“This series provided me with the theory, background, and framework relevant to practicing primary care as a pharmacist.”
“These modules are a step forward…with a focus on the root causes of health inequity and the pharmacy practice integration of cultural safety and inclusivity.”
Pharmacists are giving top marks to three new e-learning programs on primary care skills development and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in pharmacy practice. Funded by the Government of Canada and produced by the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) and the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC), the programs are available at introductory rates until April 30, 2025.
All three online programs revolve around patient cases, incorporate real-time learner assessments and include easy access to additional resources and decision-making aids. Participants can purchase the complete program or individual modules.
“These programs fill a gap in training. They are asynchronous and skills-based, with a focus on team-based care and interprofessional collaboration,” says Janet Cooper, a consultant for AFPC and its Executive Director until her retirement in December 2024.
AFPC received $1.06 million in funding for these online programs, an 18-week advanced training program and its academic electronic health record (aEHR) from Employment and Social Development Canada, as part of the federal government’s $45.3-million initiative, Team Primary Care (TPC) – Training for Transformation. AFPC was one of more than 65 health professional and educational organizations across Canada partnering on the TPC project.
“It was exciting to be part of this initiative and we’re so proud of the results. We over-delivered on all our projects. I knew we would, because that’s what pharmacists do,” says Cooper.
The Primary Care Skills Development program for pharmacists delves into a wide range of skillsets, including patient-centred primary care, documentation, collaborative care plans, assessment, shared decision-making and inclusive care. Participants also have the option to practice their documentation skills using AFPC’s aEHR, currently in use in schools of pharmacy across Canada. The introductory price for the complete program is $99 until April 30; the regular price is $125.
Pharmacist Marie Rocchi, an instructional designer, practicing pharmacist and retired Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, developed the primary care training program and was assisted by Assistant Professor Jon Hunchuck, University of Toronto. The program was piloted with 70 pharmacists, including 24 working in a Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic in Nova Scotia, and 107 pharmacy students.
The Equity-Diversity-Inclusion and Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety Training program (Series 1) for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and students explores health inequity and social determinants of health, anti-Indigenous racism, trauma-informed care and the integration of inclusivity and cultural competency in pharmacy practice. One module addresses care-considerations for Black health and for patients with disabilities. Participants also have access to the Indigenous Health Resource Library, which contains more than 200 categorized learning tools. Currently priced at the introductory rate of $120, the program’s regular price of $150 takes effect on May 1.
The Health Determinants for 2SLGBTQ+ Patients and Inclusive Pharmacy Practice program (Series 2) will become available in early April 2025 at an introductory price of $99. It will contain modules on sexual and reproductive health, mental health, substance use and gender-affirming care.
Amy Lamb, Executive Director of the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada, led the development of the two EDI training programs, with contributions from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC’s) PRIDE-RX project and Black Pharmacy Professionals of Canada. Amber Ruben, a hospital pharmacist and an indigenous health consultant, was the lead author of Series 1 and Timothy Lim, a clinical pharmacist and a lecturer at the UBC, was the lead author of Series 2. The project team, its advisors and collaborators were representatives of equity-deserving groups with networks of colleagues from distinct and diverse backgrounds.
As part of its annual Changing Face of Pharmacy report, the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy...
The federal and provincial governments have enacted a wide range of temporary laws, regulations...
This free webinar puts the spotlight on how community pharmacies are changing their practice to provide more primary-care services.
