Dartmouth, NS – Today, 11 community pharmacy primary care clinics across the province open their doors to provide pharmacist-led primary care services. These clinics, from Yarmouth to Sydney will improve access to community based primary care services in Nova Scotia, one pharmacy clinic appointment at a time. A 12th site, in Bedford West, will open later in February.
The project, a collaboration between the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS), the Government of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Health was announced yesterday at a press conference.
“We need to change how we deliver healthcare to help Nova Scotians get the care they need faster,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals. We’re building and testing a system where they can use all their training and skills to give people the care they need, in a place that’s often the closest place to home – their pharmacy. In doing this, we will help people stay well, and free up emergency departments for emergencies.”
PANS Chair of the Board, Laurie Deal comments “It has taken a long time to get here, but patients in Nova Scotia will now benefit from the extensive skills and expertise of our pharmacy teams”
Allison Bodnar, CEO of PANS states “Pharmacy professionals have been one of the most under-utilized assets of the healthcare system but our role in providing extensive services throughout COVID has shown the public and policy makers, that pharmacy professionals can and should be doing more”.
These 12 sites offer online (or phone) booking of appointments with convenient time slots and will offer a full slate of services including those already available at pharmacies across the province, like prescription renewals, contraception management and treatment for bladder infections but will also offer additional services including assessment and prescribing for 31 minor ailments, assessment, testing and prescribing for Strep throat, Chronic Disease Drug Therapy Management (diabetes, COPD, hypertension, asthma, etc) and more.
Trevor Russell, a pharmacist-owner in North Sydney shares “I am so excited to be a part of this project. There is so much need out there for these services and our team can’t wait to be able to help our community in this way”.
Bodnar continues, “We believe this will be the pharmacy model of the future and are so excited to finally see it come to fruition, here in Nova Scotia.
To learn more about services offered and book online at a participating site, visit www.pans.ns.ca/cppcc
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For more information, contact:
Martha Lowe
Communications Manager
Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia
martha@pans.ns.ca | (902) 422-9583 ex 4