Statewide Protocols (SWPs) for Colorado Pharmacists

The Statin Therapy Statewide Protocol (SWP), approved and effective as of September 2022, is the latest and fourth SWP developed by Colorado Pharmacist Society (CPS) and its members, adding to the growing list of Colorado pharmacist SWPs.  These independent prescriptive protocols, along with passing of pharmacist provider status laws (ensuring payment), help to close the gap on access to healthcare in our state. 

·       Protocol - Rule 17 Appendix E

·       State Board of Pharmacy Rules - Rule 17

 

To practice any SWP, the law requires all pharmacists to complete focused accredited CE on the topic matter. Click on the Register Here Button below to complete the STATIN THERAPY SWP Training.

Objectives of this training.

1.       Identify the laws and regulations that allow pharmacists to practice under the statin therapy statewide protocol.

2.       Describe the requirements for pharmacists wishing to practice under the statewide protocol and where to find them.

Tools

Statin Therapy Screening Questionnaire Tool

Disclaimer: These tools have been developed with the sole intention of aiding in adhering to established statewide protocols. These tools should be used only as supplementary aids and not as replacements for consulting and adhering to all published guidelines, Board Rules, and Laws as applicable.

Additional Resources

·       American College of Cardiology Risk Calculator

·       2018 AHA/ACC/Multisociety Cholesterol Guideline

·       2022 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway

·       National Lipid Association Tear Sheet

 

Register Here

 

Protocol

• State Board of Pharmacy Collaborative Pharmacy Practice & Statewide Protocols
• State Board of Pharmacy Rules
• Appendix A - Protocol for Prescribing Hormonal Contraceptive Patches and Oral Contraceptives

 

Educational Training

Comprehensive Contraceptive Education:

Colorado Senate Bill 16-135 created the infrastructure for the Colorado Boards of Pharmacy, Medicine, and Nursing to work collaboratively with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to create statewide protocols to address public health needs. The first such statewide protocol is self-administered contraception. In 2022, the protocol was further expanded to include depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera®) and the vaginal ring products.

The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is honored to partner with Oregon State University to offer this training program that allows Colorado pharmacists to meet the requirements necessary to provide contraceptive care to women in our state. We are now the third state in the nation to allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives. The Colorado statute provides this per protocol.

Women in the United States have had access to highly effective hormonal contraception in the form of an oral pill for decades. However, they have always needed to see their doctor or women’s health provider in order to get a prescription for it, causing what many believe to be an unnecessary hurdle. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have issued a formal statement that self-administered hormonal contraception should be made more accessible by removing this barrier. This is because the benefit of preventing unintended pregnancies by improving access to hormonal contraception outweighs the small risks associated with serious adverse events.

While pharmacists are knowledgeable in being able to counsel women on the side effects and what to expect, before now they have never been in the role of starting or continuing a woman on any form of hormonal contraception. It is good to have a foundational knowledge on hormonal contraception, but prescribing it requires a deeper understanding of how to practice seeing patients and in making clinical decisions.

This training program has received significant support and guidance from several OBGYN members of ACOG, and is specifically designed to give pharmacists the tools needed to be confident and successful in prescribing and monitoring self-administered hormonal contraception.

 

Required Documents

• Standard Procedures Algorithm
• Self-screening Questionnaire
• Summary Chart U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
• Pharmacist Referral and Visit Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

• FAQs

Additional Resources

• US MEC for Contraceptive Use 2016 (full document)
• US Selected Practice Recommendations
• Effectiveness of Contraceptive Methods Chart
• ACOG Well Woman Recommendations
• JCCP Pharmacist's Patient Care Process
• Colorado Pharmacists Society - Resources for Statewide Protocols

Register Here

Educational Training

The comprehensive training program “Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Education for the Colorado Pharmacist and Pharmacist Technician” and all supporting materials were developed in Colorado via a collaborative group of clinical experts and dedicated stakeholders in the pharmacy profession. We are proud to offer this training program that allows Colorado pharmacists and technicians to meet the requirements necessary to provide smoking cessation care to eligible adults in our state.

This training program will provide you with the educational resources to safely prescribe smoking cessation therapies. It includes background information (prevalence, burden of tobacco use, addiction, and intervention strategies), comprehensive review of medication therapies (pharmacology, clinical approaches to treatment options, and crucial counseling points), practical and business considerations, and finally, Colorado-specific protocol information to apply to your practice.

• Additional Resources – Colorado Pharmacists Society

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Information:

The CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education (CPE). Pharmacists and Pharmacist Technicians will earn 3 contact hours (0.3 CEUs). Participants must attend the entire program. Partial credit will not be awarded. 

UAN: 0008-0000-23-087-H03-P/T
Contact Hours: 3.0 Hours/0.3 CEUs
Activity Release Date: 9/18/2023
Activity Expiration Date: 9/18/2026

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Protocol

• State Board of Pharmacy Rules and Regulations (see page 182)

Length of course:

90 minutes – interactive, online, with assessment questions

Background:

The Colorado legislature approved HB20-1061, which provides pharmacists the authority to prescribe and dispense medications to prevent HIV infection. The two strategies, are referred to as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and nPEP (non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis). Both have CDC guidelines, specifying which medications should be taken and for what duration. In order for pharmacists to prescribe and dispense these medications under the Statewide Protocol, they must complete the necessary training as outlined by Colorado State Board of Pharmacy rules.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the basis of HIV infection and risk of transmission
2. Select an antiviral regimen for a patient with a non-occupational exposure to potential HIV infection
3. Define recommended treatment options for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV
4. Discuss how to best counsel a patient for PrEP and PEP therapies
5. Demonstrate how to apply Colorado-specific rules for pharmacist-prescribed and dispensed PrEP and PEP regimens

Register Here