Senior pharmacy students are supporting Ontario’s health-care system in the fight against COVID-19. These students are completing their rotations, a requirement for senior pharmacy students where they are placed in health-care sites across the province for six months.
Here are some of their stories:
Charina Alducente in Thunder Bay Region
“I’ve
been
on
rotation
at
the
Thunder
Bay
Regional
Health
Sciences
Centre,
joining
the
Inpatient
Cardiology
Department
and
Cancer
Care
Outpatient
Clinic
where
I
support
patients
receiving
IV
chemotherapy.
Throughout,
I’ve
been
supported
by
my
preceptors
Alison
Lester
and
Angela
Heintzman.
Working
in
a
hospital
during
a
pandemic,
there
is
tension,
fear,
stress
and
anxiety
among
a
whole
slew
of
emotions
that
no
one
can
even
really
begin
to
explain.
It's
challenging
to
feel
these
things,
but
it's
even
more
challenging
to
see
our
patients
feel
the
same
way.
Witnessing the physical, emotional and mental health impacts of the pandemic coupled with other socio-economic barriers some patients face pushes me to go the extra mile. By collaborating with nurses, physicians and even specialized services such as the hospital’s Indigenous Patient Navigators to ensure cultural safety, it has truly taken a team effort to address the needs of our most vulnerable populations.
At the end of the day, we chose this profession because empathy is what drives us to care for our patients in the best way we know. From working extended hours to adapting to changing operations, I have seen firsthand the resiliency and strength that comes from a pharmacy team that is dedicated to providing optimal patient care even in the toughest of times. The pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that I have been able to work with have all provided me with an incredible example of what it means to be a front line health-care worker.”
Charina with coworkers. From left to right: Angela, Liz, Christi, Jadine, and Charina.
Ryan Pelletier in Sault Ste. Marie Region
“For my first rotation I worked with my preceptor Jon MacDonald at Jon's Medicine Shoppe, a community pharmacy specializing in custom compounded prescriptions for both humans and animals. My experiences there showed me how adaptability is necessary to meet the needs of patients while maintaining physical distancing. I've adapted my counseling style to be able to relay the same important messages over the phone to patients where I would usually talk to them in-person. It's been challenging at times, but as a whole I believe our group has done a great job of forming trusting connections with patients while following physical distance guidelines.
I’m currently at Sault Area Hospital for my second rotation, working on the Medicine units, with my preceptor Alex Girard. Although we only have a small number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sault Ste Marie so far, I’ve supported projects to help the hospital plan for critical medication management in case of a COVID-19 surge in our community. We know this is a serious situation that can escalate quickly, so we want to be as prepared as possible given that we are a smaller northern Ontario site.
I believe that our experiences with COVID-19 may change the way health-care is delivered to the public moving forward. I would not be surprised if we see an increased uptake in virtual consults via phone, FaceTime and more to reduce office visits and potential exposure to COVID-19 among other infectious diseases. Most patients have been willing to try new technologies and have provided us with positive feedback on their experiences without having to leave the home.”
Ryan outside the Sault Area Hospital