Tuesday May 13 / 2008

Tuesday May 13 / 2008

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.

12:12:

12:20: How’s the gym treating you? If it’s not going so well, it might be time to go ALL CANADIAN!
Guest: Ernie Schramayr over at All Canadian Fitness. 905.548.6732.

12:35: Nurses play a vital role in our health care system and their contributions and commitment to patient care deserve to be celebrated. This is National Nursing Week, which provides us with an opportunity to recognize how nurses positively impact the lives of Canadians.
Guest: Janet Ounapuu. a breast cancer survivor from Toronto. (will tell how the friendship and support she received from nurses helped overcome the isolation often felt when dealing with breast cancer).

12:45: Rexall Radio Health Matters segment.
Guest: Hilton Silberg.
Evolution in the Practice of Pharmacy

On April 1, 2007 new legislation came into effect that now allows Alberta pharmacies to expand the scope of services they offer to you. One of the biggest changes you’ll see, will be that pharmacist now have limited prescribing authorization. Over time some will be authorized to administer drugs by injection. Good health care requires good communication. Everybody on the team plays a role, you, your doctor, your pharmacist and all other health care providers. It is vital that patients have good relations with their pharmacist, by knowing the patient’s history, lifestyle and current health conditions your pharmacist will know what is safe and best suited just for the patient. The pharmacist is an integral member of the health team. He or she can prevent drug interactions and allergic reactions and ensure the patient gets the most benefit from their medications. This new legislation allows pharmacist to prescribe or perhaps give injections, but it doesn’t obligate them. Some pharmacist may choose not to prescribe or give injections. Pharmacist prescribing will be done in consultation with the patient’s doctor. In fact your pharmacist will not prescribe for you unless he or she does have a good working relationship with you and your doctor. Regular check-ups and consultations with family MD’s are still important for the maintenance of health. Pharmacists will now be able to change the prescription and then notify your doctor afterward. This will ensure no delay in processing medication. Pharmacists are health care professionals with more training about drugs and their affects on the body than any other health care provider. Each pharmacist also participates in continuing education in drug therapy each year. The goals of pharmacists prescribing in Alberta are commendable: improved access to drug therapy, optimized patient outcomes, minimized redundancy and interruptions in the delivery of health care service and increases the collaboration and synergy between pharmacies, physicians, and other health care providers. Alberta is the model for pharmacists prescribing and for future Canadian models.

What You Need To Know;

* Pharmacists will be able to prescribe medications under limited conditions
* Although pharmacist have the authority, not all pharmacist will choose to exercise their authority
* Individuals with a chronic condition are likely to benefit most
* Good health relies on good communication
* Albertans still have to see their physicians
* Pharmacists will request more personal information than in the past
* When Albertans request a medication that is kept in the dispensary, but doesn’t require a prescription, the purchase will be recorded in the patient records
* Thorough, professional health care takes time. The more services a pharmacist offers, the more time the pharmacist will need to interact with the patient



Nadine Janacek Rexall #0202
Blog Reporter