It’s Saturday morning and your son’s left eye still looks red and he keeps rubbing it and complaining it’s itchy. Is it pink eye? You’re not sure. Your own eye can feel a twitch coming on at the thought of making a trip to the walk-in clinic and waiting for who-knows-how-long.
However, did you know there is another option for getting your son treated? Earlier this year, the Alberta government announced the expansion of pharmacy clinics across the province–the very kind that can look at your son’s eye and see if indeed it is the highly contagious pink eye. Pharmacists in these clinics can assess and treat various minor ailments as well as offer other health-related services–all of which are designed to help improve access to health care at the local level. “Many people visiting the pharmacy are pleasantly surprised to learn that we can help with a variety of minor ailments right here in the pharmacy through our integrated Pharmacy Care Clinic,” says Abimbola Fawumi, associate owner of a Shopper’s Drug Mart in Calgary.
What can they treat?
While pharmacists are well known for dispensing prescriptions and advising shoppers on health-related buying choices (think: what type of multivitamin is best for you), what many people don’t know is they can assess and treat minor conditions and ailments including urinary tract infections (UTIs), pink eye, birth control, seasonal allergies, cold sores, tick bites, muscle sprains/strains, GERD (acid reflux) and dermatitis, to name a few. They can also provide point-of-care testing for conditions such as strep throat, chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes, vaccines, and travel health consultations.
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There are some limitations though in what they can assist with. “For instance, if a patient has a more serious or complex condition requiring lab tests or imaging, or if there’s a need for a specialist evaluation, we would refer them to a doctor or the most appropriate healthcare provider,” says Fawumi. And while they can help manage chronic conditions, any new diagnoses or treatments that are more involved would also still need to be handled by a physician.
Working together is key
“We’re here to complement the care they received from other healthcare providers, not replace it,” says Fawumi. After all, these pharmacists collaborate regularly with other healthcare professionals. Think if you’ve gotten a prescription filled. The pharmacist may not only follow up to ensure the condition the prescription is treating is improving but they also can alert the primary healthcare provider to maintain the continuity of care.
While the services are available free of charge to Albertans with a valid health card, they might be particularly appreciated by time-pressed consumers who may not have the hours to wait at a walk-in clinic or have a condition that can’t wait a few days to be treated. There are also many ways to see your pharmacist–not only can you book an appointment through the pharmacy’s website or through the PC Health app (that way, you’re not stuck waiting), but the pharmacy clinics also take walk-ins. “Typically, you can be seen for a minor ailment consultation relatively quickly,” says Fawumi.
How does it help?
This addition of more than 100 Pharmacy Care clinics in Alberta by 2025 comes at a time when Canadians are finding it challenging to access a family physician–if they even have one. “This plan makes healthcare more accessible and convenient for Albertans,” says Fawumi. After all, the clinics will also be open longer hours than traditional clinics–including evenings and weekends.
It also opens up availability to see a healthcare professional for those living in more rural areas. “When it comes to minor ailments assessments, we’re also helping to alleviate some of the strain on emergency departments and our overall provincial healthcare system, allowing those facilities to focus on more serious health cases and ensuring those with minor conditions don’t escalate into something more serious in the absence of timely treatment,” says Fawumi.
It’s also helping create a more holistic approach to healthcare in a sense. “Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacy Care Clinics, now at more than 60 locations total in the province, are designed with the patient experience in mind, so whether it’s managing a minor ailment or providing advice on your overall health, we’re committed to providing care that’s both accessible and personalized,” adds Fawumi.