ISOPP CAPhO 2025 Symposium: Practicing to Full Scope in Oncology Pharmacy to Improve Patient Care: From Pharmacist Chemo Prescribing to Pharmacy Technician Role Expansion

The roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Canada and the UK will be compared and contrasted. Panel members will highlight the educational requirements and qualifications for practice in each country. The benefits of scope expansion and practicing to full scope will be discussed along with limitations of practicing to full or expanded scope. Panel members will offer strategies that can be used to expand scope or implement a full scope of practice in various settings.

Learning Objectives 

• Describe how oncology pharmacists can directly contribute to anticancer medication prescribing practices to improve patient safety, enhance patient satisfaction and provide optimal patient care. 

• Identify at least two tasks that pharmacy technicians can take over to alleviate pharmacists' time spent on administrative and operational duties, allowing them to focus on clinical responsibilities.

• Recognize the potential benefits of practicing to full scope in oncology, including reducing delays in treatment, improving care coordination, and reducing physician and nurse workload. 

• Leave the session with at least one actionable strategy they can propose to their organizations for expanding pharmacy technician responsibilities or increasing the clinical roles of oncology pharmacists.