Phamraceutical Review (www.pharmareview.wordpress.com). The StarPhoenix; Leader post; www.thestarphoenix.com has published detail detailed feature of understanding the prescriptive authority for pharmacists. While participating in the “Pharmacist Awareness Week” March 6-11, 2011, Saskatchewan Health Minister Don McMorris has announced that new legislation would come into force March 4, 2011, expanding prescribing authority for Saskatchewan pharmacists, thereby benefiting residents through more efficient and accessible health care services.
The announcement followed a period of time that was needed to receive feedback from interested parties, and to provide pharmacists with all of the tools and assistance they will need for this new role.
Qualified pharmacists now have the authority to prescribe certain drugs under certain conditions. This does not replace the role of your doctor. In fact, it promotes doctor-pharmacist teamwork.
What does prescriptive authority for pharmacists mean?
It means changes to provincial laws to recognize pharmacists as prescribers of drugs.
Under a combination of federal and provincial laws, most drugs are only available by prescription. That is because it takes a trained professional to make the decision that these drugs are appropriate for you. When that decision occurs, that professional can issue a prescription for you when the law permits.
The federal law over regular prescription drugs recognizes pharmacists as prescribers when the same occurs under provincial laws. The laws in Saskatchewan have been changed to allow pharmacists to issue prescriptions under certain circumstances where they are trained to do so.
Does that mean that pharmacists cannot prescribe some drugs?
Yes, the pharmacist cannot prescribe Controlled Substances. They include Narcotics and other moodmodifying drugs that can cause addiction or dependency and abuse. There is other federal law over this group of drugs that impose added conditions over how they are distributed in Canada. This law does not recognize pharmacists in the same way. A special and lengthy federal process must occur before pharmacists can be recognized as prescribers of these substances.
Does this mean that i no longer need a doctor for my medications?
Certainly not. The pharmacist as a prescriber of drugs is NOT intended to replace your doctor or other health care provider. It is quite the opposite. The new laws depend upon a close working relationship between you, your doctor and your pharmacist. The new laws give the pharmacist added tools to work with you and your doctor get the most benefit out of your drug therapy.
Prescribing will be allowed in various circumstances: continuing maintenance therapy, emergencies, incomplete prescriptions, physician’s absence, self-care for minor ailments and seamless care, and when pharmacists have advanced skills. Instead of having to contact your doctor first, your pharmacist can make these prescribing decisions for you and then tell your doctor about them.
Examples include:
– Continuing maintence therapy-you are taking medications medications regularly, your prescription has run out and you can’t get in to see your doctor for several days. Your pharmacist can provide the supply you need until you are able to visit your doctor, and will let your doctor know.
– Emergencies-you take a medication once in a while when needed, or perhaps regularly. You are on a trip, have left this medication at home and need it. Your pharmacist can provide you with a supply until you return home, and will let your doctor know.
– Incomplete prescriptions-sometimes your doctor will inadvertently forget to include some details important to your pharmacist about the drug being prescribed for you. Because your pharmacist knows you and your doctor, and is reasonably certain of your doctor’s intent, s/he fills in the details to complete the prescription. Again, your pharmacist will let your doctor know.
– Physicaian’s absence – doctors sometimes temporally leave their practices for extended periods of time, such as for vacation or education. When that happens, they can leave instructions with your pharmacist to continue the medications for you and other patients if prescriptions run out while s/he is away.
– Seamless care – when you are ill and admitted to a health care facility, your medications can change. If you are transferred from that health care setting to another, for example, are discharged and return to your community, your pharmacist can make sure that your new medication therapy continues uninterrupted. Again, your pharmacist will let your doctor know.
If you have any further questions, ask your pharmacist because “My Pharmacist Knows” or visit www.mypharmacistknows.com.
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