Health Care Providers

Working as part of a care team, Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists (PCCPs) will establish linkages with other health authority pharmacy staff, community pharmacists and other members of the team as appropriate to ensure continuity of care for patients. PCCPs will provide comprehensive medication management services focused on the on-going care of adult patients with complex conditions to help:

• Prevent and resolve drug-related problems,
• Educate the patient about their medications,
• Remove barriers to patients in following prescription advice, and
• Patients achieve better health outcomes.

PCCPs offer:

• Drug therapy expertise to help optimize the care of patients.
• Consultations regarding complex patient cases.
• Accessible care with consultations available in person, by telephone or by secure video conference.
• Extra time for complex cases - usually 60 minutes (initial appointment) and 15-60 minutes (follow-up appointments).
• A collaborative approach that respects each team member’s role in patient care.
• Continuity of care - notes and recommendations are shared within the patient’s circle of care.
• Evidence-based care plans, recommendations and implementation plans aligned with current best-practices.
• Follow-up to successfully monitor and adjust drug therapies for optimal results.

A schematic diagram of how a PCCP prepares for and provides care during and after a patient appointment is here.

Each PCN has established a referral process for patients to access the services of a PCCP or other health care team member. In general, patients who can benefit from referral to a PCCP are those at risk of drug therapy problems. These patients might present with:

• Multiple drug therapies (polypharmacy)
• Multiple or complex health conditions
• Sub-optimal drug therapy outcomes
• Adverse drug events, drug sensitivities/allergies
• A need to start or stop a drug therapy
• Complex medication schedules
• Patient adherence or compliance issues
• Questions or concerns, needing more time
• Waiting to see a specialist
• Reduced liver or kidney function
• Complexities with patient self-treatment (e.g., supplements, traditional medicines, cannabis)