Innovations in Care: Clinical Pharmacist Lead

When looking at the full picture of our clients’ health, ensuring that their medication record is as up to date and electronically recorded is vitally important. Medication Management is a key piece in helping individuals maintain mental wellness. In many cases, medication is a stepping-stone that enables individuals to get to a place of wellness where they are then able to engage in other important aspects of treatment.

Supporting individuals through starting and maintaining medication is a cornerstone in ensuring that clients are able to take medication successfully, managing concerns and expectations along the way. An individualized approach to medication and care is important to making sure our client’s needs are met and that they have the right supports in place to avoid harm while optimizing the effectiveness of the medication.

In 2019, the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington took the innovative step to hire a full-time Clinical Pharmacist Lead. Our Clinical Pharmacist Lead is part of our interdisciplinary care teams supporting the FACT Teams, Children’s Mental Health, Early Psychosis Intervention, and Eating Disorders Program while also providing leadership for Medication Reconciliation, Medication Management and Quality and Risk Assessment surrounding medication for the whole organization. The Clinical Pharmacist Lead also provides medication consultation for each service during team rounds.

Our Clinical Pharmacist Lead and Nursing Lead have trained staff to electronically record accurate, up to date information on client’s medication.  CMHA WW is one of the only community mental health organizations to have an electronic record of client’s medication. This is important for many reasons including: noting drug or substance use interactions, monitoring suicide risk/self harm, facilitating transition of care to partner services (emergency room/in patient care at hospitals, retirement homes – we can provide the most up to date medication information to our partners when there are transfers of care). Medication Reconciliation training for staff helps to mitigate risk and make changes for better outcomes for clients, so they can focus on recovery.

If you are in crisis or wish to discuss whether CMHA has the right service for you, call Here 24/7: 1-844-437-3247 (HERE 247).

Hiring a Clinical Pharmacist Lead is another example of how CMHA WW is inspiring and supporting people to achieve the quality of life they desire. Learn more about mental health, read inspiring stories and news, find out about upcoming workshops and training sessions, sign up for our newsletter here. 

The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) provides programs and services for those with complex mental health and addiction issues. We serve everyone from infants to seniors. CMHA WW is the largest CMHA branch in Canada and has over 400 staff in 9 locations across Waterloo Wellington. CMHA WW offers a full continuum of care, from Mental Health Promotion right through to intensive team based care.