Each year, ACP completes a professional declaration audit of a randomly selected 10 per cent of all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Alberta. The audit verifies whether a pharmacist or pharmacy technician had valid personal professional liability insurance (PLI), and for pharmacists with authorization to administer drugs by injection (DBI), whether the pharmacist had valid and current CPR and first aid certifications. Valid PLI and up-to-date certifications are not optional.
Each year, the vast majority of regulated members ensure that this information is up to date and ACP appreciates these efforts. This year’s audit, however, once again uncovered a number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who continued to practise after allowing their PLI or certifications to lapse.
Having valid PLI as a regulated member is not only a legislative requirement and professional responsibility, it protects the public and you as a pharmacy professional. Having valid CPR and first aid is required for pharmacists who have DBI authorization to ensure they are prepared to manage emergency situations. As a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, you must take personal responsibility to ensure that the professional declarations you make about insurance and certifications are accurate.
Albertans have entrusted pharmacy professionals with the privilege of self-regulation. The autonomy that pharmacy professionals enjoy as members of a self-regulating profession is dependent on pharmacy professionals honouring their professional obligations. Maintaining PLI and certification documentation are important professional obligations to show that pharmacy teams have the best interests of Albertans as a core practice principle. Pharmacy colleagues who participate on Hearing Tribunals have affirmed this by imposing costly penalties to their peers when lapses have occurred and inaccurate declarations were made—even if a regulated member’s actions were unintentional, there had been no previous history of unprofessional conduct, and there was no demonstrated patient harm.
Before renewing, review your PLI and certification documentation and make note of the expiry dates to ensure continuity of coverage. Don’t assume others, including your PLI provider or your employer, will renew for you. Take responsibility to implement and maintain a system to ensure your PLI is always in place, active, and updated in your profile in myACP (see below).
ACP also has information about the professional declarations audit available to both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
