In Northern Canada, the place temperatures drop to -50 levels Celsius in the course of the winter with 4 hours of sunshine per day, healthcare seems to be lots totally different.
Jenna Jenkins (PharmD ’19) and Christopher Voss (PharmD ’19) started their pharmacy careers within the Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island) Area in Nunavut. All of Qikiqtaaluk’s 13 communities are situated on tidal water and round half stay in Nunavut’s capital and solely metropolis, Iqaluit, a three-hour flight from Ottawa.
“Working somewhere so remote and isolated provides many additional complexities and challenges which make our pharmacy practices quite unique,” Jenna says.
Jenna and Chris stress the significance of Waterloo’s co-op and rotations applications.
“With the hands-on experiences from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, we were more confident to jump into new experiences so we could continue to build and learn as pharmacists,” they are saying.
Hospital pharmacy within the North
The hospital pharmacy function in distant and Northern areas is extra various in comparison with hospital pharmacy roles in Ontario hospitals.
Jenna is the scientific pharmacist at Qikiqtani Common Hospital and is liable for the inpatient unit, which consists of medical, psychiatric, surgical, ER and clinics. She additionally offers distant assist to well being centres throughout the territory.
“I touch on all aspects of patient care. You must be a generalist who is open and willing to take on anything that arises. We do what needs to be done no matter what that need is,” Jenna says. “It’s stressful but it’s also very rewarding when you do help a patient, they learn from you, and you learn from them.”
Neighborhood pharmacy within the North
Chris is the pharmacy supervisor at a busy NorthMart Pharmacy which companies Iqaluit in addition to all 13 communities on Baffin Island. He manages his time filling prescriptions and fixing logistical issues. He additionally offers distant assist to the nurses at well being centres and works carefully with health-care suppliers on the hospital.
“It was daunting to work up North at first, I was alone without other pharmacists to bounce ideas off of,” Chris says. “But it made me grow as a pharmacist in ways I couldn’t have imagined. You’re not just filling prescriptions, you’re researching, you’re solving logistical challenges and you’re navigating unique medical issues. My top priority is to advocate for the patients with limited resources.”
Way forward for healthcare within the North
Jenna and Chris are optimistic that with an expanded scope of apply pharmacists could make extra of a constructive affect inside the communities.
“Pharmacists are known as the first line of access to healthcare across the country, but here in the North, pharmacists are even more connected to the patients. The discussions for an expanded scope have changed from ‘it’ll never happen’ to ‘we’re working on it’. We’re motivated to keep pushing for more,” they are saying.
Jenna Jenkins and Chris Voss experiencing the Northern Lights in Nunavut
Jenna and Chris have grown as a household these previous 4 years dwelling in Nunavut, they received married, had two youngsters and have moved into senior roles at their workplaces. They’re looking forward to healthcare change within the North. It’ll take time to implement, however pharmacists are prepared.
