The Continuing Education cycle for pharmacy technicians is underway. Pharmacy technicians may now join pharmacists in completing this year’s prescribed learning activity, which focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), specifically as they relate to Indigenous communities.
This informative and meaningful learning experience was developed by Continuing Professional Development for Pharmacy Professionals (CPDPP) in collaboration with the Alberta College of Pharmacy, the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals, and the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba. It was also developed with Len Pierre Consulting—a multidisciplinary team of consultants and facilitators that advises and trains teams on Indigenous cultural safety, reconciliation, decolonization, and anti-racism.
In the EDI prescribed learning, regulated members are encouraged to continue their learning journeys in this area and to become peer ambassadors, supporting fellow co-workers and colleagues in their learnings. A follow-up learning resource regulated members may access is the Indigenous Trauma and Equity-Informed Practice training webinar recorded on September 30, 2022: the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The webinar is open to all pharmacy professionals, students, and staff who support the practice of pharmacy.
The EDI prescribed learning and this webinar were created in response to Call to Action 24 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, which calls upon health professionals to take a course dealing with Aboriginal health issues, including skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
There are also EDI continuing education resources available to help regulated members identify next steps in their learning journey. These are indicated in the EDI prescribed learning and can also be found on the CPDPP website.
There are significant health disparities and inequities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples within Canada. Creating culturally safe environments is one strategy pharmacy professionals can incorporate into their workplace and daily practice to combat the causes and effects of disparities and inequalities. Completing the EDI prescribed learning and continuing to learn about Indigenous communities, cultural safety, and trauma-informed care is an opportunity for regulated members to gain knowledge and skills to offer culturally sensitive, respectful, person-centred care, in alignment with the professionalism framework, and in a space where people feel secure and supported and free to draw strength from their identity, culture, and community.
Regulated members can access the EDI prescribed learning activity via the CCP Portal.
