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Scope of Practice Updates

Regulatory Bylaws, Parts K and M: Level I and Level II Prescribing, Labs, Point-of-Care Testing

 

This page is under development and will be updated as policies, information and education are finalized and approved.

Please note that pharmacists' scope of practice is status quo until Council-approved policies, competencies, and training are established and have been officially communicated to members. The modernization and implementation of the bylaws is a significant undertaking not only for the College, but for our members and external stakeholders who will also require process, systems and regulatory changes.

  • There are no immediate changes as a result of the bylaws – everything is status quo until otherwise communicated by the College.
  • SCPP anticipates providing a general overview on Parts K and M followed by detailed training on Level I Prescribing Authority (Part K) and Labs (Part M) to occur in November 2023. This will allow members to work through influenza and COVID immunizations.
  • A tentative enactment date for Level I Prescribing Authority and Labs is planned for January, which will allow time for training and for members to make any practice and operational changes following the education and Q-and-A sessions in November.
  • Level II Prescribing – Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Travel Health A and B are being rebranded to provide clarity and support members with education in order to encourage more members to feel comfortable and competent to provide the service. Stay tuned for updates to SCPP documents, website and updates to CPDPP's training and education.
  • Level II Prescribing – Advanced Prescribing A and B and Other Diseases will roll out as training, education, policies and systems are developed. We anticipate this to occur throughout 2024 and beyond, pending external stakeholder capacity.

We appreciate that this is an exciting time for pharmacists; however, we also understand how a significant change to practice can also be met with some concerns and trepidation, especially after the last several years.

We hope this page will provide a resource for members to review and process materials as they become available and we also appreciate that you may have many questions, comments and concerns and would be looking for answers to your questions.

While we appreciate all feedback and questions, we respectfully ask that you keep a list of questions or concerns and when we have the training and Q-and-A sessions, we would be happy to provide responses and work through any questions at that time. The risk of the College getting inundated with member questions prior to offering training and education will deflect staff resources from being able to complete the work required to move these massive changes through successfully.

Stay tuned for updates.

 

 

The Bylaw amendments have been approved by the  Ministry of Health – see the Regulatory Bylaws here. Note again: There are no immediate changes as a result of the bylaws – everything is status quo until otherwise communicated by the College.

 

An Overview of the Future of Pharmacists' Prescribing updates in red

Level I (All Pharmacists)

Level II (Pharmacists
who have met Council-approved Competencies)
Structured Prescribing (Algorithm) Minor Ailments
  • Collaborative Practice Agreements (Public Institutions & Community) Status quo although strengthened policy to include the need for clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based medicine for clinical decisions.
  • Other Diseases identified by Minister of Health or Designate (e.g., Paxlovid, Acute Pharyngitis new
Practitioner-Initiated Prescribing Altering or continuing existing prescriptions initiated by practitioner (currently a condition of licensure for all pharmacists)
  • Interim supply of chronic, stabilized drug up to 3 months
  • Emergency situations (life threatening and interruption in drug therapy will result in imminent harm)
  • Insufficient Information
  • Altering the dosage form
  • Altering dose or regimen new ( imminent harm, obvious error, antibiotic and opioid stewardship)
  • Drug reconciliation
 Advanced Prescribing A (Therapeutic Substitution sharing “mechanism of action” or “chemical structure”) new
Pharmacist-Initiated Prescribing Administrative Prescribing (Schedule II, III or Unscheduled Drugs) new
  • Initiate Rx for self-limiting conditions to obtain third-party coverage
  • Support MOH drug formulary management
  • Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Canada rebranded
  • Travel Health Specialty A rebranded
  • Travel Health Specialty B
  • Advanced Prescribing B (chronic & other diseases Council-approved) new

 

Dec. 8, 2023: Level I Prescribing Authority to Launch in January 2024


Level 1 Prescribing Authority will launch Jan. 29, 2024.

To prepare for the launch, all practising members (pharmacists and technicians), extended interns, and international candidates in process of obtaining licensure are required follow the below steps. There will be separate direction and timelines for pharmacist and pharmacy technician interns.

Step 1

Review the following documents before watching the webinar in step 2:

Step 2

Watch the mandatory Webinar – additional email communication will follow.

  • Register with USask CPE – a link will be provided in a separate email.
  • Watch the webinar.
  • Upload record of completion by Jan 26, 2024 to your member profile.
There will also be a live Q-and-A on Feb. 13, 2024 (time TBD). A link to the register for the live Q-and-A will be provided in the memo with the launch of the webinar. In the registration link there will be a place to submit questions in advance of the webinar regarding Level I Prescribing Authority.

We appreciate that there is a lot of interest and excitement for Level II Prescribing Authority, so please hold your questions for those sections of the bylaws when they are officially launched. Attendance at the Q-and-A is not mandatory.

Prior to the live Q-and-A, questions specific to Level 1 Prescribing Authority can be sent to nicole.pulvermacher@saskpharm.ca.

Sept. 21, 2023: Level II Prescribing Authority – Other Diseases


As per the new Part K Bylaws, prescribing for “Other Diseases Identified by the Minister of Health or Designate 19 (1) A licensed pharmacist who has achieved the requirements specified in subclause 12(1)(b)(vi) and clause 12(3)(f) may prescribe vaccines or drug products for the prevention or treatment of any diseases identified by the Minister of Health or designate.”

The following three diseases have been identified and approved by the Minister of Health or Designate:

  1. Influenza – Oral antivirals
  2. SARS COV-2 – Paxlovid
  3. Respiratory Syncytial Virus – RSV vaccines

See:

Influenza (oral antivirals) and SARS COV-2 (Paxlovid) have moved out of their prior classification as a minor ailment and into the Level II Prescribing Authority as an Other Disease as they are better suited in this category. This is an administrative change.

 

Here you will find all applicable training and education opportunities.

  Bylaw Examples - Part K, Level 1 Prescribing Authority, February 2024

  FAQ Handout 2024

  Overview of Changes to Part K of Bylaws

  Overview of Prescribing Authority Framework

  Prescribing Authority Tools for Patient Situations 

Mar. 7, 2024: Level I Prescribing Authority Practice Scenarios

The Level I Prescribing Authority practice scenarios is now available. Registration is not required to access the session – simply click here to view the fifteen-minute session.

Feb. 13, 2024: Q-and-A Webinar for Level I Prescribing Authority - New

The Q-and-A webinar for Level I Prescribing Authority is now live. Registration is not required to access the webinar –
simply click here to watch the thirty-minute webinar.

Dec. 21, 2023: Webinar for Level I Prescribing Authority now Available

The SCPP mandatory webinar is now live for Level I Prescribing Authority. Registration is not required to access the webinar – simply click here. The webinar is one hour in length and qualifies for continuing professional education.