The Ontario Pharmacists Association says new data suggests pharmacists can help effectively manage diabetes, cholesterol and hypertension in patients.
As part of a recent pilot at 53 Shoppers Drug Mart locations in Ontario and British Columbia, pharmacists have administered over 15,000 point of care tests on more than 6,900 patients to date, including those with risk for chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and those determined to be at high risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years.
The pilot found that almost 60 per cent of patients needed an intervention to better manage their chronic disease, explains the association. “For example, based on the point of care test results, the pharmacist may have adjusted the dose of an existing medication or may have contacted the patient's primary care provider to request a new prescription.” On average, 31 percent received a new chronic medication, 28 percent required a change in their current medication, and 235 patients were newly identified as diabetic.
"This pilot highlights the significant gap in access to treatment for those living with a chronic illness in Ontario," said Justin Bates, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists Association. "However, this pilot project also demonstrates that pharmacists can play a role in helping to close this critical healthcare gap by offering accessible, high-quality care."
The association underlines that pharmacy professionals played a critical role in ensuring access to care for Ontarians through COVID-19 and that there is further opportunity to leverage Ontario's pharmacy professionals to improve timely access to care and increase health system capacity. “Through medication reviews, access to point of care testing, and soon to come minor ailment services, pharmacists can better support Ontarians by providing timely access to care and support for the management of both acute and chronic diseases,” says the association.
