A wellness workshop for seniors is coming up on the role of pharmacists in health care.
The workshop is going to address the expanded role that pharmacists now have when helping patients of all ages – including seniors – to alleviate pressure on the medical system, explained activity coordinator with the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society, Carmen Tischer.
"This includes diagnosing, writing and renewing prescriptions for some ailments including shingles, uncomplicated urinary tract infections, and certain chronic conditions," explained Tischer.
In 2023 new regulatory standards came into place giving pharmacists across the province the authority to diagnose and prescribe medications for minor ailments and contraception.
According to a message from the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia, posted on Aug. 4, 2023, in The Tablet, pharmacists are able to prescribe medications for conditions including acne, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dysmenorrhea, fungal infections, gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, hemorrhoids, nicotine dependence, urinary tract infections, and more.
These changes, said the college online, will improve timely access to medications; result in an improved patient experience when accessing a primary care provider; improve access to healthcare services for those living in rural and remote communities; and result in better health outcomes.
Local pharmacist Ellie Yousefian will be presenting at the workshop and sharing how local pharmacists can support the health care of seniors in the community.
Wellness Workshops are presented monthly in conjunction with Ridge Meadows Seniors Society’s Wellness Clinics, said Tischer.
In addition the society's Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre offers a bi-monthly Wellness Clinic, which takes place from 9 a.m. until noon on the second and fourth Thursdays every month. The clinic offers seniors the chance to stop by for a wellness check with a registered nurse volunteer.
Seniors can learn how to measure their blood pressure, ask health-related questions, visit with the team, and more.
It is open to anyone 55-years-old or older. The first visit is free, with a $1 drop-in fee after.
"No one is turned away," added Tischer.
The Wellness Workshop: Pharmacists' Role in Healthcare takes place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society's Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre, 12150 224 St., Maple Ridge.
The event is free but participants must pre-register by calling: 604-467-4993.
