Readying for an Expanded Scope of Practice in California

This activity fulfills California State Board of Pharmacy training requirements California Senate Bill 159 (CA SB 159).*

Participants who successfully complete this activity will receive a certificate confirming they have fulfilled the requirements laid out by the California State Board of Pharmacy under CA SB 159.

Faculty

Primary Author
James D. Scott, PharmD, FCCP, APh, AAHIVP
Associate Dean for Experiential and Professional Affairs
Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy
Pomona, California

Faculty Reviewer
Lucas Hill, PharmD, BCACP, AAHIVP
HIV/HCV Pharmacist Specialist
UC San Diego Health System
San Diego, California

Pro​gram Description

This in-depth electronic monograph has been developed to specifically support the needs of California pharmacists now challenged to come up to speed on guidelines and protocols for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP). This newly expanded scope of practice is the result of amendments to California law, specifically, State Bill 159 (CA SB159). This continuing education activity will provide California pharmacists with guideline-based clinical information for initiating and monitoring PrEP and PEP treatment in a pharmacy setting. The activity will discuss policy updates and address all content necessary to fulfill the training requirements, as determined by the California Board of Pharmacy Licensing Committee, for pharmacists wishing to become PrEP and PEP providers, such as:

• HIV epidemiology
• Pharmacology of HIV medications used for PEP and PrEP
• Assessment of sexual health and HIV risk
• Patient counseling
• Testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Guidelines for PEP and PrEP eligibility, screening, prescribing, and management
• In-pharmacy implementation

 
Although the focus of this activity will be the California scope of practice, it may also inform pharmacists nationwide of evolving practice protocols, so they may be prepared—and advocate—for future opportunities in their areas.

The monograph also contains an electronic Q&A Forum in which learners can pose questions to the program faculty as they prepare to implement PEP and PrEP services in their pharmacy practice.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for clinical and community pharmacists involved in the care of patients at risk for HIV infection.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better able to:

• Describe the California Business and Professions Codes that allow for pharmacist-led or pharmacy-based direct delivery of PEP and PrEP services
• Assess patient’s risk of HIV acquisition based on the type of exposure and provide PEP when indicated
• Determine patients’ PrEP eligibility through HIV testing, sexual history-taking, and appropriate laboratory testing
• Implement guideline-driven PrEP-prescribing principles with regard to treatment initiation, monitoring during the first 60 days, and referral for ongoing management
• Identify infrastructure needs for in-pharmacy implementation of a PEP/PrEP prescribing initiative

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Integritas Communications. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team.

Continuing Pharmacy Education

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 2.0 contact hour(s) (0.2 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. (Universal Activity Number – JA4008162-9999-20-2212-H01-P)

This is a knowledge-based activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

PIM requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest (COI) they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified COI are thoroughly vetted and resolved according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in health care and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

Lucas Hill, PharmD, BCACP, AAHIVP: Nothing to disclose

James D. Scott, PharmD, FCCP, APh, AAHIVP: Nothing to disclose

Planners and Managers

The PIM planners and managers have nothing to disclose. The Integritas Communications planners and managers have nothing to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Instructions To Receive Credit

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must complete the preactivity questionnaire, complete and receive a minimum score of 70% on the posttest, and complete the program evaluation.

*The California State Board of Pharmacy training requirements under CA SB 159 stipulate that a participant must pass the posttest with a minimum score of 70% and retain records of the training for at least 4 years. Participants who successfully complete this activity will receive a certificate confirming they have fulfilled the requirements laid out by the California State Board of Pharmacy under CA SB 159.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

CPE Questions – PIM Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact PIM via email at inquiries@pimed.com or at http://www.pimed.com/.

Integritas Contact Information

For all other questions regarding this monograph, please contact Integritas via email at info@exchangecme.com.

We would like to thank the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) for their collaboration and support.