ARTARx
Robert Michon | Communications Specialist , ARTA
Meet Your Pharmacist : Yatin Patel
Yatin Patel is ARTA ’ s Director of Pharmacy Services , and he has been working hard to build ARTARx over the last several months . He has worked as a pharmacist for seventeen years , after earning degrees in pharmacology and pharmacy from the University of Alberta . We asked Yatin a few questions about what being a pharmacist means to him and why he ’ s excited to join the team as ARTA ’ s Director of Pharmacy Services .
Why did you want to become a pharmacist ?
After my pharmacology degree , I discovered that I wanted to have a little more social interaction in my work . I enjoy working with people , helping them achieve their health goals . The highlights of my career are the relationships I ’ ve built with patients .
What is the role of a pharmacist , in your opinion ?
Grappling with a new diagnosis and the ongoing management of chronic conditions are journeys with physical , emotional , and financial considerations . Pharmacists are in a unique position to support their patient ’ s decision-making with evidencebased information . That can mean supporting a patient ’ s lifestyle modification , collaborating with other health professionals on behalf of patients , or assisting with insurance coverage for medication . In my practice I ’ ve tried to be an accessible advocate and provide the best evidence-based clinical information possible to support my patient ’ s decisions .
Why is it important for a patient to understand their medications ?
One of the biggest challenges in medicine is adherence — getting people to understand why they ’ re taking their medications . One of the best ways to improve adherence is to create a meaningful understanding of the medication itself . Instead of a patient saying , “ I ’ m taking this pill because my doctor told me to ,” we want patients to say , “ I ’ m taking this pill because it will reduce my blood pressure and improve my life in the following ways .” Health outcomes tend to improve when understanding improves .
What has been the most exciting part of building ARTARx ?
The idea of a health benefit plan owning its own pharmacy is so unique , and there are many opportunities to provide relevant pharmacy services to individuals who might be underserved in that aspect of their health care . In a typical corporate pharmacy , most of the floor space is allocated to products in order to push sales . You might get a room the size of a closet for private consults . But with ARTARx , we ’ re able to dedicate the space and offer an approach that prioritizes patient wellbeing , whether in-person or virtually . It ’ s something that excites me , and something that members will see a lot of benefit in . news & views WINTER 2021 | 27