WIXLIB

Scope of Practice – Pharmacy ProfessionalsAdapted from: “Request for Regulation of Pharmacy Technicians”Approved by Council April 24, 2015DEFINITIONSIn this policy:“Act” means The Pharmacy and Pharmacy Disciplines Act“Assistant” means an unregulated person who is not an intern, and who is employed in apharmacy to assist the licensed pharmacist or licensed pharmacy technician in performingfunctions.“Pharmacist” means licensed pharmacist“Pharmacy technician” means licensed pharmacy technician“Scope of Practice” means the practices of the licensed pharmacist, licensed pharmacytechnician that are limited by the Act, and within those limitations the areas in which the licensedpharmacist or licensed pharmacy technician is educated, competent and has recent experience.“Supervision” means direct supervision where the licensed pharmacist or licensed pharmacytechnician oversees the work of an assistant and takes responsibility for the tasks he delegatesto the assistant.AUTHORITYThe Pharmacy and Pharmacy Disciplines ActSection 23(2)A licensed pharmacist, licensed pharmacy technician or intern practising under thesupervision of a licensed pharmacist or a licensed pharmacy technician may, subject tothe terms, conditions and restrictions of that person’s licence, perform all or any of thefollowing practices:(a) advise patients and other health care providers by providing drug and non-drugtherapy knowledge respecting drug and non-drug therapy selection and use;(b) monitor responses to and outcomes of drug therapy;(c) compound, prepare, dispense and sell drugs;(d) provide non-prescription drugs, parenteral nutrition and health care aids and devices;(e) supervise and manage drug distribution systems to maintain public safety and drugsystem security.Licensed Pharmacy Technicians Scope of PracticeMay 4, 2020Page 1 of 9

Section 14(2)Subject to this Act, regulatory bylaws may be made pursuant to section 13 for thefollowing purposes: (i) setting standards regarding the manner and method of practice ofmembers; (u) governing the delegation of functions by a member and prescribing the standards,terms and conditions of that delegation; (hh) prescribing any other matters considered necessary for the better carrying out ofthis Act.The Regulatory Bylaws of the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy ProfessionalsSection F.1 of Part F1. Practicing MemberAny member who wishes to practice must be registered as a practicing member. Wherethe person is applying for membership as a licensed pharmacy technician, he shall begranted a licence to practice. This license allows him to perform the practices authorizedpursuant to section 23(2) of the Act and which practices may be further described byCouncil from time to time in policies, standards and guidelines. The said license alsoentitles the person to use the title "licensed pharmacy technician.”SCOPEUnder authority of the Act and regulatory bylaws of SCPP, this policy describes the scope ofpractice of the pharmacy technician within the context of the roles and responsibilities ofpharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Appendix A further outlines their functions and taskswithin that scope, and those functions and tasks that can be delegated to an assistant undersupervision.Roles and Responsibilities1. PharmacistsThe pharmacist’s primary role is to ensure that the prescribed medication is right for the patient.In order to do this they assess the patient, review patient history and medication history, ensurethe drug therapy is appropriate (indication, dose, schedule, etc.), provide medication education,and monitor the ongoing therapy. The pharmacist continues to be authorized to conduct allpharmacy technician roles. The pharmacist also continues to be accountable for the overallsupervision of pharmacies and the systems that are in place to ensure the safe storage,compounding, packaging and distribution of drugs. Furthermore, the pharmacist continues to besolely responsible and accountable for assessing the appropriateness of drug therapy (bothnew and continuing) and providing patient education and consultation. A prescription cannotbe released to the patient or agent on behalf of the patient without a pharmacist havingperformed these functions.Licensed Pharmacy Technicians Scope of PracticeMay 4, 2020Page 2 of 9

2. Pharmacy TechniciansThe pharmacy technician’s primary role is to ensure that prescriptions are filled correctly; e.g.the right medication gets to the patient, related administration and manage inventory. Pharmacytechnicians prepare and distribute prescriptions, compound, prepare sterile and non-sterilepreparations, check to ensure the correct drug is dispensed, receive verbal prescriptions, copyprescriptions for authorized recipients, transfer prescriptions to, and receive prescriptions fromother pharmacies, ensure the integrity and stability of drug product (e.g. expiry date), and areauthorized to check and accept responsibility for the work of individuals such as assistantsemployed in the pharmacy practice setting (e.g. community or hospital pharmacy).Pharmacy technicians practice in an environment where procedures are in place to ensure thesafety and integrity of the dispensing or compounding process (e.g. under the direction of apharmacist) and a pharmacist is available to ensure the appropriateness of drug therapy and toeducate and consult with patients. Pharmacy technicians exercise their professional judgmentat all times and are able to recognize when the clinical expertise of the pharmacist is required.3. Pharmacy AssistantsThe pharmacy assistant’s primary role is to provide support to both the pharmacist andpharmacy technician in carrying out the technical functions of the dispensing process. Theirduties are somewhat similar to that of the pharmacy technician with the exception that anassistant works under the direct supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician and theywill not be authorized to check the work of any other individuals within the pharmacy practicesetting, nor accept accountability for their actions.Licensed Pharmacy Technicians Scope of PracticeMay 4, 2020Page 3 of 9

APPENDIX A - SCOPE OF PRACTICEKey:Yellow YESBlue NoGreen YES with Pharmacist SupervisionIncludes Two Charts:1. Technical Roles2. Clinical RolesAssistantPharmacy Services andCompetenciesPharmacistPharmacy Technician(under the direct supervision(oversight by a pharmacist) of a pharmacist or pharmacytechnician)1. TECHNICAL ROLESobtain patient consent, whererequiredYesYesYesprotect patient confidentialityYesYesYesrespect diversityYesYesYesaccept responsibility andaccountability for actionsYesYesNoaccept written prescriptions or refillrequests from the patient or thepatient’s representativeYesYesYesreceiving repeat prescriptions fromhealth-care providersYesYesNoreceive verbal prescriptions fromprescribersYesYesNoreceive verbal prescriptions fromprescribers for narcotics, controlleddrugs, benzodiazepines or targetedsubstancesYesNoNoinput patient, third-party insurance,and prescription information intothe computerYesYesYesprioritize prescription processingYesYesYeswith the assistance of informationsoftware, identify potentialinteractions, therapeuticduplications and incompatibilitieswithin patient profilesYesYesNoconfirm that the pharmacist hashad the opportunity to review theprescription and patient profile orhealth recordN/AYesYesrefer therapeutic issues andquestions to the pharmacistN/AYesYesLicensed Pharmacy Technicians Scope of PracticeMay 4, 2020Page 4 of 9

AssistantPharmacy Services andCompetenciesPharmacistPharmacy Technician(under the direct supervision(oversight by a pharmacist) of a pharmacist or pharmacytechnician)select the product(s) neededYesYesYesensure integrity and stability ofproduct(s) including expiry dates,colour, odour, etc.YesYesYestake the medication from the shelfto the work areaYesYesYescalculate, convert, and documentthe result of dosage calculationsYesYesYesperform compounding calculationsYesYesYesverify calculations with thepharmacistN/AYesYescount, measure, weigh and / orpour medicationsYesYesYesreconstitute medicationsYesYesYesadhere to clean, or where required,aseptic techniquesYesYesYesverify accuracy andappropriateness of ingredients andquantities, including weights andvolumesYesYesYesverify the accuracy andcompleteness of a pharmaceuticalproduct prepared for releaseYesYesNoselect type of prescription containerYesYesYeslabel container, including relevantauxiliary labelsYesYesYespre-package pharmaceuticalsincluding replenishment of stockbottlesYesYesYesprepare non-sterile compoundsYesYesYesprepare sterile compounds(including IVs, TPNs)YesYesNohandle and prepare hazardousproducts appropriatelyYesYesNoprepare bulk manufacturedproductsYesYesYesfill unit dose carts from a fill listYesYesYescheck filled unit dose cartsYesYesNocheck and restock emergencyYesYesYesLicensed Pharmacy Technicians Scope of PracticeMay 4, 2020Page 5 of 9

AssistantPharmacy Services andCompetenciesPharmacistPharmacy Technician(under the direct supervision(oversight by a pharmacist) of a pharmacist or pharmacytechnician)boxes, cardiac arrest kits, nursingunit cupboards and carts and nightcupboard supplies from anapproved listconfirm that the pharmaceuticalproduct has been checked andsigned off by a pharmacistN/AYesYesprovide appropriate patientinformation materials as specifiedby the pharmacistN/AYesYesconfirm that the patient or patient’srepresentative has received or hasbeen offered counselling by thepharmacistN/AYesYesassist the patient to make informeddecisions regarding the selectionand use of drug administrationdevices, monitoring devices andhealth aidsYesYesNocomply with federal and provinciallegislation, policies and standardsapplicable to pharmacy practiceYesYesYesfollow procedures for the properstorage, handling, preparation,distribution, removal, and disposalof drugsYesYesYesensure the cleanliness,functionality, and integrity ofcompounding, packaging,dispensing and storage equipmentYesYesYesperform routine equipmentmaintenanceYesYesYesstore and transport pharmaceuticalproducts appropriatelyYesYesYesmanage inventoryYesYesYesquestion, report and assist in theresolution of potential and actualunsafe, illegal, unethical, orunprofessional actions or situationsYesYesYesuse appropriate pharmacyreference materialYesYesYesdirect patients to the location ofnon-prescription medicationsYesYesYesLicensed Pharmacy Technicians Scope of PracticeMay 4, 2020Page 6 of 9

AssistantPharmacy Services andCompetenciesPharmacistact as a role model and mentor tonew staff and studentsYesYesYescollect and verify accuracy ofpatient demographics and knownallergiesYesYesYestransferring and receivingprescriptions from otherpharmacists or pharmacytechniciansYesYesNochecking pharmaceutical productsprepared by an pharmacytechnician or unregulatedpharmacy personnelYesYesNoperform quality assuranceaudits/checks on distributionfunctions and activitiesYesYesNoinitiate billing, verify, and assist inthe adjudication for paymentYesYesYesprovide copies of prescriptions onpatients’ requestYesYesPharmacy Technician(under the direct supervision(oversight by a pharmacist) of a pharmacist or pharmacytechnician)YesYesYesNoassist patients and health careteam members in understandingthe scope, limitations andexceptions to third-party insurancecoverage including coordination ofbenefitsYesYesNocompliance packagingYesYesYesfax prescription renewals tophysicianYesYesYestake medication historyYesYesNomedication reconciliationYesNoNodocument drug distributionprocesses and outcomesi.e. medication errors, missingmeds, etc.YesYesNoprepare reports and documentsYesYesNouse non-integrated healthinformation systems (e.g. PIP)YesYesNouse integrated health informationsystems (e.g. PIP)YesYesYesmanage workflowYesYesYesLicensed Pharmacy Technicians Scope of PracticeMay 4, 2020Page 7 of 9