MedSmart Pharmacy Launches a New Era in Pharmaceutical Services for Canadians
Winnipeg, MB - July 30, 2004 - For Immediate Release
In spring of 2004, MedSmart Pharmacy began servicing the pharmaceutical needs for residents of Winnipeg and Manitoba. MedSmart Pharmacy is a direct-to-consumer provider of professional pharmacy services for Canadians, designed from the ground up to meet the needs of today's modern consumer.
According to Business Development Representative Paige Dimyuga, "Today's consumers are busy, price-conscious people, who demand a high level of service. To us, this means providing our patients with several customizable ways to order and receive the medications they need, while minimizing their costs."
To this end, MedSmart Pharmacy has made investments in pharmacy automation and pill-counting technologies to increase efficiency, accuracy, and safety, while keeping costs down.
A recent Canadian Pharmacists Association report(i) states: "Two major issues seem to dominate the human resource literature in pharmacy. The first concerns the current shortage of pharmacists in many parts of Canada; the second concerns the future role of pharmacists within the Canadian health care system."
MedSmart Pharmacy meets these two issues head on.
At the beginning of 2004, the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association put in place new Central Fill guidelines for pharmacies in Manitoba, meaning that high-volume pharmacies, such as MedSmart Pharmacy, are now able to assist with the growing demand for pharmacists - which is especially evident in rural areas.
Acting as an overflow buffer for resource-hungry independent pharmacies, MedSmart's Central Fill service provides these small business owners with relief, allowing them to continue their practice and keep their customers happy with quick response times.
"I would rather see pharmacists spend their time counseling patients than counting pills. Pharmacists spend several years in school to obtain their degree, and once they begin working, they continually participate in on-going educational programs." - MedSmart pharmacy technician Gina Fajardo.
As the role of the pharmacist changes, and their importance in Canada's health care system increases, it's more important than ever to free their time so they can provide patient counseling and practice pharmaceutical care. Effectively giving pharmacists more time will become increasingly difficult as demand for medication services increases and pharmacists become scarce.
Leveraging technology and efficiencies, MedSmart Pharmacy is well positioned to contribute beneficially to the overall quality of care for patients in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Canada.
As the industry continues to evolve, MedSmart Pharmacy keeps a keen eye on current and upcoming changes, and a focus on customer care and patient safety.
About MedSmart Pharmacy
To learn more about MedSmart Pharmacy, you can visit their website at www.medsmart.ca, by e-mail at info@medsmart.ca, or call 783 5577 (local) or 1 877 976 2781 (toll-free).
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