Pharmacists are eager to help if you’re experiencing lengthy delays to see a doctor.
The CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS) tells our newsroom she doesn’t believe you can “fix” an outdated healthcare system.
Allison Bodnar says it’s about finding new solutions.
“What I want people to think about when they think about the issues we’re having in the ERs or in doctor shortages, or nurses shortages, is that we can’t keep trying to fix the system, which was designed 60 years ago,” Bodnar says. “If we think about any other industry, nobody operates the way they did in the 1960s. We really need to take a holistic view of how we offer health care in the future.”
She believes collaboration between healthcare teams can help reduce bottlenecks in the system.
Bodnar points to a variety of trained practitioners who can fill the gaps in care, including pharmacists, nurse practitioners, emergency health personnel, and nurses.
She advises Nova Scotians to consider who is the best provider to seek service from when a health issue arises and to also think about healthcare access.
QEII Emergency Room Grapples with High Patient Volumes
Halifax Infirmary, Robie Street Entrance, QEII. (SOURCE: nshealth.ca)
Last week, Public Health announced the emergency room at Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax was operating at a limited capacity.
Public Health reported on Twitter the ER is seeing “extremely high patient volumes.” They’re asking you to not wait with patients heading to the ER unless it’s essential to their care. If your help is required, they recommend you give up your seat to patients.
Meantime, Nova Scotia reported another record number of people on the waitlist for a family doctor last month. There are nearly 95,000 names on the list.
Bodnar reminds Nova Scotians sometimes a trip to the pharmacy is all it takes to avoid the emergency department or a trip to a doctor’s office.
“If you’re a woman who has regular urinary tract infections, you can skip the emergency room, and go directly to your pharmacist,” Bodnar explains. “If you have prescription renewals, and you’ve not had significant changes in your health care, it’s just what I’ll call your ‘average renewal,’ you can go to your pharmacist.”
She adds pharmacists can also write prescriptions for minor ailments such as rashes, eczema, and thrush. They can also help with cold sores.
You can visit your local pharmacy for birth control, including the pill and patch.
Pharmacists can prescribe hormonal contraception (the pill, patch, injection, etc.) for the purpose of birth control. There is no cost for this service when you present your NS Health Card. Call your local pharmacy to schedule a time for an assessment. #HelpUsHelpYou #NSPharmacy pic.twitter.com/2m1S90K86J
— PANS (@PharmacyNS) July 6, 2022
PANS will be launching a campaign soon called “Help Us Help You Ask” in an effort to raise awareness about pharmacy services and how long it takes to access them.
Bodnar explains the only thing you may need is to pack your patience. She tells our newsroom that pharmacists have been working hard since the pandemic, staying open to help Nova Scotians when many other shops were closed down. They’ve also been the primary providers of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
She adds everyone is tired, but still very eager to deliver care.
“Just an ounce of patience. That’s a parting word I would say. Look, you know, these teams are tired,” Bodnar says. “Everyone’s tired, but they’re showing up to help people. And we just need a little bit of patience, recognition, and acknowledgement that these teams are doing their very best.”
She recommends you plan ahead and allow at least 48 hours for your prescription to be filled.
**With files from Anastasia Payne.
