E1 Part I + II Pharmacy Technicians Symposium
Saturday 9 September 2017
09:00-17:30
COEX Convention & Exhibition Center : Room 208 A/B 6 hours
Organised by FIPEd
(separate registration required)
Theme for discussion: Evolution of the Pharmacy Support Workforce
Related to topic A: Nurturing the Soul of Pharmacy
Pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workers, pharmacists, educators, health administrators and others interested in the education, practice, regulation, development and promotion of the pharmacy support workforce will explore current issues and challenges about education, role development and utilization of the pharmacy support workforce within the pharmacy profession and broader healthcare system. The discussions and debate during this one and a half day forum will focus on the roles, education programs and services that have evolved and serve to define pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workforce cadres in a variety of contexts globally. Presentations will reflect findings from an extensive global survey and literature review on the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians, which was undertaken in 2016, in preparation of a report commissioned by the FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Practice.
Programme
PART I – UNDERSTANDING THE PROFILE OF PHARMACY TECHNICIANS
Saturday 9 September
09:00 – 12:00
Short presentations and facilitated discussion
Through short country specific presentations this first session will showcase the variety of roles and responsibilities that pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workers fulfil globally. Speakers will represent different practice models and legal frameworks they work within to demonstrate how they function on the pharmacy team and contribute to the delivery of pharmaceutical services and responsible medicine use.
Learning objectives
At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Identify the current and developing technology that pharmacy technicians are using in practice.
2. Determine strategies that can be used to remain competent in the face of new technologies.
3. Understand how common practice models and legal frameworks that pharmacy technicians work within impact the roles they are able to fulfil.
4. Identify new approaches to practice that may be adapted to their own practice.
Chair
Cathy Schuster (Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs, Canada)
Programme
09:00 – 09:10
1. Introduction:
Pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support workforce cadres working with pharmacists:
The value of FIP’s Global Descriptive Study
Susan James (Ontario College of Pharmacists, Canada)
09:10 – 10:20
2. Plenary session and facilitated discussion:
The impact of technology on the role of pharmacy technicians
Christina Durinck (Danish Association of Pharmaconomists, Denmark)
10:20 – 10:40 Coffee/tea break
10:40 – 12:00
3. Short presentations
10:40 -11:00
a. Pharmacy assistants working in primary care
Lizette Monteith (Khethimpilo, South Africa)
11:00 – 11:20
b. Pharmakonomists in community practice
Camilla Lindeblad (Dalgas Boulevard Pharmacy, Denmark)
11:20 – 11:40
c. Pharmacy technicians in hospital practice
Samuel Nyanje (AMPATH, Kenya)
11:40 – 12:00
d. Pharmacists Beyond Borders: A role for pharmacy technicians in Sierra Leone
Signe Bødker (Østerbro Pharmacy, Denmark)
PART II – COMPETENCY FRAMEWORKS - THE HEART OF ROLE DEFINITION
Saturday 9 September
14:30 – 17:30
Educational session and discussion forum
This session will showcase competency frameworks that currently exist for pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workforce cadres and will include exploration of how needs based competency models can support development of education requirements and regulatory frameworks. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and share competency frameworks from a variety of jurisdictions and begin to explore the possibility of a common framework for pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy support workers.
Learning objectives
At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:
1. Explain the basic principles and foundations related to defining competence for the pharmaceutical workforce.
2. Describe the different regulatory and educational tools that can be used to reinforce competency in practice.
3. Describe the challenges that occur when trying to apply a common set of competencies across geographic borders.
4. Determine the benefits of using a competency based model of education to achieve standardized practice in the workplace.
Chair
Susan James (Ontario College of Pharmacists, Canada)
Programme
14:30 – 15:50
1. Educational session
14:30 – 14:50
a. The FIP Competency Framework
Andreia Bruno (Monash University, Australia)
14:50 – 15:05
b. Defining competencies for pharmacy technicians
Tamara Köhler (Utrecht University, Netherlands)
15:05 -15:20
c. Harmonizing competencies In the European Union
Christina Durinck (Danish Association of Pharmaconomists, Denmark)
15:20 – 15:35
d. Essential competencies for entry to practice - a regulatory framework
Cathy Schuster (Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs, Canada)
15:35 – 15:50
e. Structured competency training for pharmacy technicians in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Speaker TBA
15:50 – 16:10 Coffee/tea break
16:10 – 17:15
Workshop activity
17:15 – 17:30
Wrap-up
An informal social event will be available for interested participants on Saturday evening.
