In April 2019, the College’s Practice Review Program began conducting reviews of residential care services provided by pharmacies.
Community and hospital pharmacies that provide services to facilities or homes licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act (CCALA) are required to follow the standards of practice for residential care facilities and homes under Health Professions Act Bylaws Schedule F Part 3 – Residential Care Facilities and Homes Standards of Practice. These requirements are designed to ensure patients receive safe residential care services and are the standards Compliance Officers use when reviewing residential care services at pharmacies that provide them.
Pharmacy care for residential care patients is essential to our health care system and the well-being of our aging population. As the senior population size, medical complexities and number of transitions between levels of care increase, so does the probability of medication incidents and the potential for ill effects. In accordance with the College’s mission, the review of residential care services focuses on regulations relevant to critical areas.
Recognizing the differences between the infrastructure of healthcare support for patients residing in residential care facilities or homes versus patients in the community or hospital, the Health Professions Act Bylaws Schedule F Part 3 – Residential Care Facilities and Homes Standards of Practice serves to apply standards that are tailored to the uniqueness of this practice setting. In addition to meeting the standards in the Hospital Pharmacy Standards of Practice and the Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice, hospital and community pharmacies who provide residential care services at CCALA licensed sites are also expected to be in compliance with the Residential Care Facilities and Homes Standards of Practice. During residential care reviews, Compliance Officers assess for compliance in the pharmacy’s processes and documentation in the following residential care specific areas:
- Medication Room Audits
- Medication Safety Advisory Committee Meetings
- Policies and Procedures for the Safe and Effective Distribution, Administration and Control of Drugs
- Prescription Requirements
- Prescription Product Packaging and Labeling
- Resident Medication Reviews
- Contingency Drugs
- Returned Drugs
- Patient Records including Medication Administration Records
- Respite Care
- Leave of Absence Drugs
- Self- Medication Programs
Facilities and homes rely on pharmacists to play an active role in aiding in the safe and effective administration of resident’s medications by continuously monitoring services, implementing appropriate policies and procedures and providing education and training to facility staff, when necessary. Consistent compliance with the regulations in the above stated categories is critical in ensuring this need is met.
Learn More: ReadLinks – PRP Insights: Residential Care