Core principles for safe and effective prescribing are set out in the College professional standard Safe Prescribing of Drugs with Potential for Misuse/Diversion, and approved by the Prescription Review Panel. These principles are intended as a guide for physicians to ensure safe, judicious and responsible prescribing to all their patients. The College recognizes that opioid therapy will be different when treating pain in the settings of active cancer treatment, palliative care and end-of-life care.

The College does expect appropriate pharmacovigilance in the prescribing of controlled drugs.

Prescription Review Program Staging Process

The program begins with a review of the physician’s PharmaNet practitioner prescription profile, followed by several stages of educational activities.

At each stage, a PharmaNet practitioner prescription profile is reviewed by the medical consultant. Depending on the unique situation of each case, files may progress linearly stage by stage, go back and forth between stages, or may be accelerated through the program. If the review reveals prescribing patterns that are consistent with the College standards and guidelines, Safe Prescribing of Drugs with Potential for Misuse/Diversion, the panel would likely direct that the file be closed.

For those physicians with particularly challenging prescribing profiles, a face-to-face discussion with a medical consultant is offered as an opportunity to discuss barriers to, and opportunities for, improvements in prescribing practice. The educational and remedial activities provided by the PRP are of a collegial nature, supported by research and best practices.

Continuing Medical Education

For a list of safe opioid prescribing courses recognized by the Prescription Review Program, please contact 604-733-7758 extension 2629.

References