FVS 3.1
British Columbia launches Medication Management Project

The BC Medication Management Project is a collaboration between the Pharmaceutical Services Division of the BC Ministry of Health Services and the BC Pharmacy Association (BCPhA). The purpose of the project is to improve patient care, drug therapy outcomes and sustainability of the health care system by having pharmacists provide medication management services to patients in a community setting. The project will facilitate learning about the operational effectiveness of pharmacists providing medication management services in a community pharmacy setting and generate information to inform future decision making about pharmacist services. It involves pharmacist training, a standardized medication management service model, documentation of care, a new remuneration model and an evaluation component.
For additional information, contact Marnie Mitchell (BCPhA) or visit BCPhA’s website.

FVS 3.1, 3.2 & 3.5
Canadian Pharmacy Services Framework (CPSF)

What is the Canadian Pharmacy Services Framework? The Framework outlines a roadmap to deliver expanded patient-centred pharmacy services that are cost-effective, and based on the needs of Canadians and value to the health care system. The Framework recognizes the value of professional pharmacy services while ensuring a financially viable and sustainable pharmacy business model – it provides an understanding for establishing fees for different categories of services:

• Core Dispensing Services
• Enhanced Medication-Related Services
• Expanded Patient Care Services

Download the Canadian Pharmacy Services Framework deck

The Canadian Pharmacy Services Framework (CPSF) was developed in collaboration between the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS), and provincial pharmacy associations. CPSF addresses Blueprint for Pharmacy Implementation Plan deliverables under Financial Viability and Sustainability:

3.2.1  A framework for professional pharmacy services to provide a method and rationale for establishing fees.

3.2.2  Compensation models to support the services in the framework, and emerging services.

Why does it matter? The pharmacy landscape is changing dramatically. Many provinces are introducing expanded scopes of practice, regulated pharmacy technicians, drug pricing reform, and new payment models for medication management services. Efforts to advance the shared vision for enhanced pharmacy practice in a community setting are of critical importance to the Canadian public and the overall health care system, as well as pharmacists and pharmacy owners. The Framework supports the development of financially-viable, patient-centred services that are scalable across jurisdictions and can be adapted to align with the varying jurisdictional needs. For more information contact Phil Emberly (CPhA).

FVS 3.2
Provincial pharmacy associations come together to discuss a framework

The Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) and CPhA are collaborating on the Canadian Pharmacy Services Initiative (CPSI). The overarching goal of this project is to build on the Vision for Pharmacy to guide Canadian community pharmacy towards a shared strategic vision and approach to high-quality professional services across Canada, to accelerate implementation and to drive consistency where feasible. The framework draws on practices, regulations and guidelines established by international, Canadian and provincial pharmacy associations and regulatory bodies. The intent is that the framework will be sufficiently flexible that it could be adjusted to meet the needs of individual jurisdictions. CACDS and CPhA co-hosted a meeting of the provincial advocacy associations and there was consensus from the participants on using Medication Therapy Management (MTM) as the common platform to drive and accelerate the implementation of professional pharmacy services in Canada.
For additional information, contact Susanne Priest, Working Group Lead (Shoppers Drug Mart), Nadine Saby (CACDS) or Phil Emberley (CPhA).

FVS 3.2
Canadian Pharmacy Services Initiative – CACDS-OPA long term care (LTC) study

As part of their work in developing a framework for core dispensing and pharmacy services, the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) identified that very limited information is available on the cost of enhanced services (services that are tied to core dispensing, but that have additional resource costs, for example, LTC, home infusion and compliance packaging). To start to address this gap, CACDS partnered with the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association (OPA) to complete the Analysis of the Costs to deliver Pharmacy Professional Services to Residents of Ontario Long Term Care Facilities study, which found that it costs an average of $1200 per patient annually to provide pharmaceutical care in long term care facilities.
For additional information, contact Nadine Saby (CACDS) or Allan Malek (OPA).

FVS 3.6.1
Pharmacy practice research priorities

The CPhA Canadian Pharmacy Practice Research Group (CPPRG) hosted 57 people at a workshop that aimed to define pharmacy research priorities. Community pharmacists and researchers interviewed each other to determine pharmacists’ professional concerns and how research can be directed to address them.