Summary Report: Evaluation of the Pharmacist Care Clinic Pilot in New Brunswick I: Descriptive summary of clinic operations, clinic services, and client perceptions

Abstract

Background New Brunswick's healthcare system faces many issues and challenges, such as limited access, workforce shortages and an aging population, which strain resources and increase demand for services. To address these issues, innovative programs have been implemented to enhance service delivery and improve the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare system. In 2023, the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists, in collaboration with New Brunswick’s Department of Health and the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association, introduced the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program.

About the program Under the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program, pharmacists' expanded authority includes point-of-care screening and prescribing for Group A Strep, as well as medication management for chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The program aimed to improve healthcare access by utilizing the expertise of community pharmacists who are readily available and provide convenient primary care. The pilot ran from August 2023 to September 2024 in six pharmacies located in different parts of the province.

Purpose of the report The purpose of this report is to evaluate the impact of the Pharmacist Care Clinic pilot program. The evaluation was divided into three parts: 1) Description of clinic operational details; 2) Description of clinic services provided; 3) Evaluation of client experiences and perceptions.

Methodology A mixed methods study was conducted using clinic operational data, clinic service records and client surveys. A self-administered cross-sectional survey was used to collect participants' experiences and perceptions about the clinic. Clinic operational details such as operating hours, appointment bookings and staffing, and a summary of clinical services rendered were reported using descriptive statistics, while participants’ comments were analyzed qualitatively.