Critical health issues discussed by more than 700 pharmacists and stakeholders at Canadian Pharmacists Conference 2017

(Français)

May 29, 2017 (Ottawa/Quebec City):  More than 700 pharmacists and pharmacy stakeholders will be in Quebec City from June 2-5 to discuss key issues facing Canada’s health care system and discover the latest in pharmacy practice research.  The opioid crisis, mental health care and antimicrobial stewardship are among the critical topics to be addressed at the Canadian Pharmacist Conference, jointly presented by the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC).

CPhA is also partnering with l’Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec  (A.P.E.S.), l’Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP), l’Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (OPQ) and Université Laval, Faculté de pharmacie on June 2 for L’Évenément des pharmaciens 2017.

The June 2 event also includes a joint plenary on Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Opioid Crisis. This will be followed by an invitation-only Pharmacy Opioid Summit.  Part of CPhA’s commitment in the Government of Canada Joint Action Plan on Opioids, the Summit will focus on sharing and discussing pharmacy-specific strategies and actions with a broad range of pharmacy stakeholders and identifying further opportunities for pharmacy involvement in resolving the crisis.

“The conference program has been designed to showcase innovative pharmacy leaders and provide delegates the opportunity to dive into the critical topics facing our health care system today,” said Phil Emberley, Director of Professional Affairs, Canadian Pharmacists Association. “Conference speakers and sessions will tackle a diverse range of subjects and highlight the growing opportunities for advanced pharmacy practice across the country.”

Among the topics to be addressed at the conference:

• Opioids – Pharmacists across the country are on the front line of dealing with opioid abuse and are often the first health care providers to notice a prescription drug problem in a patient. Sessions will cover new opioid guidelines and how it may change pharmacy practice, as well as opioid harm reduction strategies and the role of pharmacists.
• Mental Health – As the most accessible health care provider, pharmacists can and do play a key role in supporting patients with mental illnesses.  Sessions will focus on the delivery of pharmaceutical care to individuals living with mental illnesses and the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder in pregnancy.
• Antimicrobial Stewardship – Antimicrobial resistance is a threat at a global level, currently claiming the lives of an estimated 700,000 people each year. Pharmacists have a vital role to play in being antimicrobial stewards through education, health promotion, appropriate prescribing and working with prescribers.

The Canadian Pharmacists Conference is also the largest annual showcase of pharmacy practice research in the country, highlighting the role of pharmacists in medication management and improved patient outcomes, as well as innovative pharmacy care models, patient services and education pharmacists are now providing.

“The pharmacy practice research showcased at the Conference enables delegates to apply best practices from dozens of top pharmacy practice research leaders from across Canada,” added Emberley. “This ultimately benefits patient care by fostering the exchange of information and evidence on successful interventions and innovative community pharmacy practice models.”

In addition to a diverse range of learning sessions and research exploring key pharmacy issues and innovative practices, Alexandre Bilodeau, two-time Olympic gold medalist, Freestyle Skiing, will open the Conference with a keynote address.  The Conference will also feature BJ Miller, M.D., one of the pre-eminent speakers on palliative and end-of-life care, as closing speaker, and Tasha Kheiriddin, political writer and broadcaster, as Conference MC.

Conference at a Glance

• The Canadian Pharmacists Conference is the largest pharmacists conference in the country
• Engaging continuing education sessions covering three streams: Therapeutics, Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacy Business, and Research and Knowledge Sharing.
• Tradeshow with more than 60 exhibitors
• CPhA awards ceremony, including Canadian Pharmacist of the Year Award

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.

For more information, please contact:

Gabrielle Berard
Policy and Research Manager
gberard@pharmacists.ca  
613-407-0450

Mark McCondach
Communications Advisor
mmccondach@pharmacists.ca
613-858-7877