Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping cuts the ribbon for the new pharmacist-led walk-in clinic in Lethbridge, June 24, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

By Drew Stremick

Pharmacist-based clinic first of its kind in Alberta

Jun 24, 2022 | 5:48 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge is the first city in Alberta to have a pharmacist-led walk-in clinic. Starting Monday, June 27, 2022, the clinic will offer a range of healthcare services, including assessment and treatment of minor illnesses, chronic disease management, and the ability for patients to request and book lab-based testing services.

Loblaws head of Pharmacy and Healthcare Jeff Leger says a pharmacist-led walk-in clinic will make it easier for Albertans to access some types of care.

“The expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in Alberta is making it easier for patients to get access to the services they need. Pharmacist walk-in clinic will allow us to leverage that expanded scope of practice, improving access to care for patients,” said Leger.

“At the clinic, the pharmacist will be able to assess patients and prescribe medications for minor illnesses and injuries, administer vaccines and other medications by injection, support chronic disease management, and order and receive lab results.” Leger continued, “Our hope is that making these services available in a pharmacist clinic setting will support primary care providers in the community, help alleviate some of the strains on the current healthcare system through a reduction in E.R. visits, and ultimately result in better health outcomes for patients.”

Pharmacist Justin Jenson discusses the services that will be provided at the new clinic, June 24, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

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Justin Jenson, the pharmacist who will be leading the walk-in clinic, says there will only be one pharmacist at the clinic to start, but additional pharmacists may be brought in as demand grows.

“We will be starting with a single pharmacist. I will not be the only gentleman up here. We will be an interdisciplinary team within the community and we will definitely, of course, be expanding as the demand dictates and as more pharmacists become available too,” said Jenson. “We are hoping to get integration with at least the University of Alberta. If not possible, aspiring international pharmacy graduates, to help them gain additional experience in other countries or other communities where professional services aren’t as well defined or expanded. This is going to provide them with an excellent learning opportunity so that they can start to ‘get their feet wet’ in clinical services, and not just solely in a dispensary.”

Due to a lack of physicians in Lethbridge, many people don’t have a family doctor. Jenson is confident that if there is high demand at the clinic, they can deal with it effectively.

“Rest assured, we have plans in motion for scaling up. We already have multiple pharmacists committed both in Lethbridge and surrounding area. We are in conversations with additional pharmacies in the area and we’re also communicating with pharmacists in the Calgary region as well,” Jenson said. “If demand dictates, we will scale up. If demand is a little soft, we’re here to help those that need it ASAP, but we are going to be here to help Canadians live life well.”

Jenson mentioned that the clinic is not an emergency room, and some services need to be addressed by a doctor.

“Examples that might fall outside of our scope of practice: narcotic medications. This would not be within the scope of practice for pharmacists. This would be more falling on physicians,” said Jenson.

There are six patient rooms in the new pharamacist-based walk-in clinic, June 24, 2022 (LNN)

Alberta Minister of Health Jason Copping also attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Lethbridge clinic. Copping says pharmacists provided much-needed support during the pandemic, and this pilot project will help improve the delivery of healthcare services.

“Over the last two years, pharmacists have also provided critical support during the pandemic. Now this pharmacist walk-in clinic builds on the wide ranging scope of practice and enables pharmacists to offer more care in a safe accessible way,” Copping said. “With the knowledge we gain from this pilot project, we can keep improving how health care is delivered by pharmacy teams and stay on the leading edge of pharmacy practice within Canada.”

At the event, Copping also had an update on the search to bring more doctors to Lethbridge. Copping confirmed that 11 doctors are expected to open practices in Lethbridge by September, with a potential for even more.

“AHS has been working hard to bring new doctors to Lethbridge, and there are new doctors on the way.” said Copping. “There are 11 family physicians committed to working in Lethbridge, awaiting a practice readiness assessments, and they’re expected to start working in September, and come online to providing services over the course of the remainder of the year.”

Copping mentioned five more doctors are currently in the recruitment process, bringing the total number of possible physicians coming to Lethbridge to 16.

The pilot program for this clinic is expected to run for 12 months in Lethbridge before potentially expanding to other regions.