HealtHcare closer to Home - My Neighbourhood Pharmacy

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pharmacyinfo.ca
Healthcare Closer to Home
Sustaining Canadians’ access to quality,
affordable healthcare through neighbourhood pharmacies.
Where can you go for healthcare that meets
your family’s needs, your family’s schedule?
Y
ou never know.
Predicting when
your kids will get a
sore throat, a rash
or a minor infection is next to impossible. If your
parents need to know how their
medications will interact with over
the counter products, it can’t wait.
It can be a matter of life and death.
There’s really no way to know when
someone in your family is going to
need quick access to professional
healthcare. And if that need arises at
night, or on the weekend, or you live
in a community without a hospital
or easy access to a clinic, there’s a real
risk the issue is going to get worse before it gets better.
Family doctor appointments, even
on an urgent basis, can take days to
get. Walk-in clinics typically only
offer limited evening hours, usually with long wait times, and hospital emergency rooms are designed,
staffed and equipped for treatment of the most seriously ill or in-
H EALTHCARE
jured patients on an acute care basis.
So, where can you go for the other
healthcare that meets your family’s
needs and their schedule?
There’s no truly one-size-fits-all
solution. But for many Canadian families, their neighbourhood pharmacy
offers accessible healthcare advice
that’s closer to where they live, work,
and play. Canada has about 9,000
neighbourhood pharmacies across
the country, many open 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, and even more
open to midnight, where a growing
range of services is available, usually
without an appointment.
Many Canadians are now familiar
with pharmacy flu shots, but there’s
a growing list of patient services being delivered in neighbourhood
pharmacies around the country that
they may not know about. These services include prescribing for minor
ailments, wellness and preventative
care, diabetes management, smoking cessation, administering other
vaccines and support for chronic
conditions. Each province regulates
its own pharmacies, so this lack of
knowledge may be due to the varying
services available.
The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood
Pharmacies) conducted in-depth public opinion research and it indicates
that Canadians have a positive view of
their neighbourhood pharmacies. We
see pharmacies as “friendly” (91 per
cent agree or somewhat agree), and
providing advice that is “accessible”
(90 per cent), “supporting patient care
through advice on medicines” (92 per
cent), “sharing health information”
(88 per cent) and “helping prevent illness through programs such as flu
shots” (85 per cent).
Canadians trust and respect their
pharmacists, based largely on pharmacists’ expertise as medication
specialists, but there is evidence that
Canadians are increasingly comfortable having their pharmacists
provide other professional healthcare services. Research recently published by Shoppers Drug Mart associate-pharmacist John Papastergiou,
More stories and information at
www.healthcareclosertohome.ca
C LOS E R TO HOME
The Healthcare Closer to Home Commitment
▪ Quick, convenient access to healthcare services,
closer to where Canadians live, work and play
▪ A growing range of primary healthcare needs
▪ Better use of physicians' time to treat more complex cases
▪ Treatment by the most cost-appropriate provider
▪ Avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits
▪ Better use of taxpayer dollars
in the “Canadian Pharmacists Journal”
(Oct 28, 2014) addressed patient reactions from flu shot recipients in October–November 2013.
Based on more than 1,500 survey
responses, patients were overwhelmingly positive: 86 per cent reported
they were very comfortable with the
pharmacist administering the injection, and 92 per cent that they were
very satisfied with the pharmacist’s
services and injection technique.
Perhaps even more impressively, seven per cent of respondents indicated
they had never received a flu shot before, 28 per cent would not have obtained one last year, had it not been
available at a neighbourhood pharmacy, and 99 per cent would recommend that family and friends be vaccinated by a pharmacist.
Canadians have increasingly looked to their neighbourhood
pharmacies to receive their flu
shots in recent years. At Neighbourhood Pharmacies member locations, total flu shots administered
have increased dramatically – from
zero in 2008, to almost 1.4 million
in the 2013 - 2014 flu season. To date,
provincial regulations have enabled
pharmacists in eight provinces to
administer flu shots.
Recent behavioural research indicates that Canadians believe pharmacists, in addition to administering
flu shots, could also provide wellness
and preventative services, including writing, changing and refilling
prescriptions, managing chronic
conditions, assessing medications
and treating minor ailments. Across
the board, the research also clearly
shows that the main driver behind
Canadians’ interest in obtaining
these services at pharmacies is convenience of access.
Neighbourhood pharmacies are
stepping up to take on a greater role
in delivering healthcare, where and
when Canadians need it.
2 · pharmacyinfo.ca
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FROM OUR PARTNERS
The Flu is a serious illness
protect yourself and others
You can protect yourself and others
by immunizing yourself this season.
■■ neighbourhood
pharmacies.ca
■■ healthcarecloser
tohome.ca
The Flu — it’s not just a bad cold
I
t’s time we see the flu for what it
really is: a serious illness.
Although many people mistakenly use the terms “flu” and
“cold” almost interchangeably, the
flu is a much more severe health
risk than the common cold.
Health Canada estimates between
2,000 and 8,000 Canadians die of the
flu and its complications each year.
In the best case scenario, the typical flu will knock you off your feet for
a week or two with a high fever, painful dry cough, or aches and chills. The
discomfort alone, combined with
time lost from work, school, or family
responsibilities, makes the flu something to be taken very seriously.
But for young children, seniors,
pregnant women, and people with
chronic illnesses, like diabetes or
heart disease, influenza can escalate
into even more severe health complications — such as pneumonia —
and result in hospitalizations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 100
children died in the United States last
year as a result of the flu and complications. 90 per cent of those children
were not vaccinated.
Annual vaccination is the single best way to prevent the flu and
its consequences. Safe and effective vaccines have been used for over
60 years, and with neighbourhood
pharmacies across Canada now providing flu shots, it is more convenient than ever to be immunized.
For those who worry the flu shot
“Those who
worry the
vaccine can
make you sick,
it is made from
an inactivated
virus, so it
simply cannot
give you the flu.”
can make you sick, it is made from
an inactivated virus, so it simply
cannot give you the flu. For those
afraid of needles, a nasal spray vaccine has got you covered.
And even if you consider yourself
healthy and not at risk of getting sick,
you can still be a transmitter of the
virus. Influenza spreads easily, and
can sweep through schools, nursing homes, businesses and communities. It takes as little as breathing in
the same air where an infected person
just coughed to become infected.
The flu is a serious illness and a real
public health challenge. Protect yourself, help protect others, and get your
flu shot this season.
Why neighbourhood pharmacy
matters to Canadians
Canadians enjoy the
convenience and ease
of access to about 9,000
neighbourhood pharmacies
across the country. They
are nearby, open convenient
hours and offer a growing
range of healthcare services.
Canada’s neighbourhood pharmacies
range from standalone ‘mom-andpop’ shops to large-format stores,
with an extensive range of healthcare products, services and general merchandise. What all these different examples of neighbourhood
pharmacies have in common, however, is a dedication to delivering
compassionate, professional healthcare – to the highest standards.
Over time, the role of neighbourhood pharmacies has expanded. Now,
in addition to the core services of dispensing medications and consulting
with patients on them,many pharmacies offer a wider range of healthcare
services — the profession’s term is ‘expanded scope of practice’ — of which
flu vaccinations may be the most
familiar. The ‘expanded scope’ services available in pharmacies vary by
province and location, but include adjusting prescription medications, assisting in the management of chronic
conditions such as diabetes and high
blood pressure, assessing and prescribing for minor ailments and assistance with smoking cessation.
Accessing primary healthcare in a
neighbourhood pharmacy offers Can-
adians healthcare closer to where we
live, work and play. Many services are
available without an appointment
and many pharmacies are open 24
hours, with even more open to midnight.That means common ailments
can often be assessed and treated with a one-time, one-place solution. When combined with the other
goods and services on offer in many
pharmacies, there’s an unmatched
value proposition that serves Canadians well and respects the many
demands on their daily lives.
Canadians like and trust their
neighbourhood pharmacies, and find
them friendly, providing advice that
is accessible, affordable and supportive of patient care through advice on
medications, sharing health informa-
tion and helping to prevent illness,
through programs like flu shots. In
fact, almost 80 per cent of us consult
one at least annually on a healthcare
concern or question.
Neighbourhood Pharmacies —
the trade association behind the retail pharmacy business in Canada —
is conducting research aimed at developing evidence-based solutions
to provide support for continued expansion of pharmacy healthcare services. Canadians expect their healthcare system to be there for them.Their
neighbourhood pharmacies are a vital
part of a sustainable system that delivers accessible, affordable high quality healthcare services.
9000 Points of Care
Acting now to sustain
Canadians’ access to quality,
affordable healthcare.
It’s not fresh news to us, but Canada’s
universal healthcare system is under
mounting pressure from the twin
challenges of increasing costs and a
rapidly aging population. Although
the rate of cost increases has slowed
in recent years, healthcare now accounts for more than 40 per cent of
provincial government budgets.
Our healthcare system — which
was built to deliver acute care in hospitals — is now faced with a population whose needs are evolving towards managing chronic conditions,
like diabetes and high blood pressure,
where hospital treatment is among
the most costly options. What is already expensive is set to become even
more costly, as our population ages
and requires more care. In 2011 there
were about five million Canadians 65
or older, a number expected to grow to
about 10.4 million by 2036 — doubling
both in total numbers and as a proportion of Canada’s overall population.
Recognition of this looming challenge isn’t new, either, as various
Royal Commissions, inquiries and
studies stretching back a decade or
more have all called for fundamen-
tal change in the way healthcare is
delivered in Canada.
In 2013, the broader pharmacy
community embarked on an ambitious research agenda. The result was
a ground-breaking policy platform
titled “9000 Points of Care: Improving
Access to Affordable Healthcare.”
The absolute focus of “9000 Points
of Care” was to protect healthcare for
future generations. As such, concrete,
actionable strategies that will improve
patient care and health outcomes that
makes better use of taxpayers’ scarce
dollars were developed.
Together,“9000 Points of Care’s” five
creative initiatives have the potential
to reduce governments’ healthcare
costs by $8.5 billion to $11 billion over
three years. These findings were independently validated by the Conference Board of Canada.
Implementing these strategies will
provide immediate healthcare benefits
to patients and economic benefits to
governments, insurers and individual
Canadians alike.The strategies include:
■■ Using neighbourhood pharmacies to treat common ailments
such as diaper rash, cold sores, allergic rhinitis and oral thrush, and to
administer vaccines, has the potential to free up to 2.4 million physician
hours to focus on more complex cases
■■ Helping Canadians afford the
medicines they need through in-
creased access to and use of affordable generic medications can reduce overall system costs by $7 billion to $9 billion.
■■ Supporting patients with chronic conditions — managing chronic
conditions more effectively, including increased use of neighbourhood
pharmacy resources, could free up to
6.3 million hours of physician time,
prevent up to 1.3 million ER visits and
500,000 hospitalizations.
■■Optimizing distribution of essential healthcare products, such
as flu vaccines – by using the pharmacy
industry’s distribution system (as in
Alberta and Prince Edward Island) –
page
7
The neighbourhood
pharmacy of tomorrow
“They are set
to play an even
larger role as the
country’s broader
healthcare
system evolves
to address the
needs of an
aging population
managing
their chronic
conditions…”
Healthcare Closer to Home
First edition, December 2014
“Five creative initiatives
have the potential to reduce
governments’ healthcare costs
by $8.5 billion to $11 billion
over three years…”
and prevent up to 600,000 emergency
room visits and 1,500 hospitalizations.
EDITOR’S
PICK
Publisher: Joyce McCaffrey
Sales Director: Martin Kocandrle
Managing Director: Joshua Nagel
Production Manager: Laura Shaw
Lead Designer: Matthew Senra
Photo credit: All images are from Getty
Images unless otherwise accredited.
Send all inquiries to
editorial@mediaplanet.com
Distributed within:
The National Post, December 2014
This section was created by Mediaplanet
and did not involve the National Post or its
Editorial Departments.
will reduce inefficiencies resulting in
waste and spoilage,and result in a state
of the art emergency preparedness and
pandemic response system.
■■ Preventing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) – better electronic infra-
structure, resources, connectivity
and information-sharing will help
avoid up to 300,000 ER visits and up to
86,000 hospitalizations due to ADRs.
Although these strategies represent new and different ways of delivering healthcare, they all have
the advantages of being practical
and of being capable of being implemented in the short-to-medium
term. Through these five strategies,
we can deliver patient and economic benefits for all Canadians. Neighbourhood pharmacies are ready to
help serve Canadians better.
Mediaplanet’s business is to create new
customers for our advertisers by providing
readers with high-quality editorial content that
motivates them to act.
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pharmacyinfo.ca
·3
Medication and Patient
Services from Canada’s
Neighbourhood Pharmacies
Canada’s neighbourhood pharmacy companies provide a wide range of medication
and patient services. To enable them to showcase their offerings in their own terms, we have
made a equal amount of space available to each one. Since pharmacies and pharmacists are
provincially regulated and licensed, the services offered may vary by location, so please contact your
neighbourhood pharmacy for more specific details.
* In BC, MB, PE, NB, NS and NL, the pharmacy services provided are required by law. Services available vary by provincial regulations.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
Expect one-on-one consultations
with Calgary Co-op pharmacists
Based solely in Alberta, Calgary Co-op
Pharmacies have the capacity to offer
patients one of the most robust ranges of
pharmacy services in Canada.
With 24 locations in Calgary and the surrounding area, the pharmacies usually have more
than one pharmacist on duty at each location,
allowing them to conduct one-on-one consultations with patients that wouldn’t be possible
with only one pharmacist.
Calgary Co-op Pharmacies also have three fulltime and two part-time clinical pharmacists who
work solely to offer professional services for patients on a consultation level. They each cover
about eight stores and visit at least once every two
weeks. This gives patients access to pharmacists
who have extensive training in consultation services, such as diabetic education, respiratory education, injections, tobacco reduction, and additional prescribing authority.
The clinical pharmacist service and the multiple
pharmacists on staff give patients confidence that
they can receive walk-in access to an educated healthcare professional.
The Calgary Co-op Pharmacies also offer travel
health services. With a travel division in Calgary
Co-op stores, they receive many referrals giving
customers a one-stop-shop for all of their travel
health needs, instead of coordinating with a travel
clinic or their physician.
In addition to these services, Calgary Co-op
Pharmacies offer peak pulmonary function testing labs, injections and vaccinations, a centralized
compounding site, veterinary medicated products,
medical centres that are also in the food centres
and diabetic educators that can replace long waits
for diabetic education centres.
Calgary Co-op Pharmacies also have a list of the
languages each pharmacist speaks, so patients can
get the care they need in their preferred language.
Calgary Co-op Pharmacies pride themselves
on offering primary healthcare within the
neighbourhood.
With 492 locations throughout Canada, under various Loblaw banners, the pharmacies reach a wide
portion of the population. Pharmacies located in
Loblaw banner stores include Loblaw Pharmacy and
DRUGstore Pharmacy. The grocery store location allows the pharmacies to make use of the storewide
announcement system to inform customers. For example, there may be an announcement reminding
customers to get the flu shot. Because the pharmacies offer the flu vaccination, anyone who hears the
announcement can immediately receive the shot
before leaving the store. This method has the capacity to reach a large portion of the population who
may not have received a flu shot otherwise.
Another benefit to being a pharmacy in a grocery
store is the relationship between health and food.
With 66 dietitians on staff throughout the country,
customers in Loblaw stores can consult with the
specialists about how to help manage medical con-
guidelines or approvals, please contact cdn-marketing@costco.com.
Use of the Costco Wholesale logo must be approved by
Central Marketing prior to publication.
Colour
(note the larger ®):
Costco Wholesale U.S. logo:
London Drugs offers a
variety of health offerings
to serve its customers
ditions through diet. Having the pharmacy in the
London Drugs focuses on serving its local
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In addition to this food-based care, Loblaw pharnutrition and fitness to heart health, and sleep to
shot and Zostavax vaccine for shingles. Fully trained
macies also offer medication reviews, med-checks
osteoporosis screening, plus more.
pharmacists can provide education, counselling and
and additional prescribing services where avail Their unique Travel & Immunization Clinic
administration of recommended immunizations.
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ces including: medication reviews, pill packs,
With the escalating costs of healthcare in Cancertified Travel Medicine Pharmacists provide cona
rental program, including crutches, nebuada, Loblaw pharmacies focus on providing the most
sultations, immunizations and travel supplies to
lizers,
sleep watch, electric breast pumps,
comprehensive care available to help treat patients
help ensure a safe, healthy trip.
compression stockings fitting, complimentbefore they require the more expensive services.
If you’re living with diabetes, London Drugs
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38 Costco Wholesale Canada Brand Standards Guide
Lovell Drugs pharmacies are open
to trying new programs
With 11 stores across eastern Ontario, the pharmacy holds a niche market in Canada and is experimenting with many innovative and new practices.
One of these programs is the collaborative treatment of children with ADHD or autism in one
of the pharmacies. The pharmacist works with
physicians to develop the best medication combination to treat each patient on an individual basis. Being a specialist, the pharmacist has
completed extensive education and research and
works with the physician to develop the best
treatment program for each patient. This collaborative relationship between healthcare professionals means the patient receives double the
knowledge in finding a solution. When the best
medication combination is found the patient’s
quality of life will improve and their use of the
healthcare system will diminish.
vice, patients are provided with an up-to-date list of
all their medications.
Pharmacists have recently been given a greater
healthcare role. In certain provinces, Costco pharmacists order lab tests, adapt prescriptions to better suit
the patients’ needs,and renew prescriptions.They can
also administer injections and immunizations and
prescribe for common minor ailments as permitted
by provincial laws. In the case of specialty medications, their pharmacists can educate patients on how
to administer the injections themselves and in some
cases, inject the medication for the patient if they’re
having trouble.
In select provinces, Costco pharmacies offer a
home delivery service by mail and the option to refill
prescriptions online,24 hours a day.
Costco Pharmacy provides exceptional service and,
more importantly,high-quality,personalized care.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Costco Wholesale
This registered
logoowned
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Quebec locations
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and operated.
9.0 Costco logo standards
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
Lovell Drugs Limited is often on the cutting edge of pharmacy services and is
always open to trying something new for
its patients.
The lowest prescription costs and high
quality products offered by Costco
Pharmacy are only the beginning of
what makes it a convenient and friendly
pharmacy experience.
With 69 pharmacy locations across Canada, Costco
Pharmacies reach almost the entire country, and prescription and clinic services are available to everyone,
not just Costco members.
Costco Pharmacies are more than a place to pick
up prescriptions and ask health questions. They
take pride in offering, at no cost, access to their innovative and ongoing health and wellness programs on a variety of topics, such as diabetes and
heart health. Many of their clinics use the latest devices that allow their pharmacists to immediately and accurately determine test results, and then
work with the patient and their doctor to develop a
All use of the Costco Wholesale
trademark
tailored healthcare
plan. and/or the Costco
Their
pharmacists
also provide
one-on-one conWholesale logo is subject to control by Costco
Wholesale
sultations to discuss with the patient how their mediCorporation.
cations are working. The review includes over-thecounter medications, as well as answers to any other
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regarding
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At the
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Loblaw Pharmacies integrate
food-based care with its
pharmacy services
9.1
Loblaw pharmacies use their strategic
location in grocery stores to reach a larger
and more diverse clientele.
Costco Pharmacy sets the standard
for high quality patient care
Lovell pharmacies are also involved in travel
health, medication reviews, smoking cessation,
diabetes reviews and flu shots. They are also involved in specialty compounding as well as home
infusion therapy. One of the latest pilot projects
involves hormone replacement therapy to help
with the effects of menopause both from a compounding as well as consultation perspective.
Taking it one step further, Lovell pharmacists
will visit an elderly patient’s home to do a medication review when they’re unable to get to the
pharmacy. This involves checking that they’re
taking their medication as prescribed, not duplicating medication, etc. By performing this service the pharmacy hopes to improve the patient’s
quality of life and allow them to stay in their
home as long as possible by making their medication regime as simple as possible.
LOGO
Medical Pharmacies Group works
to maintain their client’s standard
of living
Medical Pharmacies Group Limited
(MPGL) provides medication management to retail customers, retirement
homes and long term care facilities.
Medical Pharmacies Group has 40 pharmacies in
Ontario, B.C and Alberta. They have traditional retail pharmacies as well as pharmacies that
provide service to retirement and long term care
homes. Their pharmacists work in close collaboration with other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible healthcare for their clients.
Medical Pharmacies Group provides a comprehensive array of services, innovative technologies, specialized packaging, IV therapy, emergency support and delivery to their clients. Medical Pharmacies Group employs a dedicated team
of clinical consultant pharmacists that regularly visit the homes to provide expertise, knowledge, and support. These pharmacists conduct
medication reviews, evaluate for safe and appropriate medication usage and make recommendations to optimize the resident’s health outcomes.
For instance the risk of falls is a huge concern in
the senior population so they review the client’s
medication profile and recommend appropriate alternatives or strategies to reduce the risk of
falling, decrease hospital admissions, and help
maintain the individual’s quality of life.
Educational programs are an important focus
for Medical Pharmacies. Pharmacists host interactive Wellness Days in the retirement communities. These offer an opportunity for residents and
their families to learn more about such topics as
flu immunization, diabetes, bone health and skin
care. The goal is to encourage preventative measures or early diagnosis to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Ultimately this will have a positive impact
not only on the individual but the community
and healthcare system as a whole.
4 · pharmacyinfo.ca
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More expanded scope of
practice services in more places =
better healthcare for Canadians
Check the boxes, below, to see which expanded scope of
practice healthcare services have been enabled in your province.
* In BC, MB, PE, NB, NS and NL, the pharmacy services provided are required by law. Services available vary by provincial regulations.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
Northwest
Territories
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Renew/extend prescription
Not reimbursed
British Columbia
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Renew/extend prescription
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation
■■Make therapeutic substitution
■■Administer a drug by injection
■■Medication review
Alberta
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Renew/extend prescription
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation
■■Make therapeutic substitution
■■Initiate prescription drug
therapy
■■Administer a drug by injection
■■Comprehensive annual care plan
■■Medication management
(medication review)
Guardian, IDA,
The Medicine Shoppe, Proxim
We are here for you. Our network of over
1,300 independently owned & operated
community pharmacies are focused on
providing healthcare services for you and
your family.
Along with the ever growing services available,
which may vary depending on provincial regulations, the independent community pharmacists affiliated with our network will be happy to provide
you with the personal care you’ve come to expect.
Now, we are able to do more than ever in terms of
helping you live healthier & feel better. Visit a nearby neighbourhood location to take advantage of
unique atoma & diem products developed exclusively for you, and only available in our pharmacies.
Speak to your pharmacist about services right for
you, including: tools to help you monitor your blood
sugar & blood pressure, specialized clinic days to
help manage your conditions, suggestions for nonprescription & vitamin/supplements that may help
with your therapeutic care, customized packaging
to help you & your loved ones better manage multiple medications, medication reviews to help you
get the most out of your medications, and in many
regions – flu shots and travel vaccinations from your
pharmacist. Many pharmacies affiliated with the
network have been proudly serving communities
for generations, and continue to work hard to provide products and services that are best for you.
For more information visit:
www.medicineshoppe.ca
www.guardian-pharmacy.ca
www.ida-pharmacy.ca
www.proximgroup.ca
*In BC, MB, PE, NB, NS, and NL, the pharmacy services provided are
required by law. Services available vary by provincial regulations.
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Renew/extend prescription
(scope only)
■■Renew/extend prescription
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation (scope only)
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation
■■Make therapeutic substitution
(not reimbursed)
■■Prescribe for minor ailments/
conditions
■■Medication review
**The pharmacists practicing in Quebec are solely responsible for the sale
of pharmaceutical products & services provided in their pharmacies.
■■Prescribe for minor ailments/
conditions (scope only)
■■Initiate prescription drug
therapy (Schedule 1 drugs.
Not reimbursed)
■■Order and interpret lab tests
(scope only)
■■Administer a drug by
injection (flu)
Metro Pharmacies reach a wide
range of the population
OnPharm provides support for
independent pharmacies
Metro Ontario Pharmacies Limited is
committed to offering personalized
care and enhanced pharmacy services
so its patients live well and maintain a
healthy lifestyle.
OnPharm helps independents thrive!
Through advocacy, training and management aid, independent pharmacies keep
their own name and place within their communities but have the support of a larger
organization.
The company operates 72 pharmacies under two
banners, Pharmacy in select Metro grocery stores
and Drug Basics in select Food Basics grocery
stores across Ontario. They provide pharmacistadministered flu vaccinations in all of their pharmacies, and the benefits to their patients are immediate considering the exposure to a potentially
serious illness every year.
Metro Ontario pharmacists are accessible and
available for walk-ins, so their patients are more
likely to get vaccinated due to convenience and time
saved, which in turn provides better protection for
those who are more vulnerable to influenza, like
young children and older adults. Getting vaccinated
is a win-win for the individual and the community,
and the pharmacies offer this service in participation of the global disease prevention strategy.
Metro Ontario Pharmacies also offer medication reviews for their patients to optimize their
treatment by identifying and managing lifestyle
factors that affect disease, medication side effects
and drug interactions with another drug, food or
supplement. Pharmacists address these issues before they become clinically significant, which may
lead to hospitalization.
In addition, all of Metro Ontario Pharmacies
patients benefit from personalized nutrition information from its pharmacists based on their
medication. Pharmacy patients are informed of
the benefits of eating healthy, getting enough essential vitamins and minerals, and interpreting
nutrition labels to help them make better food
choices as it relates to their medical conditions.
With over 250 pharmacies, OnPharm has a presence
in Ontario. Because each pharmacy is independently owned and run, there are different services offered
at each location to meet the needs of its community.
Many OnPharm pharmacies offer prescription
renewals. If a patient comes in without any repetitions left for their medication, the pharmacist will
decide if the conditions are suitable to prescribe a
renewal. This will supply the patient until they can
get to their doctor’s office and means the patient
won’t miss any of their medication.
OnPharm pharmacies also have a tool to provide
medication review services also known as MedsCheck. This means, the pharmacist looks over all of a
patient’s medications, both prescription and over the
counter, to ensure there are no overlaps, interactions,
incorrect dosages, etc. OnPharm pharmacies recommend that patients carry these lists in their wallets so
if there’s a situation where they require medical treatment, healthcare professionals will easily be able to
identify what medication they’re taking and likely
limit any interactions.
Another service OnPharm pharmacies provide is
the pharmaceutical opinion program. If a patient is
having a drug related problem for any reason they can
consult with their pharmacist, who can then make
the necessary recommendations to their doctor and
if necessary make changes to the prescription to better suit the patient.
OnPharm has created a customized online platform to help pharmacies provide these services in a
standardized professional manner. It promotes these
programs and more, including the flu shot, to the independent pharmacies but each pharmacy has the
autonomy to decide what best suits their community.
AN independent SUPPLEMENT by mediaplanet TO THE NATIONAL POST
*Pending legislation or regulation or policy
Notes:
1. AB: Pharmacists in Alberta who have
“additional prescribing authority” can prescribe
a Schedule F drug (prescription-only), including
those for the treatment of minor ailments
2. SK, NS & PEI: Only as part of assessment and
prescribing for minor ailments
3. SK: Legislation introduced, expected implementation by fall 2015
4. MB: As Continued Care Prescriptions under
section 122 of the Regulations to the Pharmaceutical Act
5. ON: Restricted to prescribing specified drug
products for the purpose of smoking cessation
6. ON: Administration of influenza vaccination
to patients five years of age and older; administration of all other injections and inhalations for
demonstration and educational purposes
Newfoundland
and Labrador
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Renew/extend prescription
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation
■■Make therapeutic
substitution (non formulary)
■■Administer a drug by injection
■■Medication review
pharmacyinfo.ca
·5
7. QC: Pending Orders in Council (activity enabled by passage of Bill 41, an Act to amend the
Pharmacy Act, December 8, 2011; regulation for
this activity was planned for September 3, 2013,
however it was postponed. Renewals, extensions, adaptations and therapeutic substitutions
– awaiting payment terms
8. QC: When authorized by a physician by means
of a “collective prescription” (i.e., collaborative
practice agreement)
9. QC: For demonstration purposes only
10. NB: Prescribing constitutes adapting, emergency prescribing, prescribing non-prescription
drugs or within a collaborative practice
New Brunswick
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Renew/extend prescription
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation
■■Make therapeutic substitution
■■Prescribe for minor
ailments/conditions
* non-prescription drugs
■■Initiate prescription drug
therapy10
■■Order and interpret lab
tests Pending
■■Administer a drug by injection
■■Medication review
Nova Scotia
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Renew/extend prescription
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation
■■Make therapeutic substitution
■■Prescribe for minor
ailments/conditions
* list of approved conditions
■■Initiate prescription drug
therapy2
■■Order and interpret lab tests
(scope only)
■■Administer a drug by injection
(flu)
■■Medication review
Remedy’sRx offers specialized healthcare
services to meet community needs
Ontario
Quebec
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills
■■Provide emergency
prescription refills *7,8
■■Renew/extend prescription
■■Renew/extend prescription *7
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation
■■Change drug dosage/
formulation *7,8
■■Initiate prescription drug
therapy5
■■Make therapeutic
substitution *7,8
■■Order and interpret lab tests *
■■Prescribe for minor ailments/
conditions *7,8
■■Administer a drug by injection6
(flu)
■■Initiate prescription drug
therapy *7,8
■■Order and interpret lab tests *
7
Remedy Drug Store Company Inc. is a Canadian coast-to-coast network of independently-owned pharmacies. Remedy’sRx
pharmacies meet local community healthcare needs through the professional specialties of each pharmacist owner and their
unique pharmacy practices.
Remedy’sRx pharmacists provide a diverse range
of professional services, such as the administration of immunizations, medication reviews and
assessments, prescribing for specific conditions,
and medication adherence programs.
Remedy’sRx pharmacies are the key point of
entry into the healthcare system in many communities. Patients receive convenient and timely care through pharmacist consultations, refill
assistance and specialized assessments. Other
services may include custom compounding, travel health services, food intolerance testing, and
management programs for chronic conditions,
such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, mental health and pain.
Remedy’sRx pharmacists develop programs to
meet specific community healthcare needs. As
an example, a pharmacist realized her heart and
diabetic patients would benefit from a weight loss
program in order to be healthier and also to optimize their medications. There were no local programs, so she started one. This served to meet existing needs and has become a preventative health
program for that community.
Remedy Drug Store Company Inc. provides custom professional and business programs to support the pharmacy practice model of independently-owned pharmacies, meeting the healthcare
needs of their local communities.
For more information about your local Remedy’sRx
pharmacy and the healthcare services available, please
go to www.remedys.ca
Overwaitea pharmacies: offering patientcentred clinical services and programs
Pharmasave is becoming more accessible
through the eCare program
Pharmacists specializing in chronic disease management, administrating vaccinations, providing medication management
services, and supporting nutrition services
are all part of the Overwaitea Food Group,
multi-banner pharmacy experience.
Pharmasave is implementing an online program to increase the convenience and accessibility for the patient as well as for the
healthcare team.
Founded in 1915, the Overwaitea Food Group (OFG) is
Canada’s largest western-based food store chain operating Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods, Coopers
Foods, Urban Fare, PriceSmart Foods and Bulkley Valley Wholesale. With approximately 116 pharmacies
located within a grocery store format, the company
continues to build on its tradition and reputation for
offering exceptional products, services and in-store
experience. And their pharmacies are no exception!
OFG has elevated its pharmacy programs and clinical services by innovating and adapting to the unique
and changing needs of each patient and community.
Pharmacists work to build lasting relationships
with their patients and offer the very best advice and
services to meet their patient’s needs. With this patient-centered approach, pharmacists are available
for patient consultations regarding how to best manage their individualized medications. The pharma-
cies also conveniently offer travel health and routine
booster vaccinations.
In select locations individual pharmacists have
specialized knowledge in chronic disease management. They work in collaboration with physicians
and other healthcare professionals to provide the best
care for their patients. This might involve a referral to
a certified diabetes educator pharmacist or attend an
in-store nutrition tour led by a registered dietician.
These tours offer insights into how to choose foods
to meet special dietary requirements and answers to
questions on hot topics such as recommended fat and
fiber intake or gluten-free products. In addition, this
progressive company continues to support pharmacists who wish to obtain their prescribing authority
in Alberta.
OFG’s pharmacy professionals are pleased to
play an important role in advancing the health of
their patients and the communities they serve.
Pharmasave has approximately 506 stores across
Canada. The programs offered in each region vary,
but there are some programs available to pharmacists across the board.
Each pharmacy is independent in the sense
that they choose what programs to run because
they know their community’s needs. Pharmasave
works to develop different programs to help individual pharmacies better serve their patients.
A very recent innovation by Pharmasave is the
eCare program that was rolled out at the end of
April. This is a web-based program where patients
can create a profile and add information such as
medical conditions, allergies, vaccinations and
OTC products. If given permission, the pharmacist
can connect the individual’s profile with the medications on file.
eCare has multiple benefits. The patient has a
list of all the medications they’re taking at their
fingertips, allowing them (as well as their health-
care providers) to have a stronger understanding of
their overall health.
If a patient gives their caregiver access to their
eCare profile, the caregiver can monitor how often
prescriptions are being refilled and if the patient is
taking all of their medication.
Pharmasave also provides tools and resources
to aid the pharmacists in becoming educators in
specific areas, such as diabetes. Pharmasave pharmacies can also administer flu shots and some offer travel health.
6 · pharmacyinfo.ca
AN independent SUPPLEMENT by mediaplanet TO THE NATIONAL POST
Rexall works to implement
new pharmacy services as
quickly as possible
Safeway Pharmacies work
with their patients to give the
best care possible
Rexall is on the cutting edge of adopting
all of the new services offered to
pharmacists in each of the provinces
where they’re located.
Safeway Pharmacies offer a patient-centred service that allows people to access
healthcare in their neighbourhood. From
travel health centres, to immunization services, to diabetes care, even if the actual
service differs, the consistent experience
is the focus on superior service.
With more than 450 stores in Canada, Rexall provides these services to a large portion of the Canadian population, ensuring that each customer
who visits its pharmacies has the most complete
care possible.
Over the years, Rexall has proven that it adopts
new practices in a timely manner so its patients can
receive the most complete care within the pharmacist’s scope of practice. For example, Rexall was the
only pharmacy chain in 2012 with all of its Ontario
locations offering flu vaccinations. This is Rexall’s
philosophy with all new innovations. It wants to
get new services piloted and promoted as thoroughly as possible so patients have confidence when they
walk into their neighborhood pharmacy.
An example of where Rexall pharmacists are
using expanded scope services is in Saskatchewan where they can prescribe for some common
ailments. For example, if a child has a diaper rash
on the weekend, the pharmacist can prescribe the
necessary medication. This means the parent and
child won’t need to unnecessarily go to a walkin clinic or the emergency room and wait to see a
doctor. Expanding the scope of practice of pharmacists will lessen the burden on physicians and
hospitals, keep patients out of emergency departments, and drive efficiencies to help sustain the
healthcare system.
Rexall pharmacists also provide additional expanded scope practices including: initiating prescriptions where permitted, smoking cessation
programs, injection and immunization services
and the ability to alter the dosage and regime of
a treatment program. Most of these services are
available throughout Canada but the pharmacies
all comply with the standards of practice in the
province where they’re located.
With just over 170 stores in western Canada (including NW Ontario), each Safeway pharmacy
provides personalized care for its patients using
the scope of practice abilities allowed in the respective province.
Safeway Pharmacies are pleased to provide
immunization and injection services, such as
flu, shingles and hepatitis vaccines. Many adults
are not up-to-date on their immunizations and
having this convenient service available right in
the community helps to increase accessibility.
Medication management services are also playing an increasingly important role. Depending
on the province, patients on multiple medications, or patients with chronic conditions such
as diabetes or asthma are eligible to receive indi-
vidualized care from the pharmacist – including
a medication review and/or the development of a
care plan.
Safeway Pharmacies offer a variety of services to help people with diabetes manage this condition. From Diabetes Meter trainers to Insulin
start services to pharmacists who are Certified
Diabetes Educators, patients can talk to their local Safeway Pharmacy for diabetes assistance.
They can start by asking for a copy of the “Managing Diabetes” magazine.
Through Safeway Pharmacies across Western
Canada, patients can access the care they need right
in their neighbourhood. Safeway Pharmacists are
pleased to get to know their patients and their individual health needs and to work with them to
achieve their own optimal health outcomes.
at
Shoppers Drug Mart is proud
to contribute to community
healthcare across Canada
Sobeys Pharmacy ensures that
communities know the services its
pharmacies offer
You can count on Shoppers Drug Mart
pharmacists to give you personalized care
and peace of mind.
Sobeys Pharmacy operates in both the
grocery and traditional drug store setting,
providing patients a variety of services to
meet healthcare needs.
Shoppers Drug Mart’s pharmacist-owners play an
active role in their communities, not only providing trusted healthcare advice and services, but
also getting to know you and your families and
counselling you on your specific needs. With a
network of over 1,250 pharmacies across Canada
– and many locations open late or 24 hours – you
can rely on Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacists to
provide convenient access to healthcare and advice that’s close to home.
For instance, our community pharmacists are
making it easier than ever for people to protect
themselves against the flu. A study of patients
vaccinated at Shoppers Drug Mart shows that
one in four would not have gotten the flu shot if it
wasn’t offered at the pharmacy.
Flu shots are just a starting point for the services pharmacists can provide. Pharmacists can
play a greater role in helping patients monitor
and manage complex chronic diseases like diabetes. They have the skills and knowledge to renew and adapt prescriptions. And through medication review programs, they can improve the
health and safety of Canadians. That’s why Shoppers Drug Mart is working with the pharmacy
community to advance the adoption of these services in each province across Canada.
We’re here to offer support and help you live
well. Visit your local Shoppers Drug Mart to ask
us about our wide variety of healthcare services.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
With 248 pharmacy locations operating under five
banners across Canada (Lawtons Drugs, Sobeys
Pharmacy, Thriftys Pharmacy, Foodland Pharmacy, and FreshCo Pharmacy), Sobeys Pharmacy
works with physicians and other healthcare professionals in the community to spread the word about
the expanded services available from their pharmacists. For example, pharmacists are informing
physicians and the public in two more provinces
this year that their pharmacy is offering flu shots.
As a result, people can come to the pharmacist as an
additional option for this important service.
The latest development is in Newfoundland and
Labrador, where pharmacists were given authority
to administer flu vaccinations at the end of October.
As with other provinces where pharmacists provide
vaccinations, pharmacists at Lawtons Drugs and
at
Sobeys Pharmacy locations in the province will be doing their part to increase vaccination rates and prevent the flu – making this winter a little healthier.
Using new tools and technology, Sobeys Pharmacy
works to make all of the services it offers as convenient for the patient as possible. Patients can sign up
for a service that monitors and manages refills for
regular medications, ensuring that the patient does
not run out and reducing the need to make multiple
trips to pick up medications. To make it even easier,
patients can opt to receive a text message from the
pharmacy to remind them that their prescriptions
are ready to be picked up. Sobeys Pharmacy also provides additional services including: adapting (modifying) prescriptions from a physician, therapeutic
substitutions, medication reviews, and minor ailment assessments. The scope of services can vary by
province (depending on regulations) but in all provinces, pharmacists at Sobeys Pharmacy and all its
pharmacy locations are expanding the services they
provide to offer even more choice and access to meet
healthcare needs.
at
Gaining the patient trust is the
focus of Target Pharmacies
Uniprix is mapping pharmacies
with specialty training to better
serve customers
Patients can expect pharmacists who
take the time to learn their needs, give
them the best care possible, and followup to create long-term relationships at
Target Canada Pharmacies.
Uniprix, a Quebec independent pharmacy
chain, has nearly 400 stores in the province. With the autonomy of owning their
own stores, the pharmacist owners can
focus on the healthcare elements they’re
interested in and their communities need.
The 96 Target Pharmacies outside of Quebec (with 14
additional pharmacies operating in Quebec through
Brunet) are franchised to individual pharmacists.
They all have the same look and feel but the individual pharmacist is autonomous in providing the care
needed within their community.
A case in point is a group of Target Pharmacy franchisees in Alberta who offer specialized services in
ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. This means
the pharmacist will give the patient a monitor to
wear over 24 hours, recording their blood pressure at
different times of the day. When the patient returns
the monitor, the pharmacist will review the data
and they’ll address any issues or collaborate with the
physician to ensure the patient gets the right care.
This practice could uncover a risky issue that would
have surfaced down the road and ensures that the patient’s medication is working as it should.
Company wide, Target is still in the early stages
of development, so the main focus is on working
from the ground up with prescription services. Target Pharmacy wants to establish relationships with
its patients, and then over time, increase the services
provided, though now all pharmacies, where applicable, are providing flu shots.
With the pharmacy being in the Target store, the
pharmacists have the capacity to reach everyone doing their shopping. This puts the pharmacies in a
unique position to consult and counsel people who
may not have time to see a doctor.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
Walmart Pharmacies tell patients
to “just ask” their pharmacist
“Just ask” is the motto of Walmart Pharmacies, encouraging patients to approach their pharmacist with any questions they may have.
From information about diseases, help with symptoms, diabetes management, arranging immunizations, help in quitting smoking, choosing vitamins and supplements to creating a balanced diet to
reaching a healthy weight and more, Walmart Pharmacies encourage patients to approach their pharmacist and ask whatever questions they may have.
That’s not all, asking the actual pharmacist
isn’t the only option. At Walmart Pharmacies
there are also up-to-date medical brochures covering a wide range of health information including high blood pressure and cholesterol to name
a few topics.
As an alternative, customers can also attend any
of the health and wellness programs offered at the
pharmacies throughout the year. If it’s not convenient to come into the store the pharmacy also offers
seminars outside of the store in the community.
Walmart pharmacists can also help patients
manage diabetes through: blood glucose meters, diabetes products like insulin pump supplies, medication reviews, and nutrition and lifestyle counseling.
Also, some pharmacy locations have certified diabetes educators on staff.
In addition to these expanded services, Walmart Pharmacies also have the added convenience of an in-store pager system for their customers. If a patient drops off a prescription and
would like to continue shopping in the store
while it’s being filled, they will be given a pager
that will alert them when their medication is
ready for pickup. This increases the convenience
and reduces the amount of time a patient wastes
while they’re having prescriptions filled.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
Some focus on travel health and others on nicotine replacement therapy. One pharmacist became
a breastfeeding specialist and now people from all
over Montreal and the suburbs come to this pharmacist to gain insight into the topic. Mothers who are
having breastfeeding difficulties know where they
can receive care.
Uniprix takes the idea of the family pharmacist to
heart. In many communities the pharmacist is the
most accessible and most convenient healthcare professional for patients.
Presently, Uniprix is beginning to map the locations of specialists within the chain and are
seeking out other pharmacists who may already
have training or are interested in learning a spe-
cialty. The idea behind this map is to provide
all Uniprix pharmacies with the knowledge of
where the specialty pharmacists are. This allows
for referrals to the appropriate place. This strategy is being implemented because many rural
communities are a distance from large city centres, making it difficult for patients to get care.
Uniprix’s goal is to provide care right in their
patient’s community or a short distance away
through trained pharmacists.
Uniprix is also offering specialty training to
interested pharmacists to build on their offered
services, including homecare for elders, sleep apnea, respiratory health, among others. This will
lessen the strain on the healthcare profession because not as many patients will need to seek out
hospitals for treatment.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
Conclusion
Canada’s neighbourhood
pharmacies are proud to serve
patients with an exceptional
range of medication and patient
services – delivered to the
highest standards.
* In BC, MB, PE, NB, NS and NL, the pharmacy services provided are required by law.
Services available vary by provincial regulations.
Disclaimer: Pharmacies located in Quebec are independently owned and operated.
AN independent SUPPLEMENT by mediaplanet TO THE NATIONAL POST
The Neighbourhood
Pharmacy of Tomorrow
Neighbourhood pharmacies are already an important part
of the patient healthcare landscape.
“They are set to play an even larger role as the
country’s broader healthcare system evolves
to address the needs of an aging population
managing their chronic conditions…”
Welcome to your neighbourhood pharmacy
As the pharmacists’ scope of practice expands, they will play a larger role in
ensuring patient wellbeing.
N
eighbourhood pharmacies are
already an important part of
the patient healthcare landscape. They deliver a growing range
of primary healthcare medication
and patient services — and they are
set to play an even larger role as the
country’s broader healthcare system evolves to address the needs of
an aging population managing their
chronic conditions.
The first way neighbourhood pharmacies can be expected to change
will be through continued expansion
of pharmacists’ scope of practice, en-
abling pharmacists to administer
more vaccines, such as travel shots
and the range of vaccines now more
typically delivered through the public health service channels, such as
HPV and meningitis, as well as other
patient-focused services. Another
way neighbourhood pharmacies will
enhance their value to patients and
the healthcare system alike will be
through more standardization of services across the country — so patients
can expect to access the same offering
in all provinces and territories,instead
of the current patchwork approach.
There are also further healthcare system benefits to be achieved by using
the pharmacy industry’s distribution system for delivering vaccines to
pharmacies.This system already operates well, providing pharmacies with
needed medical products, effectively maintaining product integrity, including cold chain protection, and delivering daily on a just-in-time basis.
In pharmacies themselves, there’s
another change under way, as they
evolve from focusing on dispensing
medications and educating and counselling patients on their use, to engaging with their patients on overall wellness and preventive measures that will lead to longer, happier,
healthier lives. Pharmacy slang for
this evolution is ‘changing the focus,
from pills to patients.’
As just one example, the University of British Columbia has inaugurated what is described as Canada’s first
university-affiliated licensed, pharmacist-staffed care clinic. Patients
can book hour-long appointments for
in-person, telephone or even Skype
consultations about prescription and
over-the-counter medications, supplements and natural health products
— and how to address side effects and
complications. What makes this service different is that it doesn’t deal directly with medications at all.There are
no drugs on the premises. Instead, its
sole offering is advice (including reports to patients’ doctors) and its operations are geared to delivering that in
a way that suits its patients — effectively complementing traditional dispensary functions in a way that will be
increasingly important to Canadians
dealing with chronic conditions.
As in many other parts of our daily
lives, technology can also be expected
to play a growing role in tomorrow’s
neighbourhood pharmacies. Many
pharmacy chains now offer mobile
apps that allow patients to view flyers and special offers, create shopping
lists and manage their prescriptions
online. There’s also exploding interest
in mobile health and electronic medical record (EMR) apps.
Technology companies, Apple
among them, are developing mobile
apps to track basic health stats — like
weight and blood pressure, fitness, lab
test results, nutrition, sleep and medications. These apps are able to record
and maintain notes on medical conditions, emergency contacts, allergies
and more, all with the goal of creating and maintaining a sophisticated
and secure medical record with significant information resources that
could be made available to healthcare
professionals — with the owner’s permission — when needed. And, as if all
this weren’t enough, even more future
technology will be ‘wearable,’ in the
form of watches equipped with sensors
that will actively monitor some of your
body’s functions and report on your
performance to your smartphone.
Whether you’re dealing with your
neighbourhood pharmacist in person, in the pharmacy, on the phone, or
over the internet, the neighbourhood
pharmacist will remain your trusted,
friendly healthcare advisor, whose
primary focus will always be your
health and wellbeing.
The patient and healthcare system benefits
of treating Canadians closer to home
If you or a family member are
suffering from a bad head
cold, a sore throat, a rash,
an ear infection or other minor but troubling ailment, the
benefits of quick and convenient access to professional healthcare are simple
and important – there’s less time
spent in discomfort,less chance of the
condition making you sicker, and less
chance of spreading illness to family
members. Prompt treatment brings
economic benefits too, such as reducing or eliminating time lost from
work. But what are the benefits of
prompt access for the larger healthcare delivery system, especially in
economic terms?
A recent report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
highlights some potentially troubling
trends. CIHI reports that Canadians
visited emergency rooms approxi-
“Enabling
pharmacists to treat
minor ailments and
administer vaccines
is an important
step that will result
in better patient
outcomes…”
Modernizing the system
Using neighbourhood pharmacies
to divert a significant number
of patients from non-essential
emergency room visits will ensure
prompt access to healthcare.
mately 17 million times in 2013 – 2014.
Compared to Australia, the United
Kingdom and the United States, we
are among the world’s most frequent
users of emergency rooms.
Here’s why that’s a concern. CIHI
estimates that of the emergency room
visits that did not result in admission,
about 20 per cent (1.4 million visits)
were for conditions which could potentially be treated in a different, more
appropriate setting. The ailments for
which Canadians went to emergency
rooms — which are equipped, staffed
and organized to give priority treatment to those patients with critical or
emergency needs — most frequently
included acute upper respiratory infection, antibiotic therapies, throat
inflammation and ear pain.
A general survey of Canadians conducted to support CIHI’s research
found that nearly half (47 per cent)
could not see their family doctor in a
timely manner; 38 per cent believed the
ER was the best place to receive the care
they needed and seven per cent were
not aware of alternative care settings.
Enabling pharmacists to treat
minor ailments and administer
vaccines is an important step that
will result in better patient outcomes, according to “9000 Points of
Care: Improving Access to Affordable Healthcare,” a policy document
published by Canada’s broader pharmacy community in 2013.
Having neighbourhood pharmacists treat minor conditions, like sore
throats and cold sores, will also provide physicians with up to 15 per cent
more time to treat more complex
cases and divert a significant number
of patients from non-essential emergency room visits.
“9000 Points of Care,” also refers
to a pilot program conducted in
Scotland from 2001 to 2006, which
reduced physician visits for minor ailments by up to 37 per cent. To
date, five provinces in Canada allow
pharmacists with the proper training to prescribe for minor ailments.
The big-picture economic benefits, “9000 Points of Care” estimates
that up to 2.4 million physician
hours (as much as $3 billion in physician costs), as well as 1,500 hospitalizations and 600,000 fewer reduced emergency room visits could
be avoided, or directed to more urgent care needs, by enabling neighbourhood pharmacists to provide
the care Canadians need, closer to
where they live, work and play.
pharmacyinfo.ca
·7
Did you know?
Approximately 9,000
neighbourhood
pharmacies across Canada
Almost 80 per cent
of Canadians turn
to their pharmacist for
trusted, professional
healthcare advice
Neighbourhood
pharmacies fill almost 70
per cent of Canadian
prescriptions every year
Delivered more than
1.4 million flu shots
last season
The overall favourability of
neighbourhood pharmacy
has increased to 76% in
2014 from 69% in 2013
Canadians see
pharmacies as friendly
(91%), and providing
accessible advice (90%)
Broader pharmacy
delivers $12.5 billion
in value to Canada’s health
system annually
Better use of
neighbourhood
pharmacies can
save the healthcare
system $8.5 billion to
$11 billion over 3 years
Pharmacies are often
front-line healthcare
providers for Canadians
in rural areas
Source: Neighbourhood pharmacy
Association of Canada
8 · pharmacyinfo.ca
AN independent SUPPLEMENT by mediaplanet TO THE NATIONAL POST
Canada’s neighbourhood
pharmacies – committed
to excellence in medication
and
patient services
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Costco Wholesale U.S. logo:
ved form is “Costco” in Red (PMS 186 Red)
Blue (PMS 286 Blue) on a white background.
equivalents are acceptable.
PMS 186
C= 0
M=100
C= 100
M= 66
Y= 81
K= 4
Y= 0
K= 2
PMS 286
oloured background, use the white outline version of
om cdn-marketing@costco.com.
ur is available for printing, that colour must be black.
go out of black or any other colour. The black logo
-marketing@costco.com. The black logo should
black background. For additional clarification please
keting.
rand Standards Guide
at
Canada’s Neighbourhood Pharmacies
are represented by: