Guest Post

Earlier this year, the BCCSU  and the Ministry of Health (MoH) released a new Guideline  for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder. Starting on June 5, 2017, this guideline will become the provincial reference tool for all health care professionals in BC involved in treating patients with opioid use disorders, and the management of the Provincial Methadone Program will transition from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia to the BCCSU. 

It’s important to be able to provide continuity of care for patients in provincial correctional centres when they are released into the community. For this reason, BC Corrections wants to work with community pharmacies to ensure patients can receive the medications they need upon release through collaboration with the treating physicians. 

Adverse Drug Reaction reporting is a professional responsibility for pharmacists in British Columbia. 

Health Canada continues to monitor the safety profile of health products once they are marketed to verify that the benefits of the products continue to outweigh the risks.The effectiveness of an adverse reaction monitoring and reporting program depends on the awareness and involvement of all healthcare providers.

Since its inception in 1994, the UBC Therapeutics Initiative has published bi-monthly Therapeutics Letters on common therapies to increase awareness and improve prescription habits. These letters are distributed to both physicians and pharmacists in BC with an aim to identify and provide insight on problematic therapeutic issues in a brief, simple and practical manner.

Pharmacy professionals are a humble bunch. All too often those of us who are doing the most innovative things may not have the time, opportunity, or desire to spread the word about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.

“What Matters to You?” Day started in Norway in 2014 with the aim of encouraging and supporting more meaningful conversations between people who provide health and social care and the people, families, and carers who receive that care. What began as a national effort has gained momentum as an international movement, with over 15 countries participating in this year’s event. 

Every day in BC, pharmacy professionals dispense important medications to the public. But, by working with and near many inherently dangerous drugs, they also put themselves at risk of chronic, low-dose exposure. 

We are inviting pharmacists interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine – Western Medicine interactions and potential adverse effects to participate in a focus group discussion

Medicines are a key part of the lives of many older adults – they are used to manage chronic diseases, prevent adverse health outcomes, and treat pain and other common symptoms. When used properly, medicines can improve quality of life and help prolong it. Medications can also cause problems. In treating the older adult, it is not enough for the health professional to know about drugs and diseases.

Over the weekend of January 21-22, 2017, Fraser Health hosted a hackathon with the goal of creating innovative solutions to some of the most pressing issues plaguing healthcare today.