Seeking Feedback on Non-Sterile Compounding Standards

The College is currently seeking feedback on the Model Standards for Pharmacy Compounding of Non-Sterile Preparations developed by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA).

These draft standards have been developed to provide those who compound non-sterile preparations with the standards necessary to evaluate practice, develop procedures, and implement quality control measures, thereby improving quality and safety for both staff and patients. Along with other provincial pharmacy regulators, OCP will compile the views of members and submit feedback to NAPRA.

NAPRA will review the submissions of pharmacy regulators across the country and determine what changes to make to these draft standards, if any. Once NAPRA finalizes the standards, OCP council will consider the timing of their implementation.

Please provide your feedback on this open consultation. The feedback deadline is November 17, 2016.

Continuous Quality Improvement: Learning From Medication Incidents and Near Misses

Continuous quality improvement, or CQI, involves a set of actions that lead to improvements in healthcare services and patient outcomes. Implementing the appropriate framework is essential in ensuring that practitioners are delivering the best possible patient care and that medication incidents and near misses are being appropriately handled.

This is a reminder that all pharmacies are required to have a defined process in place to identify and resolve systemic issues, share learnings with team members, and implement appropriate changes accordingly.

Pharmacies are also encouraged to report incidences externally to help identify national trends and support broader enhancements to the healthcare system.

Learn more in the Pharmacy Connection article "CQI Benefits Patients in Community Pharmacies"

Guidance to Minimize the Loss and Theft of Controlled Substances Within Pharmacies

The issue of opioid dependency and overdose is an ongoing concern across Canada with fentanyl being the number one cause of opioid-related deaths in Ontario last year.

This is a reminder that Health Canada has provided guidance to pharmacists and their staff on the essential steps that should be taken to minimize the loss and theft of controlled substances within pharmacies.

Regulations within the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) require that pharmacists take all reasonable steps necessary to mitigate the risk of diversion of controlled substances and precursors on their premises or under their control.

Read the guidance letter from Health Canada

In this issue:

»	Seeking Feedback on Non-Sterile Compounding Standards
»	Continuous Quality Improvement: Learning From Medication Incidents and Near Misses
»	Guidance to Minimize the Loss and Theft of Controlled Substances Within Pharmacies

Reminder: Mandatory Patch 4 Patch Program Launched Oct 1

As the mandatory Patch 4 Patch Program launched on October 1, if you haven’t already, we recommend you view the College’s Patch 4 Patch Fentanyl Return Program Fact Sheet. This document outlines the specific roles and responsibilities for physicians and pharmacists when prescribing and dispensing fentanyl.

Get a New Practice Tip Every Week on Twitter

Are you following the College on Twitter? Be sure to do so now to get a new practice tip each week!

Tips are developed from actual observations and encounters in practice and include: record keeping and documentation, methadone dispensing, narcotics reconciliation, clinical decision making, patient counselling, and much more. In addition to these weekly practice tips, the College tweets out helpful news and information multiple times per day.

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