Pharmacists' Matters

In the latest episode of the Pharmacists’ Matters podcast, listen as Host and OPA CEO, Justin Bates, dives into an insightful conversation with Pharmacists and Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs), Susie Jin and Rob Roscoe.

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a large influx of information being shared and many valuable lessons learned. In this podcast episode, Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) CEO, Justin Bates, and Dr. Noah Ivers, Family Physician, Implementation Scientist, provide an overview of some of the challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic and how we can learn, assess and apply the lessons learned in the healthcare sector. First, Justin Bates and Dr.Ivers touch on Portugal, mandates, and why the country’s population is leading in vaccination rates. They also discuss the importance of clear communication from leaders and governments to increase adherence to behaviours and measures to slow the spread of the virus. How mental health, burnout, and social media are impacting health care providers. Lastly, they share insights on how we can navigate systemic issues from the pandemic and implement potential solutions to move forward.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our health care professionals who were already at risk of burnout and mental health challenges are experiencing even greater pressure. This is due to issues specific to the pandemic such as concerns about exposure for themselves and family members, working even longer hours with fewer breaks, dealing with misinformation about the virus targeting the profession, and losing patients to the COVID-19 virus or complication arising from the pandemic. In this episode we discuss these challenges and take a look at some tools and resources available.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines has raised various conversations regarding the logistics and implementation. In this first podcast episode of 2021, Justin Bates, CEO of OPA has an insightful discussion with healthcare thought leaders, Kristen Watt, Pharmacist and Owner of Kristen’s Pharmacy, and Dr. Alykhan Abdulla, Assistant Professor and Chairperson of the Section of General and Family Physicians. In this episode, you’ll uncover suggestions and key considerations for a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the science behind mRNA vaccines and how they differ from traditional vaccines, tips on how to provide patient education and build vaccine confidence, and potential operational challenges that could arise with the distribution. Kristen and Dr. Abdulla also dive into the impact the pandemic has had on the mental health of healthcare professionals and provide suggestions on how to unplug and recharge. Lastly, the group shares recommendations on where the healthcare community and public can stay up-to-date regarding vaccine news and developments.

Political analyst and journalist, Amanda Galbraith, joins OPA CEO, Justin Bates, to discuss the political environment in Canada and the United States. Discussions include opinions on the U.S. election and potential outcomes, policy positions as they relate to healthcare, and other notable platform positions. We will also focus on politics in Canada both at the federal and provincial levels. Topics to be discussed include national pharmacare, and more provincially focused issues such as COVID-19 testing and immunization.

Alberta has long been a leader in the pharmacy space, and their ability to build healthcare capacity during COVID-19 is no exception.In this episode of Pharmacists’ Matters, pharmacy leaders, Margaret Wing and Bruce Winston, from Alberta join us to discuss COVID-19 testing in pharmacies and how the Alberta model is driving pharmacy opportunities for greater patient care and system sustainability. We discuss how the model works in Alberta and identify lessons learned that can be applied here in Ontario and elsewhere.

While cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018, patients who receive authorization from a licensed healthcare provider have been allowed to use cannabis as part of their medical treatment. Under the current Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation (ACMPR), the only legal distribution method remains by mail order from licensed producers direct to patients. Cannabis is one of the only regulated drugs that is not dispensed in a pharmacy. In this episode we discuss the status of medical cannabis in Ontario.

As one of the most accessible healthcare providers to patients within a community, pharmacy professionals have an opportunity to play a key role in ensuring that the care they provide meets the needs of diverse communities. In this episode, Justin Bates hosts our distinguished guests, Dr. Sandra Leal and Dr. Jaris Swidrovich, to discuss barriers that exist and how they can be addressed and eliminated to improve patient care and the profession.

Providing inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients goes beyond mastering clinical knowledge and encompasses an awareness and appreciation for cultural differences that characterize the LGBTQ+ community. Our pharmacy panel of experts discuss how pharmacists are uniquely positioned to provide care for LGBTQ+ patients and what OPA is doing to educate pharmacy professionals about this topic.

In this episode we discuss the two major initiatives by OPA to ensure pharmacy services are continued and optimized during the pandemic. We talk to Johnny Paspalovski about our partnership with RONCO to provide pharmacies with much needed PPE. Jason Kreller also joins us to discuss how the Relief Buddy app has been helping to keep pharmacies staffed.