Health and Community Services
March 2, 2015

Supporting the Health of Families and Communities

Provincial Government Recognizes Pharmacist Awareness Month

March is Pharmacist Awareness Month. The Provincial Government continues to support pharmacists across the province and their increasing role in the delivery of primary health care services. The theme of this year�s awareness month is Pharmacists: Trusted Care When and Where You Need It.

�Pharmacists are highly trained and capable professionals who provide significant frontline health services to the general public on a daily basis. Over the last number of years, the Provincial Government has been working with pharmacists to enhance their role in health care delivery. By expanding their scope of practice, we are ensuring that residents throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have greater access to essential primary care. During Pharmacist Awareness Month, I encourage everyone to have a conversation with their local pharmacist to learn more about the many health-related services they offer.�
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

Pharmacists in Newfoundland and Labrador have seen four new initiatives implemented in the past year which expand their scope of practice and provide enhanced health services to residents:

• Pharmacists now provide one on one medication review services to clients of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP), 65 and older, with multiple chronic diseases;
• Pharmacists are now providing initial consultations and up to two follow-up consultations to clients of the NLPDP with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease who are starting a new medication for that illness to improve their adherence with the new medication;
• Pharmacists who have received the appropriate training can now administer medication by inhalation and injection, including flu vaccines; and
• Pharmacists are leading an antibiotic adherence program to help ensure the effective and appropriate use of antibiotics. Pharmacists consult directly with clients of the NLPDP and follow-up several days into the treatment to see if the patient is still taking the antibiotic and if there are any issues. The long-term goal of the program is to address the issue of antibiotic resistance.

�Every day, there are many stories of pharmacists across the province helping families, seniors and hospital patients manage a wide range of conditions related to their health � from cancer to anaphylaxis. As we start Pharmacist Awareness Month, we would like to hear those stories and we encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to tell us how their community or hospital pharmacist became their hero by nominating them for the second annual Pharmacist of the Year Award.�
- Stephen Reid, Executive Director, Pharmacists� Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

For more information on the Pharmacist of the Year Award or to obtain a nomination form, please visit www.panl.net.

QUICK FACTS

• Pharmacist Awareness Month is being recognized in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Over the past year, pharmacists have implemented four new services consisting of one-on-one medication reviews, administration of medication by inhalation and injection, including flu vaccines, a medication adherence support program, and an antibiotic adherence program.
• To obtain a Pharmacist of the Year nomination form, please go to www.panl.net and print off a copy. Please submit a completed nomination form to email@panl.net.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca

Stephen Reid Executive Pharmacists� Association of Newfoundland and Labrador 709-753-7881 ext. 203 sreid@panl.net

2015 03 02                                                 10:10 a.m.