A Pharmacist working with vulnerable sectors (such as patients with addiction, mental health issues, low income, or those experiencing homelessness) focuses on trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and specialized medication management. These roles often involve close collaboration with community agencies and multidisciplinary teams to ensure equitable access to care.
Key Responsibilities- Patient-Centered Care & Assessment: Assess new and repeat prescriptions for appropriateness, safety, and efficacy, applying trauma-informed and harm-reduction approaches.
- Medication Management: Develop, monitor, and adjust health plans (drug and non-drug) in collaboration with other health professionals.
- Dispensing & Counseling: Prepare and dispense medications, including injections, while providing specialized counseling to support adherence.
- Chronic Disease & Harm Reduction: Manage chronic disease therapies, offer screening programs, and support substance misuse and abuse treatment.
- Community Resource Coordination: Connect patients with necessary community resources and social services.
- Supervision: Direct pharmacy staff and technicians to ensure safe and professional services.
Required Qualifications- Education: Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy.
- Licensure: Valid License with the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) in good standing.
- Additional Authorizations: Authorization to Administer Drugs by Injection is usually required or considered an asset; Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) is required.
- Screening: Clear Vulnerable Sector Check (essential) and a clean Criminal Record Check.
- Experience: Direct patient care experience is preferred.
Skills and Abilities- Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication and ability to build trust with a diverse population.
- Trauma-Informed Approach: Understanding of social determinants of health and harm reduction strategies.
- Adaptability: Ability to prioritize and manage multiple patient needs in a fast-paced or unconventional environment.
- Collaboration: Experience working in interdisciplinary teams (nurses, physicians, social workers).
