CPhA Supports Choosing Wisely Canada

July 14, 2016 (Ottawa): The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is pleased to announce its support of Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) and will establish a pharmacy committee to contribute profession-specific tools to the overall Choosing Wisely Canada campaign.

Choosing Wisely Canada is a campaign, established in 2014, to help clinicians and patients engage in conversations about unnecessary tests and treatments and make smart and effective choices to ensure high-quality care.

“As pharmacists are drug medication experts, CPhA’s endorsement of Choosing Wisely Canada is a perfect fit,” says Alistair Bursey, Chair, Canadian Pharmacists Association. “Our support aligns with the CPhA mission of advancing the health and well-being of Canadians by optimizing patient outcomes, supported by clinical evidence.”

Over its 107 year history, CPhA has played a leading role in many initiatives to improve the safety and efficiency of the health care delivered to Canadians. Through improving assessment tools and prescribing guidelines, pharmacy practice advancement and training, and increased patient education and public awareness, CPhA is committed to supporting and enhancing clinical decision-making that prioritizes patient needs and health outcomes.

“We are thrilled to have the Canadian Pharmacists Association on board as a supporter,” says Wendy Levinson, Chair, Choosing Wisely Canada. “We look forward to working with CPhA in developing tools to help prescribers, pharmacists and patients make the best informed choices to ensure that the treatments prescribed are truly having a positive impact on patient health and that they are not causing unintended harm. ”

As the most recent supporter of Choosing Wisely Canada, CPhA joins more than 40 Canadian national specialty societies participating in the campaign, representing a broad spectrum of clinicians.

About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.

About Choosing Wisely Canada

Choosing Wisely Canada is a campaign to help clinicians and patients engage in conversations about unnecessary tests and treatments and make smart and effective choices to ensure high-quality care. Choosing Wisely Canada is organized by a team of leading Canadian physicians, in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. Choosing Wisely Canada got underway initially in Ontario and has quickly been adopted in all provinces and territories.

For more information, please contact:

Mark McCondach
Director of Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
mmccondach@pharmacists.ca
(613) 523-7877 Ext. 285