New Brunswick pharmacists can help ease the pressure in crowded hospital emergency rooms across the province, says the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association.
Since 2014, New Brunswick pharmacists have had the authority to assess, treat and prescribe medication for 32 common minor ailments, including coughs, sore throat, urinary tract infections and hay fever.
“Pharmacists are highly-trained and educated health care professionals. They’re available without an appointment, even during evenings, weekends and holidays, at community pharmacies across the province,” says Paul Blanchard, Executive Director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association (NBPA).
This week, the Campbellton Regional Hospital warned patients with non-urgent needs to expect big wait times, and the Moncton Hospital is actively working to divert non-urgent patients to family doctors, nurse practitioners, after-hour clinics and TeleHealth.
“Pharmacists should not be overlooked as options for patients with minor ailments. The role of pharmacists has expanded, and they can help reduce the pressure on crowded ERs and doctors’ offices,” says Blanchard.
An Abacus Data survey in February 2016 of 500 New Brunswickers found that the majority of NB residents would see pharmacists for certain conditions and want their pharmacists to do more in the health care system:
- 82% likely or somewhat likely to go a pharmacist for management of common ailments like cold and flu
- 61% would prefer getting prescriptions for certain minor ailments from a pharmacy (25% family doctor, 8% afterhours clinic)
- 81% strongly or mostly agree that allowing pharmacists to do more will improve health outcomes for patients
- 86% strongly or mostly agree that allowing pharmacists to do more would reduce costs in the health care system
- 68% believe services such as vaccines, assessments of minor ailments, and prescriptions for those ailments should be covered by Medicare.
“This survey clearly shows that New Brunswickers think highly of pharmacists, value the health care they provide and want them to do even more for patients,” says Blanchard. “The New Brunswick Health Council reports that in 2013-14, 61.5% of ER visits in New Brunswick were used for non-urgent cases. Right now in this province, we have 473 of our pharmacists who are licensed and registered with the NB College of Pharmacists to treat minor ailments. New Brunswickers should be seeking these valuable health care professionals when it’s appropriate, and hospitals should be encouraging patients to do so as well.”