Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada Releases Long-Term Care Report, "A Primer on the Value of Pharmacy Services in Long-Term Care Settings in Canada"
TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2020 /CNW/ - The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) is taking action to raise awareness around the value pharmacy services provide to patients in long-term care, releasing their report today entitled, "A Primer on the Value of Pharmacy Services in Long-Term Care Settings in Canada."
Neighbourhood Pharmacies engaged and collaborated with the Conference Board of Canada in the development of the report, meeting with stakeholders and conducting analysis to gain a clear understanding of this issue – a critical one given Canada's aging population, strained healthcare system, and focus on creating capacity.
"Pharmacies will always be committed to providing the highest quality care possible for their patients and, in the case of long-term care, pharmacy services are critical due to the complexity of these patients," said Sandra Hanna, CEO, Neighbourhood Pharmacies. "Pharmacy teams work interdependently to create capacity in environments facing significant capacity challenges – and pharmacy services are essential to the effective functioning of long-term care settings."
"We developed this report as a way to emphasize and communicate the distinct value pharmacies deliver in long-term care facilities," Sandra further notes. "We plan to generate discussion around the fact that patient outcomes are measurably improved when pharmacy is thoroughly integrated into the broader patient experience."
The report relies on empirical findings and analyses, including ongoing population trends; academic literature; and discussion with the long-term care pharmacy industry, long-term care home operators and government representatives.
Summary of report key findings:
- Long-term care stakeholders indicate that patient outcomes can be improved through further integrating pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians into the broader patient experience. Here, it is believed that well-integrated pharmacists can more accurately understand patient needs and, by extension, more accurately manage patient medications.
- Long-term care pharmacies are leveraging new technologies, like automation, to deliver highly specialized medications on-demand to improve patient safety and administration efficiency. Significant ongoing capital investments have been made to specifically cater to long-term care patients.
- Long-term care pharmacists can improve patient outcomes by playing increasingly large roles in medication reconciliation, promoting timely patient transitions and prescription safety.
- Health system stakeholders, including all levels of government, should consider the distinct value propositions related to long-term care pharmacy because, over time, it is anticipated these service providers will become increasingly important to successful patient health outcomes.
About the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada:
The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada advocates for strong, vibrant and financially sustainable pharmacies to protect their integral, growing role in caring for Canadians – behind the counter and in front of it. As the healthcare needs and expectations of Canadians are constantly evolving, we connect our members to the tools and information needed to keep pace. We support the full range of Canadian pharmacies, including chain, banner, long-term care and specialty pharmacies, as well as grocery chains and mass merchandisers with pharmacies, with a focus on improving the delivery of care while fostering the right conditions for business success. We aim to advance sustainable healthcare for all Canadians by leveraging the over 10,500 pharmacies conveniently located in every neighbourhood across the country as integral points of patient care.
SOURCE Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada
For further information: Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, 416-226-9100, [email protected]
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