Council convened in Edmonton on April 22 and 23. At the meeting, council approved five strategic goals which will be the foundation for its business over the next five years. They approved new rules for accepting resolutions, and elected a new slate of officers for the 2015-16 council year.
Highlights from Council – April 22-23, 2015
Strategic goals (2016-2020) – Council approved the following five strategic goals as foundations to its business priorities over the next five years:
- Pharmacists will consistently conduct an appropriate assessment of each patient prior to providing any pharmacist service;
- Patient care records will include continuous documentation of pharmacist assessments, treatment plans, record of care, and monitoring results;
- Pharmacy technicians will be integrated into pharmacy practice teams, exercising responsibility for roles they’re authorized to fulfill;
- Patients will have access to pharmacist prescribing and injections through all licensed pharmacy practice settings; and,
- Patients will expect pharmacists to provide appropriate assessments, advice, and support about their health (treatment) plan at each encounter.
Election of officers – the following officers were elected for the 2015-16 council term. Officers will hold office between July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016:
- Rick Hackman (District 3) – President
- Taciana Pereira (District 3) – President-Elect
- Brad Couldwell (District 5) – Executive Member at Large
- Brad Willsey (District 1) – Past President
Rules for resolutions – Council approved rules for receiving and deliberating resolutions submitted by members. A call for resolutions will be made annually prior to 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday in September. A resolution, including at least 10 signatures of voting members, may be submitted to the Resolutions Committee prior to 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday in October.
Resolutions shall:
- be consistent with the mission, vision and value statements of the college;
- address only one subject;
- be factual and include the proposed disposition of the motion approved;
- present a positive position to assist in resolving a negative situation (a resolution should not be entirely critical and a person or group should not be named in it); and,
- be supported by primary reference sources (i.e., statistics or data where appropriate)
A resolution cannot address an amendment to any federal or provincial legislation, or ACP bylaws.
For more information, please view the Rules for Resolutions.
Inspections appointed by the Registrar – council received findings and recommendations from the Registrar resulting from two inspections appointed during 2014 into pharmacist practices. The inspections addressed pharmacist practice related to:
- “Baby Annie” – Report of the Child and Youth Advocate
- Immunization Clinic – NorQuest College
The findings and recommendations will be shared through forthcoming articles in acpnews. Please watch for these, as the insights may be valuable in improving your own practice.
Mandatory immunizations – council continued its deliberation about whether pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should be mandated to receive annual influenza immunizations. Council asked the registrar to conduct further research into the question; however, the deliberations introduced observations and questions such as the following:
- Pharmacy students are required to be immunized against influenza prior to going on practice rotations.
- Should all personnel working in a pharmacy be immunized, or should this be restricted to regulated professionals?
- Should immunizations against mumps, measles, and other community acquired diseases be required?
- How would such a policy be enforced?
- What is our jurisdiction to establish such a policy, and what would be the best approach (registration requirement, ethics, standards)?
Drug scheduling – The Scheduled Drugs Regulation expires in September 2016. This is an opportune time to review the regulation, and to make amendments for the future. Council reflected on the history of the regulation, its structure, and how it is currently administered.
Council reviewed a request from Alberta Health to move some vaccines from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, but did not make a ruling. The briefing from Alberta Health indicates that it wishes to make vaccines more accessible. Council has requested further information from Alberta Health, to better understand how existing policies might be amended to further achieve this goal.
Council had a preliminary discussion about the feasibility of moving non-prescription codeine products from Schedule 2 to Schedule 1. Council explored the relative therapeutic value of these products, risks associated with them, and whether public need would be negatively impacted if rescheduling were to occur.
Rules for registration and the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) – council approved minor amendments to the rules for the Continuing Competence Program and registration.
