Rexall assists in diabetes management
When it comes to diabetes management, the role of the pharmacist is vital. The pharmacist, perhaps the most trusted profession in the health care industry, can help by way of education, referral and monitoring. The pharmacist can play an integral role in diabetes care by screening patients who are high risk for the disease, assess their status and adherence to standards of care, educate their patients on how to care for themselves, and perhaps refer patients to other health care professionals who can best monitor their progress and help them achieve their desired outcome.
“The pharmacist is an extension of the care the patient receives from many other health care providers,” says Tracey Phillips, Rexall’s vice president of pharmacy. “A person living with diabetes visits their pharmacist about five times more than they visit any other health care provider. Their pharmacist can answer questions and reinforce medical advice, helping them reach their goals or targets laid out by their other health care providers.”
At the pharmacy, a patient is welcome to a range of additional tips, including diet information. Although a pharmacist does not replace the need for a dietician, a pharmacist helps to reinforce the message, and acts as another source of support for the person who has been diagnosed with diabetes.
“I think people are starting to appreciate the knowledge and skills that their pharmacists have,” says Phillips. “As people have trouble accessing care, they realize what a resource their pharmacist is.”
With the Ontario government recently expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists, “it is a signal to the public that a pharmacist is a confident, valuable health care professional. Sometimes, until you really need your pharmacists for more than a prescription, we don’t realize their full value. That will change, as we move forward from just providing product and on to providing much needed services that are good for the patient.”
During the month of October, in anticipation of World Diabetes Day in November, Rexall offered A1C testing, free of charge, a service that usually costs $25.
“The A1C is necessary to monitor the glucose control of people living with diabetes, how well they’re keeping their sugar on track,” says Phillips. “We’ve heard that almost two thirds of diabetes patients may not get this test as often as they should, so offering it any time at the pharmacy means that there’s no longer a barrier for them to get it done.”
Normally, a patient with diabetes needs a requisition from his or her physician to obtain the A1C test, which is often done at a lab free of charge. While there is a nominal fee to get the test done at the pharmacy, it is a beneficial service for those who would rather pay for the convenience of getting the test done on any day, at any time, without a script from a doctor.
On November 14, World Diabetes Day, all Rexall pharmacies will be offering the A1C test to all diabetes patients free of charge.
“At Rexall, every single pharmacist takes an enhanced diabetes training course to be able to provide the utmost in diabetes education,” says Phillips. “Diabetes is one of our core health conditions, and we take it very seriously.”