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1. OPA/DIRC News
Please refer to the Continuing Education section for new educational opportunities, including online programs.

The association between increasing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) coverage, decreased viral load, and decreased number of new HIV diagnoses per year in BC

Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis

3. Continuing Education Opportunities

Live Programs - Toronto, 2010

Psoriasis Patient Care for Pharmacists, October – Dates TBA
This blended program (web-based didactic components followed by a live one-day session) will help pharmacists optimize the management of patients with psoriasis. This program will be hosted in both Toronto and Ottawa with details to be made available in August. This initiative is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Leo Pharma Inc. Registration will be available soon.

Infectious Disease Program, October 22-24
Infections can pose a challenging clinical problem because best treatment decisions are continually evolving. The primary objectives of this three-day program are to enhance the skills and knowledge of participants in understanding infectious diseases and provide them with an update of current guidelines in managing commonly encountered infections. Registration will be available soon.

Certified Geriatric Pharmacist Prep Course, November 12-14 and 26-28
This six-day course will help prepare pharmacists to write the U.S. Certified Geriatric Pharmacist exam and become credentialed as a Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP). Updates on over 25 disease states common to geriatric care are presented by pharmacy experts, many of whom have their CGP credentials. Registration will be available soon.

Psychiatry Patient Care Certificate Program, December 3-5
The objective of this three-day program is to enhance pharmacists’ skills and knowledge in managing mental health issues. Sessions will cover topics such as: bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, adherence and mental wellness in special populations (including women, children and the elderly). Registration will be available soon.

For more information on OPA’s education programs visit: www.opatoday.com

Online Certificate Programs

Available at www.pharmacisteducation.ca

Pain and Palliative Care Program
This CCCEP-approved program focuses on the management of chronic pain and palliative care. Originally delivered live, the program’s recorded content has been reviewed and updated by an expert faculty to enable pharmacists to access the information through a convenient web-based format. The program consists of 15 modules on various topics related to pain management and palliative care.

Diabetes Level 1 Certificate Program
This CCCEP-approved online program provides pharmacists with a comprehensive overview of current diabetes management in Canada. The program is taught by a multidisciplinary team of clinical experts and consists of 11 modules, based on the Canadian Diabetes Association’s latest clinical practice guidelines.

Complimentary Online Programs

Methadone Education Program
These online modules are designed to provide pharmacists with tools to effectively manage their patients on methadone maintenance therapy. The program was created following recommendations from the Methadone Task Force (2006) for a methadone mentorship program for pharmacists. These nine complimentary sessions are being provided to pharmacists with funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Please note that this program does not replace the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) workshop or approved courses required by the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

Vitamin D in Osteoporosis
A review of the sources of vitamin D, vitamin D insufficiency in Canada, benefits and current recommendations for vitamin D supplementation are provided.

Smoking Cessation
This program discusses a current approach to smoking cessation that takes into account patients’ readiness for intervention, pharmacists’ availability, and currently available resources and tools to optimize the encounter. This complimentary module was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Canada Inc.

Ulcerative Colitis
This 90-minute session provides pharmacists with a comprehensive overview of the current management of ulcerative colitis. Pharmacists will learn how to recognize common symptoms that may lead to early physician evaluation and diagnosis. This complimentary program was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Warner Chilcott Inc.

Practical Management of Cough and Cold
Both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment options for cough and cold are reviewed in this one-hour session, with a focus on special populations. The program will also introduce participants to tools and resources to assist in patient assessment, product recommendation, monitoring and follow-up. This complimentary module was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Procter & Gamble Inc.

Allied Health Professional Development Fund

A new cycle of funding will begin shortly with additional information to be posted in the upcoming weeks (visit www.ahpdf.ca ). Should you have professional development activities you wish to submit for consideration which have been completed on or after April 1, 2010, please keep all receipts and proof of successful completion (as well as any other relevant documentation).

4. Advisories and Adverse Reactions

Health Canada Recalls, Warnings, and Advisories
To view, click on the titles below.

Drug Recall Listings

Advisories
For Health Professionals

Rotateq – presence of porcine circovirus DNA

Rotarix – presence of porcine circovirus type 1

For the Public

FDA Safety Alerts

2010 Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products

FDA Briefing document Avastin® (bevacizumab) July 20, 2010

5. Clinical Practice Guidelines
Click on the title for direct access to the guideline.

From BC Guidelines & Protocols
Asthma - Diagnosis and Management

Asthma Inhalation Drug Dosing and Cost (Table)

Senior Manager Drug Information
The Ontario Pharmacists' Association is the professional association that represents the views and interests of more than 11,000 pharmacists and pharmacists-in-training across the province. The Association works to inspire excellence in the profession and practice of pharmacy, and to promote wellness for patients.

As a licensed pharmacist in Ontario with three to five years of experience including management, planning and policy development, you are now ready to consider joining OPA at the most dynamic point in its long history. Expanded scope of practice, broader educational offerings by OPA, increased demand for medication information and health care reform all form part of the changes impacting the profession.

OPA offers challenging opportunities for growth and contribution to a changing profession. If you are interested in operations - managing staff, disseminating information and meeting the medication information needs of other healthcare professionals, you may want to talk to us about the position of: Senior Manager Drug Information.

Join OPA's faculty registry as a speaker, facilitator or expert reviewer
OPA’s education department has an increased need for speakers, facilitators, and expert reviewers from across Canada for our growing number of educational programs. If you are interested in any of these roles, please click here to add your name to OPA's faculty registry. Please direct any inquiries to mwong@dirc.ca.

Why DIRC?
Through our timely, unbiased, and evidence-based drug information, we aim to help you:
• increase efficiency in your day-to-day work
• improve your patient relationships
• build your reputation with physicians and other healthcare professionals

Value for your subscription
As a DIRC subscriber, you have access to:
• hundreds of DIRC publications on the DIRC website
• current information from top medical journals and databases
• a peer with whom you can dialogue to resolve your drug-related queries

If you are a DIRC subscriber, you should have received your membership package for 2010 (the application form is on the back of the DIRC 2010 brochure). To subscribe, or for more information, contact Tina Starzenski at tstarzenski@dirc.ca or 1-800-268-8058 ext. 2252.