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On the COVID-19 BC Update on February 23rd, Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry recognized the need for immunizers to take part in mass vaccination clinics. An order was issued that authorizes pharmacy technicians to participate in the preparation of vaccines (including the drawing of doses from a vial) with appropriate training. This is within the existing scope of practice for pharmacy technicians, and we stand ready to work with other health professionals and contribute to the immunization efforts. Should the need arise for additional health professionals to be added to the pool of immunizers, pharmacy technicians are prepared to fill this role, and look forward to doing their part in ending the pandemic.
PTSBC Board
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PHARMACY TECHNICIAN NEEDED: The College is Looking for Pharmacy Technicians to Serve on Volunteer Committees!
The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia is looking for pharmacy technicians to serve on its committees!
As a committee member, you can help shape decisions from complaints outcomes to standards that impact the quality of care British Columbians receive. This is why the College needs your voice, perspectives and ideas as part of these committees.
You can learn more about committee initiatives by reading the College’s Annual Reports. See the latest Annual Report published here: http://annualreport.bcpharmacists.org/ar2020/.
How to Apply
To be considered for appointment, you must:
- Be a full pharmacy technician
- Be in good standing
- Have been registered with the College for a minimum of 1 year
In order to apply, please provide the following to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:
- Completed Committee Member Volunteer Application Form (Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians)
- Up-to-date ResumeDeadline to Apply
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Please submit your completed application form and resume in PDF format to the College before Friday, February 26, 2021 at 5:00 PM.
Submit forms via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Deadline to Apply
Please submit your completed application form and resume in PDF format to the College before Friday, February 26, 2021 at 5:00 PM.
Submit forms via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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- Written by Bal Dhillon
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BC Hospital Pharmacy Technicians are in the process of submitting their appliation to the Labour Relations Board in order to transfer bargaining unions. The objective for this initiative is:
- to advance the Pharmacy Technician profession
- to align Pharmacy Technicians with other similar professionals
- to provide Pharmacy Technicians with more influence at the collective bargaining table
- for better wages that will reflect the scope & complexity of their duties
Update:
The application has been finalized and submitted to the LRB by the legal team! Next step is for the labour board to review the appliation and any responses before making a decision (hopefully without the need for a hearing!).
The application itself is a great read and is the result of all the hard work Eric Sletmoen has done on his free time! It represents the profession very well, and it also represents all of your hard-earned donations coming to fruition - you folks should be proud of it, too!
It is not recommended to post the entire application publicly at this time, an excerpt from the conclusion is being shared below. ~~~
(any comments are asked to be posted at: Bargaining Unit Upgrade | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraising versus social media in an effort to keep proceedings professional. Any media requests can be directed to Eric Sletmoen through the "Contact" button on the Chuffed page (link above).
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"CONCLUSION
42. In applying the relevant criteria established in the Paramedical Inquiry, supra, for transferring certain professionals to the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Unit, it is our position that the RPhTs, and specifically the hospital RPhTs, not only meet but also have exceeded each of those criteria. The enhanced training and educational requirements, mandatory and ongoing registration and certification with the College, mandatory continuation education, as well as the enhanced knowledge and independence of their judgment and actions respecting their duties and responsibilities, have significantly evolved over the last 20 years and as a result, are totally consistent with a move from the Facilities Subsector Bargaining Unit to the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Unit.
43. It is further our submission, that based on the significance evidence and material that we have presented, the role of the hospital RPhT clearly falls well within the “patient care” end of the continuum and, is a clear example of “... how their scientific knowledge is exercised in relation to the delivery of health care to patients”.
44. It is also our submission that on the basis of the substantial information that we have submitted, the hospital RPhTs share a clear and distinct community of interest with other healthcare professionals with whom they work closely, and who are currently included in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Unit most notably pharmacists. In addition, their collective bargaining aspirations would best be met through representation by the HSA rather than their current representation by the HEU."
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Thank you all once again for your generous donations, especially during a global pandemic. We hope you're all doing your parts and staying safe out there - and remembering to share this campaign and provide monetary support! More updates will be provided as soon as we hear back about our submission, so stay tuned.
** SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO BURNABY HOSPITAL PHARMACY STAFF who are at the top of the leaderbpard, having contributed more than any other group or single donar so far!**
(FYI - To see the leaderboard, scroll to the bottom of the fundraiser page.
Absolutely incredible work, BH Techs! You make us all proud. Thank you so much for fundraising so well for the cause!
Background:
To transfer bargaining units, members of a profession must make an application to the Labour Board of Canada. Each bargaining unit has its own set of eligibility criteria. The criteria to belong in PPBU are as follows:
Paramedical Professional Employees:
- are engaged in the health care field in a position involving technical proficiency and scientific knowledge;
- hold a degree, diploma or other form of certification from a post-secondary educational institution appropriate to their particular discipline;
- are members of a professional or quasi-professional organization dedicated to the advancement of their discipline;
- exercise considerable independence of judgement and action;
- perform an important role in either: (i) the diagnosis or treatment of patients, residents or clients, or (ii) health promotion, or (iii) the prevention of illness;
- can demonstrate that both their collective bargaining aspirations and their community of interest are best met through their inclusion in the paramedical professional bargaining unit.
BC Hospital Pharmacy Technicians meet all these criteria now!
Other professions have successfully transferred bargaining units in the past. Some of them have remained members of HEU, while others have been reassigned to HSA. This decision rests with the Labour Board of Canada, and they will decide which association is a better fit for Hospital Pharmacy Technicians after the application has been processed. For more information, please refer to the Labour Board's website.
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- Written by Bal Dhillon
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PTSBC would like to highlight the work by pharmacy departments or individuals. What extraordinary efforts of groups / individuals are you displaying to help the community at large inside or outside of the workplace setting? How are you giving back to the community? Please go to our facebook page and post your highlights.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/220193811335052/