Pharmacy Clinic Services

Assessing and Prescribing for Prescription Renewals:

The pharmacist will do an assessment to determine if it is safe and effective for you to continue to take your medication and prescribe renewals (refills) if appropriate.

The assessment will involve a discussion with you and, in some cases, conducting tests (such as taking your blood pressure or conducting a point of care test). The pharmacist may review any relevant lab test results. If necessary, they may adapt or substitute your therapy during the renewal process. In some cases, it may be determined that the pharmacist does not have enough information to renew your prescription. If, after your consultation with the pharmacist, they determine a physical assessment is required by another healthcare provider, you may be referred to a physician or nurse practitioner.   

Common & Minor Ailments:

Pharmacists can assess & prescribe for:

Infections:

• Bladder Infections (age 16+, female sex assigned at birth)

• Shingles

• Strep Throat (age 3+)

• Vaginal Yeast Infections

• Impetigo

• Cold Sores

• Lyme disease prevention and treatment after black legged tick bite

• Pink Eye

Gastrointestinal/Digestive Tract:

• Diarrhea (non-infectious)

• Heartburn/Reflux

• Hemorrhoids

• Nausea

Head, Nose and Throat:

• Allergic Rhinitis

• Headache (mild)

• Nasal Congestion

• Oral Thrush

• Oral Ulcers

• Sore Throat

Reproductive Health:

• Birth Control

• Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)

• Emergency Contraception

Skin Conditions:

• Acne (mild)

• Contact Allergic Dermatitis

• Eczema (mild to moderate)

• Fungal Infections of the Skin

• Hives (mild)

• Impetigo

Other:

• Dry Eye

• Joint Pain (minor)

• Muscle Pain (minor)

• Sleep Disorders (minor)

• Smoking Cessation

• Threadworms and Pinworms

Immunizations:

Publicly Funded Vaccines

• Influenza 

• COVID-19

Non-Publicly Funded Vaccines

• Hep A & B

• Typhoid Fever

• Shingles

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)*

• Chickenpox vaccine*

• Meningococcal Vaccine*

• Pneumococcal Vaccine*

*Some patients may be eligible for publicly funded vaccines that are not currently available at the clinic. The pharmacist will advise when this is the case.

Medications

• Vit B12

• Contraception Injection

• Other medications injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously**

**Prescription from another provider may be required for some injectable medications

Anticoagulation Management for Warfarin Patients (CPAMS):

Patients that take the medication warfarin can now participate in the Community Pharmacy-led Anticoagulation Management Program (CPAMS). The service includes INR Testing with a finger stick blood test that gives results in 5 minutes. The pharmacist can provide dose changes and advice based on the results. Pharmacies use a hospital grade testing device. Patients no longer need a blood draw at a lab, nor to wait for results.

The service also includes:

• A review with the pharmacist to assess factors that may be affecting your test results.

• Pharmacist recommendations that could include continuing with your usual warfarin dose, or the pharmacist prescribing a change to your warfarin dose. They will also provide other recommendations to assist with managing your medications and other factors that can affect your INR results where applicable.

• A calendar print-out with your dosing instructions.

Results will also be sent to your family physician or nurse practitioner.

Mental Health Medication and addiction services:

Medication & Mental Illness Assessments (Bloom Program):

Your pharmacist can help you with your mental health/addiction diagnoses in many ways including managing medication-related issues and provide one-on-one care. Patients must be already have one or more mental health or addiction diagnoses and have a medication problem that they would like to work on with their pharmacist.

Nicotine Dependence:

Pharmacists are effective in providing a smoking cessation program and contributing to patient quit rates or reductions in the amount of nicotine used. They help smokers and those that use nicotine products reduce their use by providing behavioural counselling, creating quit plans, recommending nicotine replacement therapy and scheduling follow-up visits.

Take Home Naloxone Kits & Training

Naloxone is a medication that is injected to provide a partial or complete reversal of an opioid overdose. This medication can prevent death and respiratory depression associated with opioid overdose. Pharmacies can provide you with a free take home naloxone kit, recommended for those at risk of an opioid overdose and those who are most likely to witness and respond to an opioid overdose. The pharmacist will provide opioid overdose prevention education as well as training on the administration of naloxone.

Injections*:

• Opioid Addiction Treatment

• Anti-psychotic medications

*Prescription from another provider may be required for injectable medications.

Chronic Disease Care:

Heart Disease:

Patients diagnosed with heart disease and high blood pressure qualify to receive chronic disease care from a pharmacist.

The pharmacists will provide an initial assessment to collect patient information, identify any potential medication problems to resolve and discuss your goals for care.

Together the patient and pharmacist will create a plan which could include:

• The pharmacist prescribing changes to your medications to help reach A1C, glucose, blood pressure and other goals.

• Guidance in minimizing or avoiding adverse effects from your medication • In-pharmacy finger-stick testing for A1C and cholesterol (reducing the number of lab visits required)

• Training and support with home blood glucose or home blood pressure monitoring • Support and coaching to meet any lifestyle goals you set such as diet, exercise or smoking cessation

• Ensuring you are up to date on the recommended immunizations for your condition • Setting a follow-up plan with the pharmacist to support you in achieving your goals.

Diabetes:

Patients diagnosed with diabetes qualify to receive chronic disease care from a pharmacist.

The pharmacists will provide an initial assessment to collect patient information, identity any potential medication problems to resolve and discuss your goals for care.

Together the patient and pharmacist will create a plan which could include:

• The pharmacist prescribing changes to your medications to help reach A1C, glucose, blood pressure and other goals.

• Guidance in minimizing or avoiding adverse effects from your medication

• In-pharmacy finger-stick testing for A1C and cholesterol (reducing the number of lab visits required)

• Training and support with home blood glucose or home blood pressure monitoring

• Support and coaching to meet any lifestyle goals you set such as diet, exercise or smoking cessation

• Ensuring you are up to date on the recommended immunizations for diabetes • Setting a follow-up plan with the pharmacist to support you in achieving your goals.

Lung Conditions (Asthma and COPD):

Patients diagnosed with asthma or COPD qualify to receive chronic disease care from a pharmacist.

The pharmacist will provide an initial assessment to collect patient information, identity any potential medication problems to resolve and discuss your goals for care.

Together the patient and pharmacist will create a plan which could include:

• The pharmacist prescribing changes to your medications to help you feel better and/or prevent worsening of your symptoms.

• Guidance in minimizing or avoiding adverse effects from your medication

• Counseling and support with proper inhaler technique

• Support and coaching to meet any lifestyle goals you set such as diet, exercise or smoking cessation

• Ensuring you are up to date on the recommended immunizations for lung conditions

• Setting a follow-up plan with the pharmacist to support you in achieving your goals.

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