Elbeddini Ali, Yeats Aniko
Winchester District Memorial Hospital, 566 Louise Street, Winchester, ON KK0C2K0 Canada.
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 college st, Toronto, M5S 3M2 Canada.
J Pharm Policy Pract. 2020 May 27;13:23. doi: 10.1186/s40545-020-00229-z. eCollection 2020.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed enormous pressures on the Canadian healthcare system. Patients are expected to stay home in order to contain the spread of the virus, but understandably have numerous questions and concerns about their health. With physical distancing being of utmost importance during the pandemic, much of healthcare has been forced to move online or over the telephone. Virtual healthcare, in the form of video calls, email, or telephone calls with patients, can significantly enhance access to healthcare. Many clinics have moved their appointments online, and physicians are seeing their patients by means of online video calls. Similarly, patients are refilling their prescriptions online and calling pharmacists whenever they have questions about their medications or medical conditions. Pharmacists are considered the most accessible primary care providers, so it is crucial for patients to know that pharmacists are there to support them throughout the pandemic.
冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行给加拿大医疗系统带来了巨大压力。为了遏制病毒传播，患者应居家，但他们对自身健康有诸多疑问和担忧，这也在情理之中。在大流行期间，保持社交距离至关重要，因此许多医疗服务被迫转移到线上或通过电话进行。以与患者进行视频通话、电子邮件或电话形式的虚拟医疗服务，可以显著增加获得医疗服务的机会。许多诊所已将预约服务转移到线上，医生通过在线视频通话看诊患者。同样，患者在线上重新开具处方，并在对药物或病情有疑问时致电药剂师。药剂师被认为是最容易接触到的初级医疗服务提供者，因此让患者知道药剂师在整个大流行期间都会为他们提供支持至关重要。
