I have a family doctor; do I need a personal pharmacist too?
If you have access to a family doctor, you may just see your pharmacist as a vendor, a relationship that doesn’ t extend beyond the exchange of money for medication. But if that is the case, you’ re missing out on a lot of value that pharmacists can provide. Mike Song, the manager of the new Calgary ARTARx location, and Yatin Patel, ARTA’ s Director of Pharmacy Services, have both seen the benefits of personalized relationships first-hand.“ When your pharmacist knows you, knows your health goals, that leads to better health outcomes over time,” Yatin says.“ It can take weeks or months to make an appointment with your family doctor— if you have one in the first place. While pharmacists aren’ t a replacement for family doctors, we can help fill in the gaps.”
In Alberta, pharmacists have an expanded scope of practice that allows them to do things like prescribe, adjust doses, and renew prescriptions; assess minor ailments; perform injections and health screenings; and much more. While those are general services, regular in-person contact can make impacts in places you wouldn’ t necessarily expect.
Take drug shortages, which have been common in recent years.“ In many pharmacies, people come in asking for medications that are in very short supply,” Mike says.“ The team has to tell them,‘ Sorry, we don’ t have any, you’ ll have to try somewhere else.’ That’ s the end of the conversation. But with clients I know personally, I can talk to their doctor to see what alternative medications can be used. If I hear about a shortage, I can give my clients a call to give them an advance warning. I can take responsibility, so they’ re not stuck figuring it out on their own.”
Why is a personalized relationship important?
Pharmacists are busy people. Between appointments, dispensing, and paperwork, their free time can be limited. Mike and Yatin both see this crunch impacting pharmacies across Alberta.
“ Staffing shortages have pushed some pharmacies to limit time spent with clients because that’ s all they have time for,” Yatin says.“ Professional services like consulting aren’ t compensated by government programs, meaning less income for the business. Sometimes that makes those services less of a priority.” But those priorities can shift when you’ re a familiar face. Mike has seen it happen many times.“ Many pharmacists are generalists, and they might not have the specific health information you’ re looking for,” he says.“ While a stranger might hear,‘ Sorry, I don’ t know the answer,’ a familiar face might hear,‘ I don’ t know the answer, but I’ ll find out by your next visit.’”
How do I create a personalized relationship?
Unlike with a family doctor, you don’ t sign up to become a formal client of a pharmacist. The relationship builds naturally over time. Through repeated visits, the pharmacy team gets to know you, and you get to know them. Still, there are ways to help this relationship along.
Start by using one pharmacy consistently rather than visiting whichever is closest at the time. Next, introduce yourself and learn the names of your pharmacy team. Be open about your health needs and ask questions about prescriptions or other health concerns. Take advantage of non-prescription clinical services that the pharmacy offers.
No matter your pharmacy of choice, it’ s worth the small, cumulative efforts that go into building a relationship. Personalized, proactive care can make a huge difference to your health over the long term.
40 | arta. net STAY HEALTHY