Excellence in Pharmacy Practice - Patient Care
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Information for the 2023 - 2024 competition will be available in August
Award Recipients
2023
Christine Peragine and Victoria Bugaj
Past winners
The Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre Oral Anticancer Medication (OAM) Program
Christine Peragine and Victoria Bugaj
Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Background: Increased availability of oral anticancer medications (OAMs) created a paradigm shift in oncology that introduced new challenges to treatment access, placed additional burden on the patient and prescriber to coordinate care, and increased risk for medication non-adherence and severe toxicity. Recognizing the emergent issues associated with OAM therapies, the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre Pharmacy created an innovative program to optimize the clinical, and technical, medication-related support needed by OAM patients and prescribers.
Objective: OAM Program goals include: (1) coordinating timely and continuous OAM access; (2) improving OAM safety and effectiveness; (3) providing OAM information and education to patients, staff, and trainees; and (4) creating new knowledge on OAM-related practices, processes, and outcomes.
Methods: Dedicated pharmacy technicians liaise with prescribers, drug access navigators, and patient support programs to proactively resolve funding issues and facilitate timely medication access. Oncology pharmacists clinically verify each OAM order, perform drug-interaction analyses, and provide tailored education to optimize drug safety and adherence. The OAM Team has developed a variety of clinical tools to guide OAM management and ensures protocolized telephone follow-up for over 60 OAM agents.
Results: The OAM Team has enhanced the care of 3007 Oncology patients since 2015 (1108 currently active). Patients of the OAM Program report high rates of satisfaction, excellent rates of medication adherence and reduced rates of grade 3-4 drug toxicities. OAM Program services optimize OAM distribution efficiency, improve patients’ ability to self-manage OAMs, and reduce the risk of severe side effects and unplanned breaks in therapy.
Conclusions: The OAM Program minimizes time-to-access OAM therapy, maximizes time on OAM therapy, and optimizes patient and prescriber convenience. The Program was identified as a Leading Practice in Cancer Care by Accreditation Canada in 2017 and is considered the gold standard / best-practice for OAM care among local oncology professionals.
Purpose and criteria
This award will be granted for a project, protocol, process, or initiative of importance to hospital pharmacy practice that was implemented in a hospital or healthcare facility. Programs or initiatives may involve departments from outside of pharmacy, such as interprofessional clinics (e.g., family care teams). New in 2022: Given the rise in extreme weather events (and their consequent health impacts), submissions related to climate change may be given special consideration.
This award recognizes an individual or team that has demonstrated outstanding performance in improving patient specific outcomes through their practice, which may be evidenced in one or more of the following ways:
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Exhibiting the core competencies of patient-centred care; compassion, respect and dignity, information sharing, participation and collaboration
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Implementing best practices to achieve exceptional patient care
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Developing partnerships that are mutually beneficial to the healthcare system, healthcare providers, patients, and their families
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Developing novel ways to improve processes in delivering services to enhance the patient experience
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Other related qualities that may be considered during the selection process
Eligibility
This award is open to current Members and Individual Supporters of CSHP (including Pharmacists or Pharmacy Graduates, Pharmacy Technicians, Supporters, and Students) who have held membership since October 31 of the previous year. In the event of a team nomination, at least one team-member must meet eligibility requirements. Only one award will be granted in a given year; if there are no qualified candidates, the award will not be given.
About the award
The award will be presented in-person at CSHP's national conference. All award winners will receive a personalized framed certificate. One winner will receive complimentary conference registration, and travel and accommodation to attend the event.
Award details
Award submissions will be adjudicated by the National Awards Committee. Assessment will be based solely on the information provided. In the event of a peer-nomination, additional details may be requested by the Awards Committee.
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Nominations due by October 31 (23:59 Pacific Time)
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Winners contacted in December
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Winners announced in January via website, email, and social media
Submission details
Submit an individual or team for consideration using this nomination form .
Please provide the following documents with your completed nomination form:
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A nomination letter (not exceeding 1000 words) which outlines the reasons that the nominated individual or team is recommended for consideration. The letter should describe how the work of the nominee (or team) meets the criteria for the award. You may nominate yourself or someone else for this award.
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At least two letters of support (not exceeding 300 words each) from individuals, (including contact information), who have first-hand knowledge of the accomplishments of the nominated individual or team. Letters should describe why the candidate(s) should receive the award. Letters of endorsement must be submitted by someone other than the primary applicant/nominee, such as a supervisor, a collaborator, or another member of the nominated team who may or may not be a CSHP member.
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Any supporting documentation to provide additional information about the project, protocol, process, or initiative. This may include print or online news articles, presentations, publications, certificates of achievement, CV, profile, or biography (please limit supporting documents to 4 pages each)
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In the event of a peer-nomination, additional details may be requested by the Awards Committee
Completed nominations may be returned to CSHP by mail, fax, or email.
Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists
30 Concourse Gate, Unit 27, Ottawa ON K2E 7V7
Toll Free: 877-340-2756, ext. 222
Direct: 613-909-9964
Fax: 844-438-9397
E-mail: awards@cshp.ca
If you would like more information, please contact Robyn Rockwell, Membership and Awards Administrator, at rrockwell@cshp.ca or (877) 340-2756, ext. 222.