The British Pharmacological Society and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) today announced an ambitious new collaboration to support safer prescribing by doctors in Canada.
Representing a significant commitment by both organisations, the partnership will bring together experts over the coming year to raise the profile of prescribing competency and to promote its importance through joint development of education and assessment resources in this field.
“This partnership opportunity comes at a time when practitioners are addressing immense challenges such as management of chronic pain with opioids and reduction of antimicrobial resistance. This program will provide our Fellows with skills and tools to improve their performance against recognized standards and improve patient safety and outcomes,” said Royal College CEO Dr. Andrew Padmos, MD, FRCPC.
The Prescribing Skills Assessment will form part of the Prescribing Safely Canada initiative, and will incorporate:
- A new competency framework for all Canadian prescribers, which will be mapped to the national (CanMEDS) framework
- New online learning modules on prescribing
- A new online prescribing assessment for RCPSC members
Professor David Webb, President of the British Pharmacological Society, said: “The Society has developed a valid and reliable online test of prescribing competency, based on its track record of championing improved prescribing worldwide. Early pilots using the Prescribing Skills Assessment have been successfully delivered in India and Australia as well as Canada. This exciting partnership with RCPSC is at the forefront of these activities, and demonstrates our shared ambition to enhance prescribing skills and, ultimately, improve patient care.”
The announcement follows a successful pilot of the Prescribing Skills Assessment, the online education and prescribing assessment tool owned by the British Pharmacological Society, which was completed in Canada in August 2016. Feedback from Royal College Fellows and educators who participated reported that this innovative approach would be of value to Canadian doctors.
