Dear Editor
Prairie North Health Region wishes to address concerns that have been expressed in recent weeks through a letter to the editor published in most local newspapers in our geographic area (Process threatens rural business, Regional Optimist, Jan. 14).
The letter was in relation to requests for proposals (RFPs) for pharmacy services for long-term care facilities in PNHR communities, with the exception of Lloydminster where pharmacy service contracts are already in place for PNHR-operated long-term care homes in the city.
In an effort to ensure fairness and transparency, RFPs were sent to all retail pharmacies in the region clearly indicating "proposals will be accepted to provide pharmacy services to one, all or any combination of facilities." As is standard practice, Prairie North reserved the right "to accept all or any part of a proposal," adding that "the lowest cost proposal may not necessarily be accepted." PNHR also reserved the right "to reject in whole or in part, any and/or all proposals."
PNHR had no intention of having all pharmacy services for its long-term care facilities provided from a single source. Battlefords pharmacies were sent the RFP for LTC homes in the Battlefords; Meadow Lake pharmacies were sent the RFP for Meadow Lake facilities; and rural pharmacies were sent the RFP for PNHR's rural long-term care sites. Additionally, pharmacies in the Battlefords and Meadow Lake received the RFP for pharmacy services to rural sites, as service for some of those locations is already provided by Battlefords and Meadow Lake pharmacies.
Prairie North's intent was to be as open and transparent as possible in our business dealings and to ensure any pharmacy in PNHR that may be interested in providing service was aware of the opportunity.
Prairie North Health Region regrets our effort to exercise due diligence in establishing new contracts for the provision of pharmacy services to our long-term care sites has raised anxiety in rural communities over whether or not their local pharmacies would be able to continue providing services as they have in the past.
Prairie North values the relationships we have had with our rural communities and our rural pharmacies, and thanks those who have provided and continue to provide pharmacy services for their communities, as well as for our LTC residents and facilities.
Through its requests for proposals, Prairie North is also seeking to establish contracts that clearly define service expectations that go beyond the provision of pharmaceuticals and that comply with the Standards of Practice for Pharmacists Providing Services to Residents of Special-Care Homes from the College of Pharmacists (August 2007). Such services include after-hours and emergency access to services, medication counselling to residents, clients and families, participation in quality improvement initiatives, participation in multidisciplinary care team meetings, ongoing educational support, medication reviews and other services.
Focusing on patients, and on patient and staff safety, Prairie North Health Region also wishes to have the system of medication packaging and dispensing of medications to LTC residents improved. This means moving to a new system of medication delivery utilizing a plastic pouch system for long-term care and home care. The new system is considered best practice and will reduce the risk of medication errors, lessen the amount of medication stored on site, reduce staff medication administration time so that more time can be devoted to patients/clients/residents and reduce the risk of staff injury inherent with the current blister pack system.
Prairie North recognizes there is a cost to retail pharmacies to implement such a new system and would have to be considered in each pharmacy's business plan. Concerns have been expressed that costs for such investments by retail pharmacies would be passed on to the residents/clients of the LTC sites. It must be noted most residents of LTC homes are seniors who, under the Saskatchewan Drug Plan, pay no more than $15 for each prescription.
Prairie North hopes this information helps to clarify many of the issues raised as a result of our requests for proposals. We will be working in the coming weeks to further consult with our rural pharmacy service providers.
David Fan, CEO
Prairie North Health Region
