Transcript New Alliances for a New Foundation

Pharmacists’ Expanded Scope of Practice in Canada as of Oct 2014
Source: Canadian Pharmacists Association
Pharmacist-led Minor Ailment Assessment Service
Plan Member Benefits
Minor Ailments are “common” or “uncomplicated conditions” that can often be treated with pharmacists-led
assessments resulting in recommendation for over the counter (OTC) product or prescription medication. Estimated
15% of physician visits are for minor ailments
Advantages
Pharmacists as Solution
• Faster access to care and
treatment
• Appointment required to see family physician
(absenteeism if during work hours)
• Avg wait time for a family physician for non-urgent
care is over 3 weeks (urgent 1.35 days)
• 15% of Canadians 12+ don’t have a family physician
• Pharmacy offers convenient walk-in access to care
• Quicker resolution of
symptoms
• Pharmacists process includes monitoring and followup with patient to track symptoms
• Data from Scotland shows 68% to 95% symptom
resolution with Pharmacists’ as first point of contact
• Lower “re-consultation” rates with Pharmacists
(2.4%) vs 3.8% for physicians
• Pharmacists can suggest an alternate treatment if
initial treatment not successful
Minor Ailments
are a contributing
factor to
absenteeism
Some studies
suggest that cost of
presenteeism is
even higher
Employees often
make walk-in or
doctor
appointments
during work hours
If symptoms don’t
resolve, can lead
to absenteeism
and presenteeism
and more
expensive therapy
Pharmacist-led Medication Review Service
One-on-one consultation between a pharmacist and an individual to assess whether medications are taken as
prescribed and to addresses any problems that may prevent safe and effective medication use
BENEFITS OF MEDICATION REVIEWS
Prevent Costly Adverse Drug
Reactions
Reduce Side
Effects
During a Medication
Review, pharmacist
can recommend
change in therapy or
adapt the prescription
(lower dose etc)
Reduce Drug
Interactions
Interactions between
prescription, OTC and
natural health
products are
commonly detected
during a Medication
Review
Identify
Duplication of
Therapy
Pharmacist often
recommend
discontinuation of
duplicate or unsafe
medications or
recommend generic
alternatives
Improve Medication
Adherence = Better Health
Changes to
Therapy
Role of
Medications
In a recent survey, 1 in
2 Canadians said their
pharmacist made at
least one medication
related intervention as
a result of a medication
review
In the same survey,
91% had a better
sense of medication’s
role in health
management
83% found it easier to
remember how to
take medications
Reduce Risk of
Complications
Adverse drug
reactions can result in
costly hospitalizations
and absenteeism plus
lead to added cost of
complications
Employees Engagement in
Health
Improved
Understanding
In a recent survey, 2
in 3 (67%) of patients
showed an
improvement in
understanding of
their medications as a
result of a medication
review
Patients’ Need
for Service
27% of Canadians
want to have a
medication review on
annual basis
Potential benefits driven by Medication
Reviews:
reduce short- and long-term disability
Avoid cost of additional medications
reduce absenteeism
Questions?