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Professional monitoring available in pharmacies
The professional services offered may vary from one pharmacy to another. However, here is an overview of the health problems and everyday situations that many pharmacists will be able to assist you with.
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
At your first meeting, your pharmacist will take the time to explain hypertension, the role of medication, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Together, you will determine your objectives and monitoring plan, which will begin at your next meeting when your pharmacist will take your blood pressure to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.
- At following meetings, which should occur regularly, your pharmacist will take your blood pressure and record the results.
- Your pharmacist will keep your doctor informed of your condition and progress.
- If your blood pressure remains higher than the desired level, your pharmacist may recommend to your doctor that the medication be changed.
- Your pharmacist will also discuss with you any side effects or other difficulties you may be experiencing.
Diabetes
Your pharmacist can prevent diabetes complications by helping you control your blood sugar. During an appointment, the pharmacist will measure your blood sugar levels, analyze the results and, if necessary, forward them to your doctor. The results of this analysis will help you to make adjustments to your lifestyle and your medication. Your pharmacist can also advise you on the use of a glucose monitoring log.
Hypercholesterolemia (High cholesterol)
If you suffer from high cholesterol and want to ensure that your treatment is working well, ask your pharmacist to measure your cholesterol levels. A simple blood test may help you to better manage your cholesterol levels and, if necessary, change your lifestyle.
Anticoagulation
At the beginning of your anticoagulant treatment, meetings with your pharmacist will be more frequent. Your blood must be analyzed often until your International Normalized Ratio (INR) is in the right area. Once your condition stabilizes, your meetings will become less frequent.
Thereafter, and throughout the course of the treatment, your pharmacist will communicate regularly with your doctor to inform him of your condition, any changes he has made to your dose and the evolution of your treatment. To better assist you, your doctor and pharmacist will work closely together.
Medication review
To help you take control of your medication, your pharmacist may conduct a medication review, also called a therapeutic evaluation. The purpose of this review is to ensure that you get the most out of your treatment by reducing side effects and any discomfort that you might feel because of your medications.
Your pharmacist will:
- Ensure that your medications are effective.
- Detect side effects and help you manage or eliminate them.
- Detect possible drug interactions between prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs or natural health products.
Other examples of monitoring services that may be provided by your pharmacist:
- Asthma
- Pain management
- Support for quitting smoking
- Travel health
How much does it cost?
There is a fee for the professional services offered at your pharmacy. However, they are relatively affordable given the degree to which a pharmacist’s intervention can help patients improve their quality of life. How?
A pharmacist is trained to help patients in the following ways:
- Teach them how to use their medications more safely and effectively;
- Teach them how to change their lifestyles to reduce their symptoms and improve their health in the short, medium and long term;
- Review their medications in order to reduce or eliminate them, if possible;
- Find ways to streamline medication, and prevent health problems and unnecessary visits to healthcare providers.
Personalized monitoring in a pharmacy can help patients to save time and money.
Fees vary depending on the nature of the professional service rendered by the pharmacist. For example, fees vary for:
- A first consultation for a specific monitoring service;
- Follow-up meetings;
- A therapeutic evaluation and a treatment plan;
- The number or nature of requested reports.
Suggested rates for professional services*
| Uninsured services | Rates |
|---|---|
| Patient monitoring management program (Ex.: Anticoagulation therapy, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.) |
|
| Initial consultation | $34.50 |
| Follow-up consultation | $18.00 |
| Therapeutic evaluation program | |
| Further in-pharmacy analysis of the pharmacotherapy and the care plan | $60.00 |
| Personalized education program | |
| (Ex.: Self-management of asthma, program to help you quit smoking, etc.) | $34.50 |
| Others | |
| Blood pressure check | $2.00 |
| Blood sugar level check | $5.00 |
| Filling of syringes (for an insurer other than RAMQ) | Usual price + $0.20/syringe surcharge |
| IRN measured using Coaguchek; and forwarding to your doctor | $20.00 |
| Related Costs | Fees |
| Pill preparation service: rates per medication and per week | $2.49 |
* The rates listed on this table are suggested by the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires for your information. January 2009.