Pharmacists
“A pharmacist is the health professional who focuses on the patient’s drug therapy. The pharmacist’s primary role is to ensure that the medications used by a patient are the most effective and are used in the most appropriate manner. As examples, pharmacists can recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) product for pain relief, demonstrate the proper use of an asthma inhaler, or help patients manage their diabetes. Patients can also talk to their pharmacist about the benefits and risks of drugs, how to store and take medication, what foods or activities to avoid, and what to do if a dose is missed.”
Within primary healthcare teams, pharmacists can:
• Perform medication reviews with patients to identify potential drug therapy problems, such as drug-drug interactions, adverse events, etc
• Make recommendations to the FHT physicians and other healthcare providers to improve patients’ health by addressing the drug therapy problems identified
• Make recommendations to patients to ensure they are taking their medications appropriately
• Provide drug information and education to patients and health care providers
• Create medication-focused practice enhancements (tools or processes) that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of medication prescribing and use by patients in family practice. Examples of practice enhancements include the creation of procedures for the use of drug samples within the family practice, forms/templates for the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension or diabetes as well as cholesterol clinic education days for patients
• Provide drug related services or programs to optimize drug therapy.
Adapted from the Canadian Pharmacists Association.
Integrating family medicine and pharmacy to advance primary care
Impact (includes resource downloads)
Canadian Pharmacists' Association
Ontario Pharmacists' Association
CSHP/CPhA Primary Care Pharmacists Pharmacy Specialty Network (PSN)
Resources for Pharmacists in Primary Care Practice | 
