Frequently Asked Questions: Newly Amended Drug Regulation
1. What impact does the new Drug Regulation have on a registrant’s privileges relating to administering drugs by injection identified in Schedule 1?
None. Those registrants who were authorized to administer drugs by injection under the prior Drug Regulation, continue to have that authority.
2. I graduated from the Michener Chiropody program before 2001. I have never taken any Michener continuing education on-line drug prescribing course. I have only ever prescribed topical medications, never oral drugs. Will I be able to continue to prescribe only topical medications?
The College has never recognized ‘topical drugs only’ prescribing privileges with the prior Drug Regulation, and it does not with the amended Newly Amended Drug Regulation.
3. Can I have Nitrous Oxide administering authority if I don’t have drug prescribing privileges under the Newly Amended Drug Regulation?
No. A registrant requires drug prescribing privileges to be able to administer Nitrous Oxide.
4. I now have expanded drug prescribing privileges, but I don’t feel competent to prescribe many of these drugs. What are my options?
No registrant should prescribe or administer any drug they do not feel competent to prescribe or inject, regardless of their designated prescribing authority. Registrants are required to practice within the areas in which they have the competence, skill, and judgement. This is an ongoing expectation as part of your professional responsibility to practice within your self-determined level of competence. Additionally, registrants are always free to take pharmacology refresher courses through assorted continuing medical education resources. However, if a registrant seeks to expand their prescribing privileges from partial prescribing to full prescribing, the College recognizes proof of successful completion of the Michener’s Pharmacology Continuing Education course CHCP-800.
5. Other than the prerequisite academic education identified by the College in determining one’s drug prescribing privileges, does the College recognize any other continuing education courses such as those that might be provided at conferences?
No. The College recognizes proof of successful completion of the Michener’s Pharmacology Continuing Education course CHCP-800 as the only education credential to expand one’s prescribing privileges.
6. Where can I obtain relevant reference information or guidance relating to the safe prescribing of controlled drugs from Schedules 3 and 4?
The College will regularly update its website to provide relevant prescribing resources, such as those found here: Opioid Prescribing Resources for Healthcare Professionals as well as through Footprint Bulletins. Any relevant notices received from the Ministry of Health will be provided to those registrants impacted. Additionally, registrants are also encouraged to seek other available, credible resources such as the College of Pharmacists of Ontario.
7. I graduated from the Michener Chiropody Program before 2001 but I have taken the previously offered Michener continuing education on-line drug prescribing course (CH-802). I was previously authorized to prescribe all drugs from the prior Drug Regulation Schedule 2. Am I now authorized to prescribe all drugs from the new Drug Regulation Schedule 2?
No. With the credentials cited a registrant is deemed to have partial prescribing privileges. There are certain classes/categories of drugs not authorized to be prescribed by registrants with partial prescribing privileges. For specifics, see the information on the Drug Regulation and Prescribing Privileges.
8. For registrants authorized to prescribe both betamethasone and calcipotriol, are they also permitted to prescribe the combination drugs such as Dovobet, now? Similarly, for registrants authorized to prescribe both naproxen and esomeprazole, (that are available over the counter (OTC)), are they also permitted to prescribe the combination drug Vimovo?
Yes. Given that each of the components of these combination drugs is on our new Drug Regulation drug list, or OTC, assuming the dosing is within approved ranges, registrants may prescribe these drugs. Care must be taken to stay within any dosing duration limits that might be present.