Victoria PCN All-Neighbourhood Meeting Q&A (April 2022 - Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists)
Last updated on: May 19, 2022
This Q&A answers questions related to the Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist (PCCP) service, arising from the April 28 PCN all-neighbourhood meeting.
You can view a recording of the presentation here. Please note that the recording also includes the MHSU Consultant presentation (first half). Please view the corresponding MHSU Consultant Q&A here.
Please click the links below:
- Can PCCPs help status Indigenous patients navigate First Nation Health Authority (FNHA) Plan W and Non-insured Health Benefits (NIHB) coverage?
- What does the report back to the referring physician look like? Do PCCPs summarize the plan and changes?
- Do PCCPs do consults for people who 'don't believe' in pharmaceuticals?
- Do PCCPs do consults about naturopathic medicine?
- Are PCCPs able to help with choices for diabetes medications for patients who are not meeting targets?
- Are PCCPs to fill out special authority forms?
- What is the turn-around time from referral to appointment?
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Can PCCPs help status Indigenous patients navigate First Nation Health Authority (FNHA) Plan W and Non-insured Health Benefits (NIHB) coverage?
Yes, PCCPs can help support navigation of these types of coverage. Sonja and Nicole have interest and experience in this, and UBC is currently working on education for pharmacists across the province. In addition, Island Health is hiring a dedicated Indigenous pharmacist who the team will work closely with. If you have these patients, please feel free to refer them to the pharmacist service. The team will ensure the patient is paired with the right pharmacist to help them.
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What does the report back to the referring physician look like? Do PCCPs summarize the plan and changes?
The lengths of reports to referring physicians depends on the complexity of the patient, and some can get long. However, there is a section at the end (soon to be moved to the beginning) which summarizes recommendations and rationale, so you don’t have to read through the entire consult note if you don't want to.
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Do PCCPs do consults for people who 'don't believe' in pharmaceuticals?
Yes, and this has occurred in other PCNs. Referral requirements are minimal (i.e., any patient on any medication). If there is a patient who is reluctant to a specific treatment and they need more education or time with someone, they could absolutely be referred to the service.
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Do PCCPs do consults about naturopathic medicine?
Yes, PCCPs would be available to research or look into naturopathic medicine for a patient, or work with the patient to incorporate it into their treatment, if they desire.
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Are PCCPs able to help with choices for diabetes medications for patients who are not meeting targets?
Yes, PCCPs are happy to assist with any chronic health conditions.
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Are PCCPs able to fill out special authority forms?
Yes, PCCPs are able to fill out special authority forms.
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What is the turn-around time from referral to appointment?
Right now in Victoria, patients are usually booked within a couple of days, although this can change if referral volumes increase. If this happens, a waitlist will be managed, although this hasn’t’ been required in any PCN so far; times are generally under a week. If the team has trouble reaching a patient for booking, they will send the referring physician a note to indicate this.