Vancouver New Westminster BC Naturopathic Medical College - Boucher

Registrants of this course will attend three sessions, including the final assessment.

• Part 1 - Introductory Session. This session will provide a basic description of our regulatory scope and other regulatory issues; the essence of basic prescription writing and the principles of evidence-based prescribing. It will serve as an orientation to the course, and present some of the material described in the course content syllabus under Part I.
• Part 2 - Second Session. During this session, participants will continue to interact with the material they have been studying in preparation for the assessments. It will involve hands-on and interactive opportunities that will allow participants to test their understanding of the material, pose questions to the facilitators and practice selecting and prescribing pharmaceutical agents, as well as following up on the those prescriptions.
• Self-Study - The amount of time available for the live sessions is inadequate to cover all the material necessary to become familiar with the use of medications in a general medical practice. The topics selected for coverage in the live sessions were chosen by committee, including members of the profession, and represent the most likely conditions practitioners can expect to see in their practice. While the self-study topics may not be as commonly seen, it is still important for practitioners to have a good understanding of the principles of prescribing. These topics are not as strongly emphasized in the course, however participants are expected to be able to use them safely and effectively.

The primary feedback and practice participants will receive are through on-line examinations summarizing groups of topics as you work through the material. There will be approximately 200 total questions developed. 120 of them will be accessible via the on-line site. The rest will be on the final exam, with approximately 20 of the questions already presented on-line. Each question will provide feedback on your choices, correct or not, to walk you through the decision making process and refine your approach to prescribing.

Boucher will also make available an on-line forum to allow participants to ask questions of each other and talk about issues and problems they may be having with the content, or to share solutions to such problems. The site could be monitored periodically to provide feedback if it seems necessary.

The assessment procedure is in two parts, each of which must be passed by participants. It is estimated to take approximately four to five hours, and both parts will be taken on the same day.

Part I is a one-on-one assessment exam. Participants will be given a case, with 20 minutes to ask about any particulars. From there, they develop a prescribing plan, which includes writing a prescription and a follow-up evaluation of the patient. This process will be repeated three times for a total of three cases. Each participant will receive feedback describing their strengths and weaknesses, and the outcome of their assessments, which will be pass or fail.

Part II is an open book, multiple-choice examination. The exam will consist of approximately 100 questions, and will take two hours.

Members will be required to successfully complete both the oral and written portions of the assessment.

Registration	June
Exam	May 11, 2013

If you would like to be notified when the next course is offered, please email your contact details to: CEINFO

I understand that pharmacology is not covered in the prescribing course and that it is based only on prescribing. Are we going to be given a guideline for what information we have to know for the exam regarding pharmacology?

There is a pharmacology text, and while pharmacology will not be the focus of the course, a certain level of understanding is often necessary to understand prescribing choices and monitor implications. You will find that the readings from that text are referenced in the reading lists. Up to one third of the examination will refer to the pharmacological information from this material.

Which drugs and what information on each is on the exam (i.e. dosing, indications, contraindications, interactions)?

The exam will be based on the readings and the material covered in the classes. The items listed above would be a good start. Focus on the readings in general to prepare for the first lecture, which will allow you to refine what you are studying, if needed. The classes will cover best choices, prescription monitoring and the application of what you have learned in the readings.

Can doctors outside the Lower Mainland take the exam remotely?

Unfortunately, that is not possible at this time. Instructors (who are part of the personal assessment process) would have to be willing and able to travel (with overnight stays and other travel expenses covered). We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, but it is necessary to travel to Vancouver.

I have the book list, could you provide more practical guidance on how to catch-up on the assumed background for the course?

Begin with the textbook readings – we will provide some extra support on our Forum. We will monitor the activity on the Forum and, if it seems people need help, we will set up additional support.

If I am not prepared to write the exam, when will there be another opportunity?

The  dates will be announced well before the next exam is offered. If you would like to be notified when this happens, please contact: CEINFO

The course fee is:

$1,525 for NDs who graduated before 2011

$1,000 for NDs who graduated in 2011 or 2012

To register please contact Lin Lawrence at ceinfo@binm.org or at 604-777-9981 ext. 234.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation of registration fourteen (14) working days prior to the course is subject to a full refund, seven (7) working days for a 50 per cent refund. Less than seven (7) working days notice of cancellation does not qualify for a refund. Replacement registration may be considered. All cancellation requests must be in writing and the original Boucher fee receipt must be returned.

Dr. James McCormack, BSc (Pharm.), PharmD 
Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC

Dr. James McCormack received his undergraduate pharmacy degree at the University of British Columbia in 1982. He received his doctorate in pharmacy (PharmD) in 1986 from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. McCormack’s focus is shared-informed decision-making using evidence based information and rational therapeutic principles. He has presented over 300 seminars on drug therapy, has published over 100 articles in medical literature, mainly in the area of rational drug therapy, and worked as editor for two internationally recognized textbooks on appropriate/rational drug therapy.

Dr. Adil Virani, BSc (Pharm.), PharmD, FCSHP 
Director, Pharmacy Services, Fraser Health Authority; Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC

Dr. Virani received his undergraduate and doctorate degrees from the UBC, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. He works as a director with Pharmacy Services at Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care and Provincial Health Services Authority. Dr. Virani is also an associate professor with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC. He has over 30 publications and has delivered over 100 presentations. He is the lead editor of a 372 page book entitled the Clinical Handbook of Psychotropic Drugs, which is now in its 18th edition and is the 2009 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year. He also co-wrote a similar handbook for children and adolescents.

In addition’s to his role on the Education Working Group of the Therapeutics Initiative, Dr. Virani is a core member of the Canadian Optimal Medication Prescribing and Utilization Service (COMPUS) Expert Review Committee and a member of the Human Drug Advisory Panel (HDAP) of the Patented Medicines Prices Review Board (PMPRB).

The required textbook is Therapeutic Choices (6th Edition – 2011). Further references, reading, and podcasts will be identified as we approach the dates of the course.

Download: Part 1 Readings

Download: Part 2 Readings

Download: Self Interest Readings

Download: Self Study Readings