Celebrating Canadian Pharmacy by Karthik

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Celebrating Canadian Pharmacy The 21st Century Digital Billing Binder. Exclusively For Busy Pharmacists, Technicians and Assistants. Visit rxbillinggenie.com to learn more.

Q&A with Dr. Danielle Paes Dr. Danielle Paes is the Chief Pharmacist Officer (CPO) at the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), where she is helping advance the pharmacy profession with a special focus in the areas of engagement, wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion. What sparked your interest in pharmacy?

Dr. Danielle Paes Chief Pharmacist Officer, Canadian Pharmacists Association

Like many of my peers, I’ve always thought science was cool — especially chemistry. I studied pharmaceuticals in my first university degree because I thought it was a very valuable — and noble — application of science. Our ability to design molecules and create medicine to prevent and heal ourselves from illness is so fascinating. I started my career working in the lab, but the idea of making those precious human connections with patients is what drew me to pursue further studies in pharmacy. I invested in another six years of school to earn my Doctor of Pharmacy degree and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! The direct impact I’ve been able to make as a pharmacist and the fulfilment I get from helping others was well worth it. I’ve always known that I wanted a career where I could live my passion and make a meaningful contribution to the world. Pharmacy has offered me that opportunity — it's the perfect blend of science and people.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the role of pharmacists? The pandemic has accelerated the evolution of the pharmacists’ role in our health care system. Pharmacists have filled the critical gaps in care and are playing a huge part in our nationwide public health efforts to fight COVID-19. We’ve become the go-to health care provider for many patients — answering questions, providing vaccinations, and screening services to combat the pandemic, and helping patients navigate our health system.

It’s important to note that the role of pharmacists has always been clinical — it’s a key aspect of everything we do — dispensing activities, medication reviews, professional opinions all require pharmacists to apply their skills, and knowledge of medicine. We’ve also been administering vaccines and supporting point-of-care testing for a long time. The difference now, is the way we're being seen by our patients and governments: our role in public health is being accessed and utilized in a variety of ways and at a greater volume. Public awareness and expectations are finally starting to align with what we’ve been capable of offering for a long time. In addition, new authorities have also helped remove barriers and allow pharmacists to expand the care they offer to support their patients and ensure uninterrupted treatment.

What does your new role as Chief Pharmacist Officer of the Canadian Pharmacists Association entail? It's a true privilege to serve the profession of pharmacy in my position as CPO. In this role, I work to support and showcase the full potential of pharmacists and advocate on their behalf on the national stage. I help connect pharmacists from coastto-coast, so we can share experiences, learn from each other, and address the emerging needs as we evolve as a profession. Part of that is acknowledging the toll these last two years have taken on us and helping to develop a collaborative plan to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our workforce. Everyday, I show up to represent the profession I love — I share my passion and belief in our essential role and the value we add to health care. It’s important to me that pharmacists are recognized and celebrated for their dedication to the health and well-being of the patients we serve.

Visit healthinsight.ca to read the full interview.

Publisher: Rayan Hassan Business Development Manager: Melanie Kosev Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content & Production Manager: Raymond Fan Designer: Lauren Livingston Content & Web Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve the Toronto Star or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.

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THROUGH IT ALL THEY’VE BEEN THERE FOR YOU. Pharmacy teams have helped us through the pandemic in so many ways and have been a key part of our nationwide public health efforts to screen, test and vaccinate Canadians.

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Revolutionizing Health Care in Canada — Because We Deserve Better Canada’s health care system is fragmented, inconvenient, and slow, but one Canadian company has found the path forward to make a difference. Tania Amardeil

ealth care should be accessible to all. It’s one of the principles that we as Canadians hold dear. Unfortunately, while we boast a universal, publicly-funded health care system, it’s alarmingly fragile and lacking in accessibility, convenience, and modernity. One’s health is the greatest wealth, and Canadians deserve better. Fortunately, change is on the horizon.

Adesh Vora Founder & CEO, SRx Health Solutions

Addressing a fragile, fragmented system If you’ve ever had a health concern and then waited months for various tests and to see different specialists, you understand the frustrations of Canada’s health care system. SRx Health Solutions’ Founder and CEO, Adesh Vora, started SRx to help drive positive change after seeing the system’s shortfalls firsthand working as a pharmacist for over 12 years. SRx Health Solutions is Canada’s leading collaborative network of pharmacists and health care practitioners that offer hand-held care, specialized treatments, and integrated support services to address the challenges of Canada’s fragile and fragmented health care system. “I’ve always felt that the Canadian health care landscape was lacking in integrated services across all health care professionals: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, psychologists, physiotherapists, manufacturers, clinics, the reimbursement process, and so on,” says Vora. “With SRx, we’ve integrated seamless solutions to drive better patient outcomes and ultimately improve Canadians’ wellness. This means that trips to the doctor will be reduced, time and energy will be gained, and money will be saved — overall, quality of life is improved through our comprehensive services.”

Encouraging collaboration At its heart, SRx is all about making health care simple and accessible. “Recognizing the hurdles that Canadians and practitioners face in the health care space, SRx strives to be a revolutionary vehicle of change,” says Stephanie Nazywalskyj, SRx’s Director of Strategic Communications. “We approach driving change from results-oriented and innovative angles as we seek to optimize the wellness of Canadians — ranging from prescription drug treatments

to support with chronic and complex illnesses, virtual care, preventative health, novel treatments, cutting-edge genetic diagnostics, personalized medicine, and more.” The network strengthens connections and collaboration. “Instead of leaving health care providers to work isolated within a fragile system, we’ve created comprehensive teams, innovative tech solutions, modern, accessible, and tailored services, and robust follow-ups to improve outcomes for patients,” says Vora.

Facilitating on-demand care SRx is set to release a new app that will provide on-demand access to quality, crucial and specialized services from the convenience of a smartphone, computer, or tablet. “Our app was designed to complement our integrated health care model and provide users with access to the benefits of all our specialty pharmaceutical services,” says Nazywalskyj. “Services include virtual care with a variety of health care practitioners, virtual pharmacist consultations, free medication delivery, an educational hub, to name just a few of the features.” Vora notes that the app will also facilitate personalized medicine, diagnostics, nurse triage, treatment trackers, compliance support, disease monitoring, virtual training, and more as the company seeks to continuously adapt to the needs of Canadians. “We’re just getting started,” says Vora. “Our team’s vision is to expand services to directly meet Canadians’ needs. We’re passionate about driving positive change in Canadians’ wellness and in a system that needs a major overhaul at every level.”

Visit srxhealth.ca/ en/mysrxapp/ to learn more. SRx Health Solutions’ new app is launching soon. This article was supported by SRx Health Solutions.

Independent Pharmacies Reforming Canadian Pharmacy Education with an Evolving Are Vital to Our Health Scope of Practice Care System Independent pharmacies provide much-needed accessible health care to help build healthier communities nationwide. Tania Amardeil

Sherif Guorgui Co-CEO, OnPharm-United

harmacies play a vital role in keeping Canadian communities healthy. This was especially highlighted during the pandemic. As doctors’ offices and clinics shuttered their doors at the onset of the pandemic, and hospitals struggled with an overload of patients, pharmacies remained open and available to ensure Ontarians continued to have access to their medications and essential pharmacy services.

The role of independent pharmacy

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This article was sponsored by OnPharm United.

“Pharmacy played a major role in supporting and participating in the government’s COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs,” says Sherif Guorgui, Co-CEO at OnPharmUnited, a network of more than 600 independent pharmacy owners across Ontario. Independent pharmacies relieved tremendous pressure from the rest of the health care system during the pandemic, and continue to do so. They also provide highly-accessible health care for Ontarians and contribute to economic development. “Now, more than ever, it’s important for the government to invest in pharmacy and expand the scope of practice for pharmacy professionals,” says Guorgui. “As the government continues to look for effective ways to maintain the sustainability of the health care system, it’s paramount to include independent pharmacies as part of the solution.”

he Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI) is an organization dedicated to advancing the profession and facilitating excellence in its national community of pharmacy students. CAPSI embodies the highest standard of conduct as it advocates for the interests of its members and profession to government bodies, pharmacy organizations, and various stakeholders. The pharmacy education system in Canada has evolved to meet the current and anticipated changes in pharmacy practice by transitioning to the Doctor of Pharmacy program from a baccalaureate degree. This program places a greater emphasis on patient-centered care and implements more clinical rotations in hospitals, community pharmacies, and primary care clinics. Students may also apply to a residency program after graduation to refine their competencies in direct patient care and specialized areas like oncology, infectious diseases, paediatrics, and many more. While the training, education, and licensing requirements remain consistent across Canada, each province has their own authorized scope of practice. Pharmacists assess the appropriateness and safety of prescriptions based on several patient specific factors. They may decide to renew, extend, or even adapt a prescription to improve therapeutic outcomes or to manage distribution and drug shortages. To increase access to primary care services, pharmacists in most provinces have some degree of authority to prescribe medications and order lab tests to monitor patients' acute and chronic conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted pharmacists' role in providing accessible point-of-care testing, vaccine distribution, and administering drugs by injection. CAPSI, as well as other advocatory bodies are working to advocate for consistent legislation across all provinces to increase pharmacy utilization and reduce the burden on the health care system.

Makboolee Fyith El-Hayek Doctor of Pharmacy Student & VP, Professional Affairs, CAPSI

Email vppa@ capsi.ca or visit capsi.ca if you are interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy or want to learn more about CAPSI. This article was sponsored by CAPSI.

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Justin Bates CEO, Ontario Pharmacists Association

Tim Brady Pharmacist & Chair of OPA's Board of Directors

Sandra Hanna CEO, Neighbourhood Pharmacies

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The Future of Ontario's Pharmacy Services Pharmacy professionals apply a flexible, diverse skill set to strengthen Ontario’s health care system and uncomplicate the patient journey.

ith 95 percent of Canadians living within five kilometres of a community pharmacy and over 4,600 pharmacies in Ontario, the sector has unquestionably proven the power of its presence and depth of its potential. From the outset of COVID19 and at every phase of the pandemic, pharmacies repeatedly demonstrated their extensive, impressive capabilities. Pharmacy professionals are incredibly accessible — in fact, Canadians see their pharmacists up to 10 times more than any other health care provider. Pharmacy professionals work across the entire health care system in hospitals, long-term care, nursing homes, and community settings. Their specialized skill set means they can offer a holistic perspective when overseeing all aspects of the patient journey — from medication management to wellness strategies, from understanding a diagnosis to building a treatment plan, and everything in between. Pharmacies excel in the dual, vital role of touchpoint for patients to conveniently obtain prompt, trusted, firsthand medical advice, and experienced navigator of what can be an intimidatingly vast and complicated health care system. As more people recognize and utilize pharmacy professionals' services, pharmacy teams are tackling an ever-expanding variety of health concerns — from routine to specialty care. Pharmacy's success in addressing this varying complexity of health issues signals the profession’s distinctive blend of capability, flexibility, and accessibility in advancing health care. In celebration of Pharmacy Appreciation Month, the positive impact of pharmacy teams’ essential role as trusted partners on the frontlines of health care cannot be overstated.

Their doors are always open With Ontario’s health care system overwhelmed by the pandemic, the government designated pharmacies across the province have been an essential service. They immediately stepped up as convenient, accessible destinations for care in their communities. The government has relied on the pharmacy sector’s expansive network and sophisticated pharmaceutical supply chain to serve as a dependable partner in delivering COVID-19 tests and vac-

cines. Ontario community pharmacies have successfully administered over 7.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to date and administered over 800,000 COVID-19 PCR tests. Noting with profound gratitude the tremendous contributions of pharmacy teams, we know they have a unique ability to create capacity in public health and primary care and help build more resilient health systems for the future. By offering patients timely access to care, pharmacies offer Ontarians a convenient option and alternative. They also expand care in a strained health care system that stands to benefit significantly from the responsiveness, innovation, and unparalleled accessibility pharmacies offers.

Collaborating to support the public That’s why pharmacy professionals across the province are uniting to bridge the gaps in health care. Backed by research and support from the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy (CFP), Canada’s national pharmacy charity, associations such as the Ontario Pharmacy Association (OPA) and the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) are working on behalf of their members to encourage the further utilization of the pharmacy profession’s capabilities on behalf of the Canadian public. “It’s important to underscore the integrated nature of Canada’s health care system — we’re a big team working together,” says Justin Bates, CEO of OPA. “The role of pharmacy professionals has expanded beyond medication management, and we’re excited to help boost the system.” Lessons learned during the pandemic have created an opportune moment to revaluate our health care infrastructure. “Compared to most provinces, Ontario’s pharmacy professionals are lagging behind in allied responsibilities,” Justin adds.

Easing system strain Both associations are calling for the Ontario government to increase Ontarians’ access to publicly funded routine immunizations by making them available at pharmacies. “Pharmacy professionals aren’t delivering many public health immunizations, even though they have the knowledge and expertise,” explains Sandra Hanna,

CEO of Neighbourhood Pharmacies. “Plus, one in four Canadians have missed or delayed a routine immunization during the pandemic. Pharmacies create capacity alongside our primary care and public health partners and can help get everyone caught up.” Pharmacists have the knowledge to safely assess and prescribe treatment for minor ailments, such as pink eye, heartburn, dermatitis, cold sores, insect bites, and urinary tract infections. A practicing pharmacist herself, Sandra knows this change would improve the care process for patients and save the system money. “Imagine if you could go to a pharmacy to be assessed for minor ailments and get medication all in one visit. We’d reduce the number of people going to their doctors or emergency rooms unless necessary while minimizing the risk of worsening ailments,” Sandra adds. “By building on their role in offering COVID-19 testing, pharmacies could also offer a wider range of similar tests for disease screening and management.”

Doing better for our community Both the OPA and Neighbourhood Pharmacies align on key recommendations that would build on the expertise of pharmacy professionals and leverage the convenience and accessibility of pharmacies as community health hubs. Using data from practice research supported by the CFP, the associations continue to inform and advise policymakers that directly involving and including the pharmacy profession in health care policies improves patient care while saving taxpayer money. “We’re so proud of Canada’s pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. They’re trusted, hardworking individuals stepping up to the plate,” says Tim Brady, Pharmacist, and Chair of the OPA’s Board of Directors. “We want policymakers to consider that it’s in the public’s best interest to utilize all practitioner’s skills and abilities to make our system run efficiently.” Speak with your MPP and electoral candidates about unlocking pharmacy’s potential by making routine immunizations more accessible through pharmacies and enabling pharmacists to assess and prescribe for minor ailments.

This article was sponsored by CFP, OPA, and NPAC.