WESTBANK, British Columbia, June 20, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - An afternoon trip to the pharmacy isn't what it used to be. From prescribing medications to injections, the traditional notion of a Pharmacist is changing and moving our most-trusted health care provider* from the back of the counter to the forefront of the health care team. Rexall's "pharmacy first" philosophy is taking the industry by storm with the national rollout of its next-generation, new pharmacy concept: the Rexall Healthy Living Store. The seventh prototype in Canada opened last weekend on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 2241 Louie Drive in Westbank, British Columbia.
"The scope of practice for Pharmacists is rapidly changing at the same time across the country and is shifting the pharmacy service model," said Andy Giancamilli, CEO, Rexall. "Our next-generation Rexall healthy living prototype has a total wellness approach that's rooted in the valuable role of the Pharmacist as a vital member of the health care team. We're here when you are sick or managing a chronic condition with expanded patient-focused services, and we are also making a great investment in helping you prevent illness with tools meant to empower customers to lead healthier lives. This is the future of pharmacy."
In Rexall's Healthy Living stores, Rexall Pharmacists are creating special pharmacist/patient relationships by anchoring an expanded team and a host of new and unique tools and services that shift the entire store's focus to helping customers better manage their health both through preventative strategies and treatment.
Meet The New Recruits: Healthy Living Advisors & Derm Consultants
Imagine if there was someone readily available to help navigate the increasingly overwhelming vitamin and supplements aisle. Or help filter through the massive amount of health information available, or even arrange the walking group customers always wanted to join, all free-of-charge? Enter the Healthy Living Advisor, Rexall's newest team member. Helping customers prioritize and better understand the assortment of more than 15,000 products available to meet their health needs, the Healthy Living Advisor functions as the right hand and support to the pharmacy by allowing the Pharmacist to spend more time with patients on primary care and also making sure that there is a referral to the pharmacist when needed. Completely dedicated to helping a customer get the most out of the store's services and products, Healthy Living Advisors bring expertise in fields such as nutrition, fitness and kinesiology, as well as extensive product and health training to Rexall Healthy Living stores.
Rounding out the expanded team is the Derm Consultant, whose expertise assists patients in navigating Rexall's impressive skincare assortment; 156% more skincare products than a traditional pharmacy from niche cosmoceuticals and dermatological products to expanded everyday skincare lines. The skin is the body's largest organ and Rexall's focus on skin health is immediately apparent upon walking through the doors. The Derm Consultant helps determine customers' skincare needs and makes recommendations about maintenance, treatment and regimens to optimize skin health. A Dermo Analyzer is available onsite to assess hydration and skin type, as well as the effects of the sun - diagnosis allows for a personalized skincare regimen to be developed and if more critical skin conditions are identified, the Derm Consultant works collaboratively with the Pharmacist to find the right solution or develop a plan of action.
Together, the Pharmacist, the Rexall Healthy Living Advisor, and Derm Consultant are an expanded pharmacy team fusing a unique combination of health services to help Canadians feel their best.
Testing 1, 2, 3
In response to what the Pharmacist sees and hears from patients, and combined with extensive research and analysis of the most pressing health issues in Canada, Rexall is focusing on the following areas of critical interest in its Healthy Living stores: digestion and food intolerances, high blood pressure, and smoking and lung health.
Enhanced in-store tests offered at Rexall include:
...Food Smart Hemocode detects food intolerances and sensitivities - approximately 30% of Canadians suffer from food intolerance and many are not aware that certain food and additives are the cause of their symptoms;
...BPro measures blood pressure directly at the base of the aorta and is analyzed by a cardiologist - high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects one in five Canadians, is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease, as well as the leading cause of death among women in Canada;
...Lung Age measures the strength of a patient's breath against their age and can help to diagnose illnesses such as lung disease and emphysema - a recent study revealed that smokers who knew their lung age were twice as likely to quit smoking.
Our Patients' Best Interests At Heart
All Rexall Healthy Living stores include a Healthy Living Terminal, an innovative tool running on Apple technology that assists customers obtain relevant and accurate health information on various health topics with just one touch. Located at the Healthy Living Advisor Station, the oversized touch screen is not found in any other pharmacy and provides easy sourcing of information on products, symptoms, illness, treatment, disease management, prevention and more. Moving forward, Rexall plans to introduce text-based prescription reminders; yet another example of paving the way with innovative technology with its patients' best interests at heart.
Health information and messages cleverly engage customers and patients with more than 280 helpful reminders and tips located throughout the store, including those in the Healthy Living zone - boasting an extensive assortment of vitamins and nutritional products, supplements and sports nutrition, Rexall's Healthy State Wall keeps relevant product and information together in key categories including diabetes, women's essentials and seasonal health topics. There is also a resource centre large enough for group health seminars and community health groups.
An expanded pharmacy team and a clear commitment to what it means to be a partner in health care all function to take the mystery out of the pharmacy and motivate Canadians to live healthier lives with the help of Rexall's new Healthy Living stores. "We are committed to building the world's best pharmacy for our patients with the support of our dedicated team," says Giancamilli. "Consumers can expect to see continued growth, state-of-the-art technology, services and offerings at all new and existing Rexall pharmacies as the company heads into the future."
About Rexall™Rexall is a division of Katz Group Canada Ltd., Canada's largest pharmacy group encompassing 1,800 corporately owned, franchise and independent pharmacies across the country. A commitment to being a pharmacy first and the health and wellness of its patients embodies the Rexall brand. Among the services Rexall provides to its customers are Rexall Reminder Ready: a free service that notifies patients when their prescription has been refilled and is ready for pick-up; and Rexall Replenish & Renew Nutrient Depletion: a free consultation with a pharmacist to help identify medications that may be causing potential nutrient deficiencies, as well as free annual health clinics. For more information on Rexall, visit rexall.ca
