Pharmaceutical Care in Community Pharmacies: Practice and Research in Canada

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the provision of pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies in Canada including the following topics: organization and delivery of health services, health service policy, methods of payment, types of pharmacy services provided, types of cognitive pharmacy services, research in community pharmacy, and future plans for community pharmacy services. DATA SYNTHESIS: The implementation of pharmaceutical care in Canadian community pharmacies continues to become more widespread. However, barriers to the provision of pharmaceutical care still exist, including the current shortage of pharmacists and lack of reimbursement systems for cognitive services. Evidence of the value of pharmaceutical care in Canadian community pharmacies has been supported by several pharmacy practice research projects. The pharmacist's role in patient care is expected to continue to expand. CONCLUSIONS: Although Canadian pharmacists' capabilities are not yet universally recognized and applied to their full potential, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of pharmaceutical care in the community setting in Canada.

[1]  A. Forster,et al.  Adverse events among medical patients after discharge from hospital. , 2004, CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne.

[2]  T. Einarson,et al.  Community pharmacy practice research: A systematic review of the past 32 years , 2003 .

[3]  W. McLean,et al.  The BC Community Pharmacy Asthma Study: A study of clinical, economic and holistic outcomes influenced by an asthma care protocol provided by specially trained community pharmacists in British Columbia. , 2003, Canadian respiratory journal.

[4]  K. Teo,et al.  A randomized trial of the effect of community pharmacist intervention on cholesterol risk management: the Study of Cardiovascular Risk Intervention by Pharmacists (SCRIP). , 2002, Archives of internal medicine.

[5]  Theresa J. Schindel,et al.  The Development of an Internet-Based Course on Dyslipidemias: A New Form of Continuing Education for Pharmacists , 2001 .

[6]  A. Anis,et al.  A Dog’s Breakfast:: Prescription Drug Coverage Varies Widely Across Canada , 2001, Medical care.

[7]  N. MacKinnon,et al.  Pharmacists' Participation in an Inhaled Respiratory Medication Program: Reimbursement of Professional Fees , 2005, The Annals of pharmacotherapy.

[8]  Pharmacist-Managed Lipid Clinics: Development and Implementation in the Canadian Forces , 2003 .

[9]  A. Detsky,et al.  Canada's health care system--reform delayed. , 2003, The New England journal of medicine.

[10]  Paterson Jm,et al.  Trial" prescriptions to reduce drug wastage: results from Canadian programs and a community demonstration project. , 2002 .

[11]  J. Moisan,et al.  Billing for Cognitive Services: Understanding Québec Pharmacists' Behavior , 2000, The Annals of pharmacotherapy.

[12]  J. Moisan,et al.  Inter-provincial variation in government drug formularies. , 2001, Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique.