• Increase number of pharmacists with additional prescribing privileges

(target=avg. of 15 apps/month), to improve patient access to appropriate drug therapy

2. Raise public and stakeholder expectations of pharmacy practitioners• Educate the public and stakeholders to seek and demand new services available from

pharmacy practitioners

3. Optimize pharmacy workforce• Continue toward regulation of pharmacy technicians

4. Ensure pharmacists are competent to perform authorized roles• Implement the knowledge evaluation and professional practice portfolio, as new programs

through which registrants will be required to demonstrate their competency

5. Hold pharmacists accountable for decisions and actions • Enhance program to monitor and improve pharmacist compliance with ACP standards and

ethical expectations

6. Employ effective policies and efficient processes at ACP• Identify and delete redundancy and align feedback between core business processes


Practice framework

CODE OF ETHICS

Revised May 2009

BY-LAWSConsultation Summer 2010

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

Consultation Summer 2010

REGULATIONSPharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Professional Regulation

Consultation Spring 2010

ACTSHealth Professions Act and Pharmacy & Drug Act

Amended October 2009


Steps to Regulation


Why require bridging?

Substantial equivalenceMust demonstrate that the applicant is currently competent to practice

For this purpose the Registrar may require an applicant to do one or more of the following: successfully complete coursework and examinations

undergo an evaluation of competenciescomplete an additional structured practical training program

considered by ACP Council - April 2009Successful completion of a bridging program;Successful completion of an ethics and jurisprudence exam; andSuccessful completion of registration examination


Bridging Program

Four course program:1. Pharmacology2. Product Preparation 3. Mgmt of Drug Distribution4. Professional Practice – Required course – Final exam = Ethics & Jurisprudence exam

PLAR Eligible


Bridging Program

• Curriculum purchased by ACP from Ontario– Developed by an association of community colleges in

conjunction with tech educators and OCP – Alberta tech educators have assisted to incorporate Alberta

content• Agreement for program delivery

– Publicly funded Alberta Colleges with CCAPP accredited programs

• Bow Valley College• NorQuest College• Red Deer College


Bridging Programs

Admission criteria for bridging programs(equivalent to requirements for PEBC evaluating exam)

– Evidence of having worked in the field as a pharmacy technician for at least 2000 hours in the past 36 months;

– Successful completion of the PTCB-AB exam or the OCP exam or PEBC evaluating exam;

– Graduation from a CCAPP accredited program

OR

OR


Summary of Bridging Program

Pharmacology (33 hours)– Provides a practical, applied approach to pharmacology – Currently being offered by delivery colleges

Product Preparation (33 hours) – A practical course that provides theoretical knowledge and practical

experience to accurately and safely prepare sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical products

– Delivery Colleges have Alberta course data and are preparing to deliver

Management of Drug Distribution (39 hours)– Course examines various drug distribution systems and prepares learners to

perform accurate product release and to manage operations in a practice setting

– Delivery Colleges have Alberta course data and are preparing to deliverProfessional Practice (45 hours)

– Prepare students for practice in 5 focus areas: Legal requirements, Scope of practice, Ethical principles, Professionalism & Communication skills

– Alberta version to be available to delivery colleges for winter semester delivery


Pharmacology

• Apply basic principles of pharmacology essential to ensure safe dispensing practices

• Collaborate with the pharmacist and members of

the healthcare team.

• Act within the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians when providing non-pharmacological products or services.


Pharmacology

• Cardiovascular• Diabetes• Asthma, Anaphylaxsis, Gastrointestinal • Depression/Pain • Women’s Health• Men’s Health• Infectious diseases • Cancer • Epilepsy/Thyroid


Product Preparation

• Extemporaneous Compounding– Safely and accurately compound a non-sterile mixture

• Extemporaneous Specialty Compounding– specialty dosage forms and products containing narcotics,

alcohol and controlled drugs.

• Sterile Products Preparation– Discuss procedures for safe and accurate preparation of sterile

IV admixture(s) and TPN in a Laminar Air Flow Hood (LAFH)

• Sterile Specialty Products– Outline procedures for safely and accurate preparation of

antineoplastic medications in a Biological Safety Cabinet


Management of Drug Distribution

• Drug Distribution Systems– Management of systems for drug distribution to ensure patient

safety– Packaging products to maintain integrity

• Management knowledge and skills– inventory management and business practices– Manage workflow

• Quality Assurance– QA and risk management policies, procedures, and activities.

• Product Release– Releasing and distributing products in a manner that ensures

patient safety.


Professional Practice

• Legislation– Comply with federal and provincial legislation and

other regulatory requirements relevant to the area of pharmacy practice.

• Scope of Practice– Act within the scope of practice for pharmacy

technicians, in compliance with legislation and established policies and procedures

• Communications– Communicate effectively with pharmacy stakeholders,

patients, patients’ agents, and healthcare providers within the scope of the profession

– Continued


Professional Practice

• Ethics– Demonstrate ethical principles appropriate to the role

of pharmacy technician. • Professionalism

– Maintain professional responsibility consistent with the ethics and standards of the profession and as a member of the health team.


https://pharmacists.ab.ca







Bow Valley College

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PHARMACOLOGY FOR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN BRIDGING - in-class*

*online course coming soon!

LOCATION DETAILS

CALGARY Saturdays Sept. 11-Dec.4 In progress

CALGARY Tues./Thurs. Sept.14-Oct.21 In progress

LETHBRIDGE Tuesdays Sept.21-Nov.30 Space available

Additional offerings to be scheduled.

Offering courses both in-class & online.Classes in Calgary & other locations!


Bow Valley College

SCHEDULING IN PROGRESS Management of Drug Distribution Systems for Pharmacy Technician Bridging

Product Preparation for Pharmacy Technician Bridging

Professional Practice for Pharmacy Technician Bridging

PLAR CHALLENGE EXAMS

For more information visit www.bowvalleycollege.ca/pharmbridging

or call: (403) 410-3402

LOCATION DATE

CALGARY Dec. 4

Additional dates to be scheduled based on demand

http://www.bowvalleycollege.ca/pharmbridging


NorQuest College

Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technician Bridging is currently in progress for the Fall 2010 term until November 24, 2010

Delivery MethodsFace to face – eveningsOnline paced – evenings

In the process of scheduling dates for remaining courses

For more information: Call 780-644-6307 or 780-644-6395


Red Deer College


Questions

Documents

Pharmacy Technician Bridging Programs