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Background
Both
the Fyke Commission, and the Romanow Report recognize the role
that primary care plays in ensuring the sustainability of our
current health care system. As such, health authorities across
the country are in the process of developing and implementing
action plans for primary health care. The Saskatchewan Action
Plan for Primary Health Care proposes an integrated system of
health services through networks and teams of health care providers,
managed by Regional Health Authorities. As with most revolutionary
ideas, implementation will be gradual, with a goal of having
all networks and teams established and accessible across the
province within 10 years.
We believe that pharmacists are in the ideal position to contribute
significantly to the primary care team. Pharmacy has long been
regarded as one of the most trusted professions. This, combined
with our accessibility to the public, puts pharmacists in an
obvious position to be a major “point-of-entry” into
the health care system. As such, Stueck Pharmacy has chosen
to take a proactive approach towards primary care. Rather than
wait for its gradual implementation across the province, we
have decided to develop a practice model in accordance with
the recently released Fyke Commission, in which the pharmacist
plays an integral role on the primary care team. By establishing
a close working relationship with the local physicians, nurses,
and other health professionals, we ultimately hope to enhance
patient care and outcomes.
Services offered include attending rounds at both the hospital
and long-term care facility, including necessary patient monitoring
and follow-up, pharmacotherapy consultation, individual patient
and group drug and disease education, and prescreening patients
for potential and/or actual drug-related problems prior to
physician visits. Because this is a pilot project, the pharmacist
position will remain dynamic, and be adaptable to best fit
the needs of the community.
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