In 2018, ACP developed a framework for professionalism for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The project allowed ACP to establish common understandings of professionalism and what it means to be a pharmacy professional.
The work is a result of ACP’s partnership with the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association, the Pharmacy Technician Society of Alberta, and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (Alberta branch) to create A Vision for the Future of a Healthy Alberta. In this vision, professionalism was identified as one of six themes important to pharmacy teams and their contributions toward achieving sustainable health and wellbeing for Albertans.
The professionalism framework was developed based on research and consultation with registrants at regional meetings (now ACP Connect) and advisory groups, and conversations with many of the college’s stakeholders locally, nationally, and internationally.
At regional meetings, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians were asked to consider what professionalism meant to them and share their thoughts via an online word cloud. Here’s an example of what they came up with:
During a comparative analysis of the word clouds and literature, values were used the most often to describe professionalism and pharmacy professionals. These words included: honesty, integrity, respectful (polite), empathetic (understanding, compassionate), caring (care, nurture), trusting, approachable (accessible), self-aware (unbiased, non-biased, non-judgemental), and ethical/moral.
“The most important and powerful piece of this work was hearing from registrants on what professionalism means to them and how they would describe their profession and themselves,” said Pamela Timanson, ACP’s Competence Director. “Their words and feelings are reflected throughout the framework. This work came from them and we hope to continue it in that manner.”
Once research and consultation concluded, six tenets of professionalism were identified:
The concept of the tenets is supported via ACP’s regulatory approach founded on the college’s Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, and applicable legislation (e.g., Health Professions Act, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Profession Regulation).
For pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, professionalism is demonstrated by those who have a profound sense of altruism and ethical conduct to promote the health of individuals and their communities across the continuum of care.
Through the college’s leadership, ACP hopes to inspire teams and individuals to create a positive, emotional tone/climate, encouraging pharmacy team involvement and engagement. All pharmacy professionals are expected to model these tenets and support their colleagues by encouraging collaboration, establishing person-centred care, developing relationships, fostering professional learning opportunities, and working with team members who may be disengaged or experiencing challenges.