An assessment and a clear next step
Prescribing pharmacist in NW Calgary
Discuss your symptoms with a prescribing pharmacist at Edgemont Family Pharmacy. Following an assessment, the pharmacist can explain treatment options, prescribe when appropriate or refer you to another healthcare provider.
This is the least understood thing about pharmacies in this province. People still book a doctor, wait, get a prescription, then come to us to have it filled. For a long list of conditions that middle step is not required.
You describe the problem, the pharmacist assesses you, and if a prescription is appropriate you leave with it. If it is not appropriate, you get told that too, and pointed at the right place.
What a visit looks like
Tell us what is going on
Phone ahead if you can so the pharmacist has time set aside. Walk-ins are fine, but you may wait if the dispensary is busy.
You are assessed in private
A real assessment, in a private area, not a conversation across the counter. Questions about your symptoms, your history and what else you take.
You leave with a prescription, or with a referral
Prescribing is one of the possible outcomes, not the guaranteed one. Some things need a physician, and part of a pharmacist's job is knowing which.
Your record is updated
The assessment and anything prescribed go on your Alberta pharmacy record, so your other providers can see it.
Conditions we see most
Ask the pharmacy about an assessment for these concerns. The appropriate treatment depends on your symptoms, health history and the pharmacist's assessment.
Urinary tract infection
Assessed and treated the same day for uncomplicated cases.
Strep throat
Tested on site, so treatment is based on a result rather than a guess.
Pink eye
Most cases are viral and need no prescription. We will tell you which yours is.
Cold sores
Antivirals work best started early, which is exactly when a clinic appointment is hardest to get.
Shingles
Time-critical. If you think you have shingles, come in today rather than waiting to see whether it spreads.
Skin conditions
Eczema flares, mild acne, fungal infections, minor rashes.
Allergies and hay fever
Including the prescription options for when over-the-counter antihistamines are not enough.
Acid reflux and heartburn
Persistent symptoms are worth assessing rather than treating indefinitely from the shelf.
In this section
- UTI treatment, same dayA urinary tract infection does not wait politely for an appointment. In Alberta a pharmacist can assess you and prescribe treatment for an uncomplicated UTI, usually in one visit.
- Strep throat, tested not guessedMost sore throats are viral, and antibiotics do nothing for those. We test so that the answer is a result rather than an opinion, and prescribe only if the test says to.
- Pink eyeMost pink eye is viral and clears on its own without an antibiotic. The useful thing a pharmacist does is work out which kind you have, because the three kinds are managed differently.
- Cold soresAntiviral treatment for a cold sore works best when it is started in the first day, at the tingling stage. That is precisely when a doctor's appointment is hardest to get, and it is the reason a pharmacist can prescribe for this.
Common questions
Can a pharmacist in Alberta really prescribe?
Yes. Pharmacists with additional prescribing authorization can initiate or manage prescription drug therapy following an appropriate assessment. Not every pharmacist has this authorization, and a prescription is not guaranteed. Contact the pharmacy to arrange an assessment with a prescribing pharmacist.
Do I need an appointment?
No, but phoning ahead is better. It means the pharmacist can set aside time and you are not waiting while the dispensary is busy.
Is the assessment covered?
In Alberta the pharmacist's assessment for a minor ailment is funded by Alberta Health for people with valid Alberta Health Care coverage. You may still pay for the medication itself, depending on your drug plan. Ask us before you start and we will tell you what it will cost.
What if the pharmacist cannot prescribe for my problem?
You get told clearly, and you get pointed to the right place, whether that is your family doctor, a walk-in clinic or an emergency department. Being told you need a physician is a useful outcome, not a wasted visit.
Will my doctor know what was prescribed?
Yes. It goes on your Alberta pharmacy record, which your other providers can see.