Guest Post

The scope of nurse practitioners (NP) was recently expanded to include prescribing opioid agonist treatment (OAT) drugs. This change is part of province-wide efforts to address the opioid overdose crisis and builds on NPs’ existing authority to prescribe controlled drugs and substances.

In British Columbia, the Employment Standards Act (the Act) sets minimum standards for wages and working conditions in most workplaces. The Act applies to all non-union employees under provincial jurisdiction except those who are excluded by regulation.

Health Canada and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada are seeking input from healthcare providers, consumers, and other interested and affected stakeholders on different approaches to the naming of biologic drugs, including biosimilars, in Canada.

Annually, our students recognize and nominate exemplary practice educators for the Pharmacy Practice Educator of the Year Award. Students are able to voluntarily submit their nominations for those practice educators they feel have gone above and beyond for them, inspiring those around them with their engagement and passion for the pharmacy profession. 

Melissa Sheldrick is foremost a wife, mother, teacher and patient safety advocate whose 8 year old son Andrew died in March 2016 because a lethal medication was substituted for his daily medication. When she discovered that there was no required reporting of the error made at the pharmacy, she began her patient advocacy work with the goal of having mandatory error reporting implemented in Ontario, and across the country. She vows to continue until all provinces in Canada mandate anonymous incident reporting to a third party for analysis and feedback.

Influenza, often called the flu, is an infection of the upper airway caused by an influenza virus. Each year, thousands of people in Canada are hospitalized and may die from influenza and its complications. 

The best way to protect yourself against influenza and reduce the spread of the virus to others, is by getting vaccinated. 

Fraser Health Authority is seeking Feedback from community pharmacy professionals on its new discharge medication reconciliation process. 

The Reference Drug Program (RDP) was introduced by PharmaCare in 1995 to promote cost-effective prescribing for common medical conditions, with minimal impact on patient care.

Much has changed since certified pharmacists were first able to independently prescribe emergency contraception pills (ECPs) in British Columbia in 2000. 

Each year, the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Alumni Agent of Change Award recognizes one outstanding member of the Pharm Sci alumni family for their remarkable achievements in a clinical, community, education, or research field.