Demand high for pharmacy primary care clinic pilot project in Nova Scotia – Halifax | 24CA News
Demand for a pilot mission connecting sufferers with pharmacists throughout Nova Scotia is excessive.
Two weeks in the past, the province introduced that 12 websites would open to assist cut back wait instances for care amid packed emergency rooms. A pharmacist in Halifax says this system is off to a powerful begin.
Alvin Thompkins, the proprietor of the Wyse Road Shoppers Drug Mart, says appointments have been filling rapidly for the reason that clinic opened its doorways at his Dartmouth pharmacy final week.
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The Wyse Road location is one in all two clinics situated within the Halifax space beneath the pilot, with a 3rd launching later this month.
“Things have been very busy right from the start,” Thompkins says. “We’ve helped a lot of people and filled most of our appointment slots each day.”
Thompkins says they’ve been treating as much as 30 sufferers each day, and that many are in search of take care of related wants.
“A lot of children with strep who we’re able to test and assess,” he explains. “So that has been one of our more important ones. And then prescription renewals.”
He says the brand new clinic helps to scale back boundaries to care by taking away charges and giving pharmacists devoted time with sufferers.
“The scope has been there,” he says. “But there have been fees for service with a lot of prescribing, especially of the minor ailments and that sort of thing.”
Pharmacists can prescribe for 31 minor illnesses like eczema and chilly sores and supply therapy for folks on medicines for widespread diseases like diabetes and bronchial asthma.
Parent Amanda Coakley attended the clinic on Friday together with her four-year-old son. She says assets like this are a assist.
“I know so many other people, especially parents, are really struggling to try to find care and resources,” she says. “So being able to have this kind of access is fantastic.”
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She was there together with her son for an ear an infection, though she later contacted Global News to share that’s not one thing the pharmacy can deal with.
Thompkins is happy concerning the future.
“Everyone I talk to, everybody has had a lot of success,” she says. “A lot of appointments and we’re filling up quickly.”
In a press release, the province says information remains to be being collected on the clinics, however thus far the suggestions has been constructive.
The Health Department says the pharmacy clinic areas for the pilot have been based mostly on want.
“These pharmacies are in communities that have the highest number of people in need of family doctors,” the division says. “Pharmacies were invited to apply, and PANS (Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia) used the information provided to select the pharmacies for the pilot. We appreciate that there are many needs across the province and expect more pharmacies to be added to the pilot this spring.”
The Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia says planning for Phase 2 is already underway with 12 extra websites opening in May.
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