The Guardian Pharmacy in Bridgewater has been operating its new primary care clinic since the beginning of February and on Thursday it hosted its grand opening.

A new room at the Bridgewater Guardian Pharmacy for their recently opened primary care clinic. Photo: Evan Taylor

It’s one of 12 pharmacies around the province that were selected to pilot the new primary care clinic program as a way of testing its efficacy.

Pharmacists at these locations will have a greatly expanded scope, allowing them to set aside time where they can help patients with common illnesses and chronic diseases.

“We are thrilled to be one of the provincial sites selected to open a new community pharmacy primary care clinic,” says Pam Kennedy, Pharmacist and Owner of Bridgewater Guardian Pharmacy. “It is an exciting time as a pharmacist as we see the government recognize the contribution that pharmacists and pharmacy teams can make to the healthcare system in Nova Scotia. We expect that there will be a significant impact on healthcare delivery for patients in our community.”

Bridgewater Guardian Pharmacy Owner Pam Kennedy says the first week of operation of the new primary care clinic has gone very well. Photo: Guardian Pharmacy

One of the expanded services allows for the participating pharmacies to now test for and treat strep throat. Independent of a doctor, these pharmacists are also able to authorize tests and prescribe medications for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Kennedy says the program has proved a success in its first week of operation and is excited for what that could mean for the future of the program, “Obviously we are keeping track of the success of the program as are the province and PANS (Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia), and we hope as the one-year trial ends this can be made permanent and rolled out to other pharmacies,”.

“Our community will benefit from increased access to primary care services, such as strep throat testing and treatment, a service previously unavailable through pharmacies,” says Lunenburg West MLA Becky Druhan. “This project will address some of the immediate care needs for residents right here in Bridgewater.”

The Bridgewater Primary Care Clinic has been set up in a medical suite above the pharmacy, and the additional services they now offer are all covered by Nova Scotia Health Cards.