Continuing Pharmacy Education / ACPE Topic Designation / Delving Beyond the Shelving Podcast Episode #4: Pharmacist Roles in Prescribing and Medication Management
Please use this button to register in our system as a new user, or to purchase a CE Activity.
For free CE's, returning users can simply click the "TAKE TEST/EVALUATION" button on the right.
Please use this button when you have completed the CE Activity and are ready to take the quiz and complete the evaluation.

Delving Beyond the Shelving Podcast Episode #4: Pharmacist Roles in Prescribing and Medication Management

Learning Objectives

After completing this application-based continuing education activity, pharmacists will be able to:

RECALL the impact of pharmacists in clinical and prescribing roles
IDENTIFY the differences between collaborative practice agreements and progressive types of pharmacist prescribing
EXPLAIN how lessons from Alberta and Idaho may inform US pharmacy law

      Cute cartoon pill bottles on shelves with the words Delving Beyond The Shelving

       Release Date

      Release Date: November 10, 2026

      Expiration Date: November 10, 2029

      Course Fee

      FREE

      There is no funding for this CE.

      ACPE UANs

      Pharmacist: 0009-0000-26-068-H04-P

      Session Codes

      Pharmacist: 26POD68-VAQ49

      Accreditation Hours

      0.5 hours of CE

      Accreditation Statements

      The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.  Statements of credit for the online activity ACPE UAN 0009-0000-26-068-H04-P will be awarded when the post test and evaluation have been completed and passed with a 70% or better. Your CE credits will be uploaded to your CPE monitor profile within 2 weeks of completion of the program.

       

      Disclosure of Discussions of Off-label and Investigational Drug Use

      The material presented here does not necessarily reflect the views of The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences or its co-sponsor affiliates. These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products, processes, procedures and inferred diagnoses that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A qualified health care professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity.

      Faculty

      Dylan Decandia PharmD

      Freelance Medical Writer, Franklyn’s Pharmacy

      Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

       

      Faculty Disclosure

      In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines, The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences requires that faculty disclose any relationship that the faculty may have with commercial entities whose products or services may be mentioned in the activity.

      Dylan Decandia PharmD has no relationships with ineligible companies.

       

      Dylan Decandia, PharmD discusses topics in the pharmacy world with a new guest each episode. Catch the next episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

      DELVING BEYOND THE SHELVING PODCAST EPISODE 4

      Pharmacist Post Test (for viewing only)

      Delving Beyond the Shelving: Episode #4: Pharmacist Roles in Prescribing and Medication Management

      26-068 Pharmacist post-test

       

      After completing this continuing education activity, pharmacists will be able to

      • RECALL the impact of pharmacists in clinical and prescribing roles
      • IDENTIFY the differences between collaborative practice agreements and progressive types of pharmacist prescribing
      • EXPLAIN how lessons from Alberta and Idaho may inform US pharmacy law

       

         

        *

         

        1. A health system is evaluating a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation service. Which finding best demonstrates a clinical benefit consistent with the activity?

        A. A decrease in acquisition costs for the anticoagulants used by enrolled patients

        B. An increase in time within the therapeutic INR range among enrolled patients

        C. A decrease in prescription turnaround times for the anticoagulants dispensed to enrolled patients

         

        *

         

        2. Patients in a community face long waits for appointments to address medication needs. Which service best illustrates how pharmacist prescribing can help close this care gap?

        A. Providing timely pharmacist assessment and prescribing for eligible patients within authorized services

        B. Providing same-day medication delivery and refill reminders for patients with existing prescriptions

        C. Providing electronic renewal requests and appointment reminders for patients awaiting prescriber visits

         

        *

         

        3. A pharmacist and physician sign a formal agreement that defines when the pharmacist may adjust medication therapy. Which statement correctly identifies the source of the pharmacist’s prescribing authority in this arrangement?

        A. It derives from a statewide protocol issued by a state agency

        B. It derives from category-specific authority established through state pharmacy law

        C. It derives from a collaborative practice agreement with the participating prescriber

         

        *

         

        4. A state agency establishes predetermined screening and prescribing guidelines for a medication service. Pharmacists meeting its requirements may provide the service without obtaining an agreement with an individual prescriber. Which model does this describe?

        A. Prescribing under a statewide protocol with predetermined eligibility guidelines.

        B. Prescribing under a collaborative agreement with a participating prescriber.

        C. Prescribing under category-specific authority with broader clinical decision-making flexibility.

         

        *

         

        5. A US state wants pharmacists to use updated first-line therapies as evidence changes. Which policy approach best reflects the flexibility highlighted in the activity’s discussion of Alberta and Idaho?

        A. Authorize prescribing through a fixed list of specifically named medications

        B. Authorize prescribing through individual physician approval of each medication change

        C. Authorize prescribing through drug categories guided by current clinical evidence

         

        *

         

        6. A US policy group is considering broader pharmacist prescribing authority based on lessons from Alberta. Which safeguard best reflects the activity’s approach when a patient’s needs exceed a pharmacist’s demonstrated competence?

        A. Begin a short treatment trial before deciding whether specialist care is needed

        B. Refer the patient to an appropriate clinician or facility for further assessment

        C. Use a general treatment algorithm instead of arranging another clinician’s assessment

         

        References

        Full List of References

        D1#. Milestones in U.S. Food and Drug Law. U.S Food and Drug Administration. Accessed September 6, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-history/milestones-us-food-and-drug-law
        D2#. Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1951: How the FDA Created the Prescription vs. OTC Drug Distinction. Casrai Standards. Updated July 30, 2026. Accessed September 6, 2026. https://casrai.org/guides/durham-humphrey-amendment-prescription-drug-regulation-history
        D3#. Physician Shortage. The American Medical Association. Accessed September 6, 2026. https://www.ama-assn.org/topics/physician-shortage
        D4#. The physician shortage will worsen—unless Congress acts now. The American Medical Association. Updated June 16, 2025. Accessed September 6, 2026. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/leadership/physician-shortage-will-worsen-unless-congress-acts-now
        D5#. New AAMC Report Shows Continuing Projected Physician Shortage. AAMC. March 21, 2024. Accessed September 17, 2026. https://www.aamc.org/news/press-releases/new-aamc-report-shows-continuing-projected-physician-shortage D6#. 2025 Survey of Physician Appointment Wait Times. AMN Healthcare. June 2, 2025. Accessed September 6, 2026. https://www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/physician/whitepapers/2025-survey-of-physician-appointment-wait-times/
        D7#/D10#. Collaborative Practice Agreements and Pharmacists Patient Care Services. The American Pharmacist Association. Accessed September 6, 2026.
        https://www.aphafoundation.org/collaborative-practice-agreements
        D8#/D12#. Adams AJ. Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority: Lessons from Idaho. Pharmacy (Basel). 2020;8(3):112. Published July 8, 2020. doi:10.3390/pharmacy8030112
        D9#. Mahmoudjafari Z, Hough S. Expanding oncology pharmacist teams: Justifying the return on investment. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2022;28(6):1381-1387. doi:10.1177/10781552221086292
        D11#. Collaborative Practice Agreements: Resources and More. National Alliance of State Pharmacy Association. June 8, 2017. Accessed September 6, 2026. https://naspa.us/resource/cpa/
        D13#. Pharmacists’ Authority to Initiate PrEP and PEP and Engage in Collaborative Practice Agreements. NASTAD. August 19, 2024. Accessed September 7, 2026.
        https://nastad.org/resources/pharmacists-authority-engage-collaborative-practice-agreements-and-initiate-prep-pep-and
        D14#. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Hiv.gov. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/using-hiv-medication-to-reduce-risk/pre-exposure-prophylaxis
        D15#. Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraceptives. Guttmacher. Updated April 17, 2026. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/pharmacist-prescribed-contraceptives
        D16#. Over-the-Counter Access to Hormonal Contraception. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Updated October 2019. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.acog.org/en/Clinical/Clinical%20Guidance/Committee%20Opinion/Articles/2019/10/Over-the-Counter%20Access%20to%20Hormonal%20Contraception
        D17#. Current Contraceptive Status Among Women Aged 15–49: United States, 2017–2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 2020. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db388-H.pdf
        D18#. Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Vaccination Authority. National Alliance of State Pharmacy Association. January 3, 2025. Accessed September 6, 2026. https://naspa.us/resource/2024-pharmacist-immunization-authority/
        D19#. Le LM, Veettil SK, Donaldson D, et al. The impact of pharmacist involvement on immunization uptake and other outcomes: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2022;62(5):1499-1513.e16. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2022.06.008
        D20#. Teahan Á, Sharp M, Farragher A, Strawbridge J, Long J. Effectiveness and safety of pharmacist prescribing: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2026;16(6):e112886. June 25, 2026. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-112886
        D21#. Akintunde AO, Karaxhija A, Laaksonen R. Effects of pharmacist prescribing on health-related outcomes in secondary care compared with medical prescribing or no treatment: A systematic review. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2026;22(2):254-262. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2025.11.003
        D22#. 2024 Final Report: National Pharmacist Workforce Study. AACP. June 2025. Accessed September 16, 2026. https://www.aacp.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/2024-npws-final-report-5.27.25.pdf
        D23#. Pearson GJ. Evolution in the practice of pharmacy--not a revolution!. CMAJ. 2007;176(9):1295-1296. doi:10.1503/cmaj.070041
        D24#. Become a Pharmacist. Ontario Pharacist Association. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.opatoday.com/become-a-pharmacist/
        D25#. Additional prescribing authorization (APA). Alberta College of Pharmacy. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://abpharmacy.ca/regulated-members/registration/pharmacists/authorizations/additional-prescribing-authorization-apa/
        D26#. APhA secures key congressional win allowing pharmacists to prescribe buprenorphine with specialized training. The American Pharmacist Association. December 2, 2025. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.pharmacist.com/APhA-Press-Releases/apha-secures-key-congressional-win-allowing-pharmacists-to-prescribe-buprenorphine-with-specialized-training
        D27#. APhA's Initiating Buprenorphine Certificate Training Program. The American Pharmacist Association. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.pharmacist.com/Education/Certificate-Training-Programs/Buprenorphine
        D28#. Investigating pharmacists’ refusal to fill valid physician orders. The American Medical Association. December 18, 2025. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/scope-practice/investigating-pharmacists-refusal-fill-valid-physician-orders
        D29#. Idaho 54-1734. PHARMACIST PRESCRIBING — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. Idaho Statutes. Updated 2025. Accessed September 16, 2026. https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title54/T54CH17/SECT54-1734/
        D30#. Pharmacists to gain authority to therapeutically substitute controlled substances under new federal regulations. Canadian Pharmacists Association. Accessed September 21, 2026. https://www.pharmacists.ca/news-events/news/pharmacists-to-gain-authority-to-therapeutically-substitute-controlled-substances-under-new-federal-regulations/