As of November 1, Cates Pharmacy will extended the opening hours on weekdays until 7 p.m. Pharmacist Bud Massender explained that the changes are made because islanders have asked for the option to pick up prescriptions after work, or after getting off the ferry from the mainland.
"It's always been a bit of a problem but a few things have changed," Massender explained. "We can now accept prescriptions online or by fax from any doctor in Canada and certainly from doctors in town. And staying open until 7 enables us to have the prescription ready when people come off the ferry. We also have a drop box where people can leave their prescriptions forms on their way to work. We are hoping to make it more convenient for people to use our services. Our staff, always considerate and conscientious, has agreed to juggle their shifts to do that. Plus, we now have three pharmacists and can make that happen."
Massender also wants to remind islanders that Cates Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy. "Besides filling prescriptions, all three [pharmacists] are trained to give injections," he said. "We are going to have a flu clinic and have set aside November 2 and 5 specifically to administer flu shots that will be available throughout the season."
The face of pharmacy has changed in the last couple of years, according to Massender, and now more emphasis is placed on medication management.
"We offer free medication reviews for people who are taking at least five different medications, including over the counter stuff," he said, adding that this is funded by the government and islanders can just call to set up an appointment.
"We sit down with them and see if we can make sure they are taking their medicines in the safest and most effective way."
Another service for managing the intake of medication involves blister or bubble packing, another service Cates Pharmacy provides. "We pack the medication according to the days of the week and the times of day," Massender explained. "That is very useful for people who have a lot of medication and may have trouble remembering when to take it." He added that this is not a free service and costs about $5 a week.
Massender also noted that Cates Pharmacy honours third party plans covering health expenses and, for most plans, can submit the invoice at the time of purchase online.
