Changing role of the pharmacy
Medicine Shoppe adopts new look as pharmacists’ duties continue to expand
Medicine Shoppe adopts new look as pharmacists’ duties continue to expand.
Hugh Toner decided to switch up the concept of what’s been considered the standard in retail pharmacy for decades.
When the former Co-op grocery store, in which his Medicine Shoppe pharmacy was located, was sold on Prince Street in the summer, he had decisions to make.
The result was to replace the loud, sometimes chaotic atmosphere of a grocery store, with one that resembled more of a clinical environment of a doctor’s office.
Tile flooring was replaced with carpet, and the space was doubled to about 2,600 square feet. His other Medicine Shoppe pharmacy remains at its Kings Road location.
The extra room has allowed for a sitting area at the front of the store with a television, which will be used for presentations on topics ranging from nutrition to mental health.
There’s also a spacious area behind the counter, giving more room for pharmacists and two large counselling rooms for private one-on-one consultations.
One of those rooms is fashioned like an examining room at a doctor’s office. It has a sink, cabinet and counter space, along with the typical office desk and chairs.
Toner said pharmacists are taking on more responsibilities that used to be exclusively in the hands of physicians, such as administering the flu shot.
“We built this store for the future,” he said. “Pharmacies are now giving out vaccinations and ( flu shots).
“The role of a pharmacy has been expanding over the years, and in the future we don’t know what else will be added so we added a sink to one of the counselling rooms. It’s not something you see in many pharmacies.”
New services as part of the revamped pharmacy include a methadone maintenance program.
Recovering addicts will be able to get their methadone dose at the Medicine Shoppe behind a privacy screen.
He said adding the service will take some pressure off other clinics that offer methadone treatments.
The rapid access clinic at the Ally Centre on Bentinck Street operates a methadone program for the Nova Scotia Health Authority, as do other pharmacies in the Sydney area.
The pharmacy will also introduce the Ideal Protein weight loss program, and the Sigvaris support stockings for varicose veins.
“We’re open to all new services. As we go we’re just going to build, get a solid base and build on that,” said Toner.
He said store hours have been extended into the evening on Tuesday and Thursday, and longer hours on the weekend for the convenience of more customers.