Pinnacle Pharmacy Services

Medication reviews help patients:

• Understand the reason why they are prescribed certain medications
• Learn how their medications interact with natural health products, over-the-counter medications, and supplements
• Know which side effects to look out for
• Identify unmet needs (such as unmanaged pain, untreated anxiety or depression, or under/over-treated hypertension)
• Review their lab work and bloodwork
• Document their concerns
  
• Communicate better with their physician through their pharmacist

Through the medication review process, our pharmacists can:

• Create plans for deprescribing (reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be needed) or tapering medications
• Adjust doses of current medications
• Simplify dosing regimens
  
• Book follow-up plans to ensure the patient is on the right track

Your Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) can work with you to create a personalized plan for managing your diabetes.

Taking into consideration individual lifestyles, dietary intake, and other medical conditions, the CDE pharmacist can review influences on blood glucose and recommend the best glucose monitoring tools/strategy for diabetic patients based on their unique factors.

We can assist and teach diabetic patients how to:

• Interpret trends
• Adjust insulin doses or other medications when needed
• Help understand how medication needs may change with a variety of lifestyle factors

Plus so much more! Contact us or phone 250.585.1980 to schedule a consultation.

Blood pressure monitoring at Pinnacle Pharmacy includes one-on-one consultation with the pharmacist who will provide an interpretation of the results.

And because results are charted on the patient’s pharmacy profile, we are able to share the results of regular monitoring with their physician.

Vaccine administration can typically be provided without the need of a doctor’s prescription. Other injections of prescription medications can be provided in certain circumstances, by appointment.

Please contact us to learn more about how Pinnacle Pharmacy can help administer vaccines and prescription medication.

Our patients find blister packaging extremely helpful whether their medication needs are complex or simple. By combining medication in custom blister packs, we make it easier for our patients to:

• Ensure they are taking the right dose of medication at the right time
• Avoid interactions related to timing of doses
• Make it easy to see if doses have been missed

Blister pack medications are prepared on a schedule, which means Pinnacle Pharmacy keeps track of when the next packs are due. We also track when prescriptions are in need of refills, and can help manage refills with the physician on the patient’s behalf.

Compression stockings are a type of hosiery that help gently squeeze the wearer’s legs to treat or prevent vein disorders, such as varicose veins and blood clots. They are designed to improve blood flow by exerting constant tension while providing support and relief from symptoms such as aching, heaviness, and fatigue.

As compression stockings come in different sizes and strengths, it is important to have them fit properly in order to attain maximum comfort and efficiency.

At Pinnacle Pharmacy, our on-staff certified compression stocking fitter can ensure the garment wearer’s have the correct stockings for their needs, along with expert guidance on using them properly.

Common uses for compression stockings include those who are:

• At risk of circulatory problems
• Recovering from surgery
• Standing all day for work
• Unable to leave their bed
• Pregnant
• Athletic

As of June 1st, 2023, pharmacists in British Columbia are now permitted to prescribe for 26 minor ailments and contraception.

Please note that eligibility criteria and some limitations apply.

How can I determine if I am eligible for a pharmacist-initiated prescription?

To find out if you qualify, phone us at 250.585.1980 or come in to our Longwood Station location to talk to your Pinnacle Pharmacist.

Consults to determine eligibility are typically very quick. If you do qualify, then a prescription can be written and filled efficiently by the team.

Who is this service best suited for?

Pharmacist-initiated prescriptions are ideally suited for someone who does not have a family physician, or who otherwise cannot wait the typically lengthy period of time to get in with their GP.

Coming in to see your Pinnacle Pharmacist can potentially save you a trip to a walk-in clinic, urgent care, or emergency room.

Are there costs for the consultation?

No, there are no costs to the patient for the consultation, provided they are enrolled in BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP). Out-of-province visitors can access the service for a $20 fee.

If the pharmacist determines that prescription therapy is appropriate, just as if their doctor had written it the patient is responsible for their portion or prescription cost.

Can you bill insurance plans for pharmacist-written prescriptions?

Yes. Just as with doctor-written prescriptions we are able to bill insurance plans as well for any pharmacist-written prescription.

What ailments can pharmacists prescribe for?

The ailments pharmacists are now able to prescribe for include: