The Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic, in partnership
with the University of Alberta, is the
first of its kind and will help improve access to healthcare for
Albertans
BRAMPTON, ON, June 24,
2022 /CNW/ - On Monday, June
27, Alberta's first
pharmacist-led primary healthcare clinic will open its doors to new
patients in Lethbridge. Located
inside the Lethbridge Real Canadian Superstore at 3515 Mayor
Magrath Dr S, the Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic will offer a range of
healthcare services to patients, including assessment and treatment
of common ailments and injuries.
Access to primary healthcare services has been an ongoing issue
across the country for some time and was most recently exacerbated
by Covid-19. The expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in
Alberta, however, is making it
easier for patients to get access to the services they need.
Pharmacists in the province have the ability to assess patients
and prescribe medications for minor illnesses and injuries,
administer vaccines and other medications by injection, support
chronic disease management and order and receive lab results.
Making these services available in a pharmacist clinic setting will
mean a reduction in urgent care and emergency room visits and
ultimately can lead to better health outcomes for patients.
"Pharmacists in Alberta are
uniquely positioned to relieve some of the burden on the province's
healthcare system and this innovative clinic will make access to
care easier for residents in Lethbridge," said Jeff
Leger, head of pharmacy at Loblaw Companies Limited, and
President, Shoppers Drug Mart. "We applaud the Government of
Alberta for their support of
pharmacy and for the work they continue to do, making healthcare
more accessible to Albertans through pharmacy."
The opening of the Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic is another way
Loblaw is living up to its purpose to help Canadians live life
well. The clinic adds to the company's network of healthcare
professionals and its national infrastructure that supports a
variety of healthcare services through which Loblaw delivers care
and wellness services to millions of Canadians weekly – both
in-store and virtually, making healthcare more accessible,
convenient and seamless.
To support research and teaching at the clinic, Loblaw has
provided a $500,000 grant to the
University of Alberta. The grant will
enable research and evaluation of innovative models of care
implemented at the Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic and provide training
opportunities for pharmacy students to complete clinical placements
in a unique, community-based clinic environment. There will also be
opportunities for collaborative care with other healthcare
providers to foster a complete approach to patient care.
"This endeavor by Loblaw and the University of Alberta's Faculty of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences is an exciting one for our students,
faculty and the Lethbridge community," said
Interim Dean, Christine
Hughes. "The Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic will
provide our students with fantastic opportunities
for experiential learning and collaboration as well as
serve as a key primary care location making healthcare more
accessible to the people of Lethbridge."
The Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic will provide care to patients from
10am to 6pm as of Monday, June 27, via appointment or by walk-in.
To book an appointment or for other inquiries patients can contact
the clinic directly at 825-399-2015.
About Loblaw Companies
Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, as well as
its largest retailer and private sector employer. With
approximately two billion transactions each year in its unmatched
network of nearly 2,500 stores and national e-commerce options,
Loblaw brings food, pharmacy, beauty, apparel and financial
services to customers through many of Canada's favourite and most-trusted brands:
President's Choice, No Name, Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, No
Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, T&T, Joe Fresh, PC Express
and PC Financial. The company's loyalty program, PC Optimum, has
more than 18 million members and is one of Canada's largest, and most loved reward
programs.
Loblaw's purpose is to help Canadians live life well. It makes
good food affordable, health, beauty and wellness accessible,
saving for the future possible, and essential style achievable.
About the University of Alberta
Since the beginning, the U of A and Alberta have grown together. From launching an
energy industry to the discovery of insulin to the first moment a
computer beat a human at chess, our people have been part of it.
Together, we have pushed forward discoveries that changed the
world, created opportunities and opened up industries. For more
than a century, we have been the engine that drives social,
cultural and economic prosperity in Canada. We are not only training the workforce
of tomorrow, we are also creating the industries of tomorrow. We
work alongside communities—because they're our communities, too.
The university's alumni—numbering more than 300,000 in 167
countries—have founded more than 70,000 organizations and
businesses around the world, creating 1.5 million jobs, nearly
400,000 of which are in Alberta.
For more information about the University
of Alberta, visit ualberta.ca or follow us on Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @UAlberta.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited