Pharmacist-Led Clinics Improve Access to Primary Care: Alberta Paves the Way

By the end of 2024, there will be 103 in the province.2 With the broadest scope of practice and prescribing authority in Canada, pharmacists in Alberta pro- vide patients with a range of primary care servi- tients as needed and to collaborate with other ces such as managing chronic conditions, health professionals.7 While pharmacists are prescribing medications, ordering and inter- highly trained. [...] In the Alberta, a pharmacist could have sent the patient Lethbridge pharmacist-led clinic alone, mean- for testing directly, saving both the patient and while, an average of 40 to 60 patients are seen the system an additional visit with a health every day, or from 14,600 to 21,900 annually.11 There professional. [...] 14 This brings them more in line with other provinces, although they are still Studies show that pharmacist-directed care and more restricted than their counterparts in management conforms to guidelines, is safe and Alberta.15 effective, saves both time and costs, and registers high patient satisfaction.12 Awareness of the value To make the best use of the training and exper- of such care is also. [...] the more restrictive scope of practice and more limited prescribing powers reduce the types of primary care pharmacists are able to provide, despite being trained to do so. [...] The MEI’s Health Policy Series aims to examine the extent to which freedom of choice and entrepreneurship lead to improvements in the quality and efficiency of health care services for all patients.