CPS 2020 to focus on scope harmonization efforts in key therapeutic areas

canadian pharmacists scope 2020 (cps 2020) was launched in 2017 as an initiative to define, describe and develop a national harmonized scope of practice for Canadian pharmacists. The goal: to define the benefits to patients and the health care system when pharmacists are able to work to their full scope.

The initial work undertaken was to evaluate evidence that demonstrates the value of pharmacy services in 4 domains of pharmacist-delivered services: prescribing, dispensing, health testing and medication administration authority.

“As work continued it became clear that there were challenges with completing such a broad evaluation of evidence across all 4 domains,” says Shelita Dattani, director, Practice Development and Knowledge Translation and lead on the CPS 2020 initiative. “The extent of the initiative proved too large and diverse to review at one time and would not be scientifically feasible or meaningful.”

Over the past few months, after reflecting on the overall purpose and vision of the initiative, it was evident that the best way to achieve success was to target the harmonization efforts on one therapeutic area first and then expand that approach (including lessons learned) across other therapeutic areas using a phased approach.

The initial area of focus chosen is opioid stewardship.

Pharmacists, among the most accessible health care providers, are often the first providers to observe signs of opioid-use disorder.

A full and harmonized scope of practice for pharmacists in opioid stewardship responds to both critical patient needs and challenges to accessing primary health care providers, says Dattani. Moreover, there are well-defined pharmacist opioid stewardship activities where the benefits of scope harmonization can be demonstrated.

“Through the next year, our intent is to map out an evidence-informed action plan for a broader pharmacists’ role in opioid stewardship. We will then build on this approach and expand it to the evaluation of full and harmonized scope in other therapeutic areas,” she says.

The focus on opioid stewardship aligns with CPhA advocacy efforts for improving the safe and effective use of prescription opioids by expanding prescription opioid monitoring programs and supporting provinces and territories to ensure they have the best tools and technologies for this task.

“We are establishing a new overarching Steering Committee whose objective will be to focus solely on strategic guidance for the implementation of CPS 2020. We are also forming multiple advisory/working groups to review and analyze the evidence, gaps in care and opportunities for pharmacists to fill those gaps in each therapeutic area,” says Dattani.