The COVID Conversations

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What is the role pharmacy can or should play in overall public and population health? Leading pharmacist experts in public health and community pharmacy owners on the front lines in both Canada and the United States reviewed some of the pros and cons of pharmacists providing public health services such as immunizations and point-of-care testing, with a particular emphasis on the debate surrounding the role of pharmacy in testing for COVID-19. Host Shelita Dattani spoke with Michael Hogue, president, American Pharmacists Association; Nancy Waite, professor and associate director clinical education, University of Waterloo; Beth Bryan, pharmacist and owner, Surgoinsville Pharmacy (USA); and Kristen Watt, pharmacist and owner, Kristen’s Pharmacy.

Questions:

Jump to a specific question discussed during the webinar:

• Introductions and why we need a conversation about the pharmacist’s role in public health
• What does COVID-19 testing look like (USA)?
• What are the different types of COVID-19 tests? (USA)
• What does COVID-19 testing by community pharmacists look like? (USA)
• What are the rewards and challenges of pharmacists performing COVID-19 testing? (USA)
• How are pharmacies being remunerated for conducting COVID-19 tests? (USA)
• What training is required for COVID-19 testing? (USA)
• What roles can Canadian pharmacists play in COVID-19 testing? What other roles can pharmacists play during the pandemic?
• Where are we in COVID-19 vaccine development? Who’s going to be first immunized?
• What is the pharmacist’s role in COVID-19 vaccination?
• What role should pharmacists play from a public health perspective?
• Is there hesitancy from patients and/or fear from pharmacy staff in COVID-19 testing? (USA)

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Under the recently issued Section 56 exemptions to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), pharmacists are now authorized to extend, renew, adapt, transfer and deliver opioid-related prescriptions (subject to provincial legislation, regulations and regulatory guidance). How can these exemptions support continuity of care and daily practice? Host Shelita Dattani spoke with Kelly Grindrod, Pharmacy Professor at University of Waterloo (ON); Angela Sheasgreen, Pharmacy Manager at Elsipogtog Pharmasave (NB) ; Lisa Bishop, Associate Professor at School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland (NL); and Mona Kwong, Pharmacy Advisor and Director at Pharmacy Addictions Fellowship Program, BC Centre on Substance Use (BC) to get a pan-Canadian perspective on what these exemptions mean for pharmacists in their role as opioid stewards.

Questions:

Jump to a specific question discussed during the webinar:

• Interpretation of the federal legislation
• What can pharmacists do under the exemptions in Western Canada?
• What can pharmacists do under the exemptions in Central Canada?
• What can pharmacists do under the exemptions in Atlantic Canada?
• Summary of cross-Canada scope of practice
• How has your patient care changed?
• What happens after the exemptions expire in September?
• How has OAT/OAMT changed?
• How has collaborative or hospital practice changed?
• Are pharmacy technicians impacted by changes?
• What data needs be collected, why and by whom?
• Key lessons for pharmacists as opioid stewards

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Pharmacy staff are on the front lines of the global COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to provide exceptional care to their patients. Host Shelita Dattani spoke with a panel of international pharmacy leaders and practising pharmacists about the realities of providing pharmacy care in a crisis situation. Panelists (in order of appearance on your screen) included Sham Moodley, Chair of the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (South Africa), Raj Patel, Chief Executive at Hollowood Chemists Limited (United Kingdom), Jaime Acosta-Gómez, Community Pharmacist at Acosta Pharmacy (Spain) and Sonia Ruiz Morán, Director of International Affairs at General Pharmaceutical Council of Spain (Spain)

NOTE: Due to some technical difficulties, only audio (and not video) is available for most of these recordings.

Questions:

Jump to a specific question discussed during the webinar:

• Introductions and Moment of Silence to Honour Pharmacists Who Have Fallen in the Fight Against COVID
• What is the COVID-19 situation like in Spain? (Sonia Ruiz Sonia Ruiz Morán and Jaime Acosta-Gómez)
• What is the COVID-19 situation like in the United Kingdom? (Raj Patel)
• What is the COVID-19 situation like South Africa? (Sham Moodley)
• Can patients access health services? What is the impact on pharmacy?
• Have there been medication or supply shortages?
• Has your scope of practice changed?
• What protective measures have you put in place?
• Have any of your pharmacies had to close?
• How are protecting yourselves and patients (i.e., PPE)?
• How are you calming patient fears?
• Are pharmacy staff getting burned out?
• What is the most important lesson you’ve learned?

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All front-line health care providers are at increased risk of moral injury when dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmacists and their teams may be struggling with maintaining mental health and wellness while caring for their patients during this time. Host Shelita Dattani spoke with pharmacists and mental health experts Jean-François Desgagné (Pharmacie Desgagné et Martin), Anita Gupta (Clinical, Health & Rehabilitation Psychologist), Heather Scarlett-Ferguson (Alberta Pharmacists' Association) and Karen Wong (Hospital for Sick Children) about strategies and tips to support pharmacy teams during the pandemic.

Questions:

Jump to a specific question discussed during the webinar:

• Keeping Yourself and Your Staff Engaged
• Practical Tips to Bring You Back to the Moment
• Managing COVID Information Oversaturation
• Managing Your Fears and Those of Your Pharmacy Team
• Managing the Fears of Your Loved Ones
• Protecting Yourself from Burnout
• Protecting Yourself from Harassment or Patient Pressure
• Selfcare While Caring for Others: How to Fill Your Tank
• Maintaining Your Personal Relationships
• Networks and Other Supports for Pharmacists
• Additional Questions From the Audience

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For our 4th COVID Conversations webinar host Shelita Dattani spoke with a panel of front-line pharmacists across the country, sharing their stories about how daily practice and patient care has changed in community pharmacy during COVID-19. Speakers included Christina Tulk (Shoppers Drug Mart), Kimberly Sentes (Towers Pharmacy (PharmaChoice)) and Sukhpreet Poonia (Community Apothecary/Langley Memorial Hospital).

Questions:

Jump to a specific question discussed during the webinar:

• What physical or workflow changes have you made to your pharmacy?
• How are you protecting yourself and your patients?
• How are patients reacting to the changes?
• Are your patients able to access their family doctor?
• Are pharmacies seen an essential service?
• Have you been faced with any local drug supply challenges?
• How are patients responding to the 30-day medication limit?
• Has the 30-day medication limit increased workload in the pharmacy?
• How are you providing care for patients with opioid use disorder?
• How is your staff managing?
• How are you approaching professional services that require patient contact?
• How are you coping with stress?
• Other audience questions: Virtual Care, Medication Returns, Blister Packs?

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In our third COVID Conversations webinar, CPhA’s Shelita Dattani was joined by Kamran Nisar from PharmaChoice Canada, Christina Adams from the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP), Karey Shuhendler from the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and Glenn Rodrigues from the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS) to share best practices for using PPE to protect community pharmacy staff during the pandemic.

Questions:

Jump to a specific question discussed during the webinar:

• What is PPE and Why Is It Necessary?
• PPE in Hospital Pharmacy Settings
• Why Is PPE an Important Conversation In Community Pharmacy?
• When Do Community Pharmacy Staff Need PPE?
• Should Pharmacy Staff Wear PPE to Protect from Surface Transmission?
• What is the Role of Hand Hygiene in Using PPE?
• How Do You Don and Doff PPE?
• What Masks Are Used For PPE?
• How Long Should You Wear PPE?
• How Do You Dispose of PPE Properly?
• Are There Any Substitutes For PPE?
• Where Can You Get PPE and How Much Do You Need?
• Do Patients Need PPE?
• How Are Patients Responding to PPE and Protective Measures in the Pharmacy?
• Other Questions from the Audience

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As a follow-up to our March 11 COVID-19 FAQ webinar, CPhA brought together McKesson Canada’s Smita Patil, University of Waterloo pharmacy professor Kelly Grindrod, and Pharmasave’s Annette Robinson to answer your latest questions on managing day-to-day during a pandemic.

Questions:

Jump to a specific question discussed during the webinar:

• How Pharmacies Are Protecting Their Staff?
• PPE for Pharmacy Staff
• Physical Distancing While Providing Patient Care
• Delivering Professional Services During COVID-19
• Stockpiling and Medication Supply
• Clinical Controversies (NSAIDs, Hydroxychloroquine, etc.)
• Scope of Practice Changes During COVID-19
• Preventing Pharmacist Burnout & Other Audience Questions Supply

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CPhA and PEIPhA co-hosted a Q&A session featuring Dr. Heather Morrison (Chief Public Health Officer, PEI) and Dr. Gregory German (medical microbiologist and infectious disease consultant) help separate myth from fact and answer your COVID-19 questions.