Just what the druggist ordered
Published Wednesday October 29th, 2008
Medications Expanded role for pharmacists comes into effect today
FREDERICTON - It's about to become much easier for New Brunswickers to get the medications they need without waiting for the OK from their doctors.
Changes to the province's Pharmacy Act come into effect tomorrow, significantly expanding the role of the pharmacist in replacing, renewing and, in some cases, issuing prescriptions.
"It's going to improve access for people who need their medications," said Lisa Zwicker, a pharmacist in Saint John.
"And it will save steps for us. Lots of times we have to stop and call or fax a doctor and wait to hear back in order to fill a prescription. It will eliminate that step. I don't think it will make our jobs any busier, but I think it will be better for everyone."
New Brunswick's 700 pharmacists fill more than nine million prescriptions every year.
Bill Veniot, registrar with New Brunswick's Pharmaceutical Society, said the new legislation finally recognizes the extensive training and experience of pharmacists.
"We're experts in drug therapy," Veniot said at a news conference in Fredericton on Tuesday.
"It's natural that we take on more authority with respect to prescribing certain medications."
The expanded role does not apply to prescriptions for narcotics and benzodiazepines - nerve medications. Strictly controlled drugs, such as narcotics, can only be renewed or extended with a doctor's prescription.
The new rules do apply to people who have pre-existing conditions but who may have forgotten to renew their prescriptions with the doctor or left home without them.
The pharmacist also can help in situations where someone has a recurring problem, such as allergies that flare up every spring.
Based on the person's consistent history, the pharmacist can fill a previously prescribed medication without making the person go through the trouble of tracking down a doctor or lining up at an outpatient clinic.
Pharmacists also will be able to make changes to prescriptions in certain cases, such as a person who wants a liquid rather than a capsule or a less expensive, generic version of a drug.
Veniot stressed that pharmacists don't see themselves as replacements for family doctors.
"It's all about timely access to medications," he said.
New Brunswick is only the second province after Alberta to significantly expand the role of the pharmacist.
Veniot said he hopes it will help the province lure more pharmacists in the coming years.
"It's a potential recruitment tool," he said.
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You're completely out to lunch!! A pharmacist specializes in drug therapy, usually for 4 years in School. A doctor is trained to diagnose, the receive training in drug therapy for what.....4 weeks?!?!Who do you think corrects the mistakes your Drs. make on perscriptions?!?
This change makes total sense. Think of all the patients that are currently forced to wait in an ER for 8+ hours to have a perccription written cause they take daily medications and can't get in to see their own doctors.
And, considering you're from PEI, it doesn't effect you. Unless of course you visit NB and just happen to FORGET a perscription at home.