Furthering the province’s strategy to deliver team-based primary care to British Columbians, the first Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist (PCCP) has begun work in the Kootenay Boundary Primary Care Network as a part of the Primary Care Network (PCN) Program. Annick Sevigny will work alongside physicians, nurse practitioners and other health care providers in the continuing care of patients with complex conditions.
Image: Annick Sevigny
Annick is the first of 50 PCCPs that will be added to team-based primary care practices province-wide during the first two years of the Pharmacists in PCN Program. The PCCPs will identify and resolve drug therapy problems by working collaboratively with patients and their care teams, including community-based pharmacists. This innovative initiative, led by UBC, is being supported by the Ministry of Health and Regional Health Authorities for the duration of its three-year developmental phase.
“Working in the Pharmacists in PCN Program will enable me to foster a close connection with the community by working with the patient and the patient's physician to optimize treatment and ultimately improve the patient's health and satisfaction,” says Sevigny.
“Patients referred to me will be able to communicate their medication therapy goals, previous experiences with medications, and any other concerns. I hope that when patients leave me, they will have a better understanding of their disease state, patient-centred recommendations, and a plan to optimize medication that fits with their lifestyle and goals.”
Annick obtained her entry-to-practice doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) at UBC in 2019 and an accredited Canadian pharmacy residency certification at Interior Health in 2020. Since completing her residency, Annick has worked as a clinical pharmacist at Kelowna General Hospital. Her interest in practicing in a primary care setting began during the first month of her entry-to-practice PharmD at UBC when she read about similar programs in the UK and Australia.
She continues, “Adding a pharmacist to the PCNs will give the team an in-house medication expert for patients with multiple medication needs; in addition, I hope to provide patients with a better understanding of the pharmacist's role and ultimately improve the public's support and knowledge of a team-based primary care approach.”
To learn more about pharmacists in team-based primary care, please click here.