CO-OP PHARMACIES


South Country Co-op Limited operates by a set of established values that are held by each Team member while conducting every day operations, and especially when assisting our member- owners and guests. These values ensure that we strive for EXCELLENCE, care for and support our COMMUNITIES, perform our duties with INTEGRITY, and focus on PEOPLE, both guests and co-workers.


Our Pharmacy division is a prime example of how these values are carried out on a daily basis, and why we collectively work so diligently to offer the best possible goods and services we can to our 62,000 members. South Country’s Pharmacists and front-line Team are the last step between a patient and their medication (and the most accessible health care provider), but far more goes on behind the scenes before that final exchange.


Our Pharmacists and their Team:


• ensure a prescription is compatible for each person,


• check for possible drug interactions with current medications or disease states,


• verify that the dosage, frequency, and route of administration is correct,


• review prescriptions for potential allergic reactions,


• offer advice and information about medication, disease prevention, and management,


• counsel you on how to properly and safely take your medication,


• ensure a new prescription is legal and complete,


• will help you choose the right over-the- counter medication for your needs,


• deal with insurance providers to verify coverage,


• consult with drug manufacturers or other pharmacies in case of a medication shortage,


• keep meticulous patient records so you can be sure you’re getting the safest, and most accurate assistance.


striving for excellence


Our Pharmacy Team offers every member and guest the same level of care and attention, but each interaction can take a varying amount of time, depending on the needs of the patient, and can cause unintended delays to others. We’re always looking for ways to improve our level of service, which was top of mind during the construction of our new 13th Avenue Pharmacy space, which is directly across the hall from the food store in the 13th Avenue mall in Medicine Hat. Make your outings seamless by having your prescriptions filled while you shop!


The Pharmacy is bigger overall, allowing for a larger over-the-counter product selection and more room for guests to comfortably shop, more consultation rooms for added privacy, additional drop-off and pick-up windows, and a better workspace for the Team to improve efficiency and customer service. The addition of a blister-packing robot called SynMed has freed up time for the Team, that they reinvest in better customer experiences.


Some of the benefits of being a South Country Co-op member and utilizing our Pharmacy services include:


• Medication reviews at no charge to the patient


• Flu shots for Alberta residents at no charge to the patient


• Blister packing your medications (excellent for people with multiple prescriptions that need to be taken at different times of the day!)


• Injection services for things like B12 vitamin shots, shingles vaccine, travel vaccines, etc.


• Programs to quit smoking at no charge to the patient


• Pharmacists with additional prescribing authority in certain locations


• Delivery within Medicine Hat a no charge to the patient


• And much more!


Our Pharmacies also offer educational information and assistance on various topics throughout the year to spotlight areas of importance that we often overlook when it comes to our own personal health.


Some of the topics we’ll be focusing on in 2020 include, but aren’t limited to:


• Diabetes – Pharmacists are a key player the management of diabetes. Our Pharmacists can counsel you on monitoring your glucose levels, developing action plans and management strategies, offer suggestions for an appropriate diet and exercise routine, and help you understand which medications are best for you.


• Prescription transfers – It’s easy to switch your prescriptions to a South Country Co-op Pharmacy! All you have to do is speak to a Pharmacy Team member, and let us do the rest!


• Mental health – When you’re dealing with your mental health, it can be hard to know where to turn. Our Pharmacy Team can share information about what to expect when starting a new medication, like how it works, what side effects to watch for, when to expect results, and much more. They’re available to help you understand the complexity of dealing with your mental health and to answer any questions you may have, with the utmost confidence and sensitivity to what you’re dealing with.


• Anaphylaxis – Dealing with a severe allergic reaction can be scary, but with the right understanding and actionable steps, our Pharmacists can help ease some of your worries if you or a loved one are exposed to an allergen. They’ll go over the signs and symptoms to watch for, how to take action, and the correct way to administer an epinephrine auto-injector.


Ask us how it pays to be a South Country Co-op member! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your prescriptions, overall health and well-being, or are interested in any of the services mentioned, please stop by and see our amazing Pharmacy Team to find out how we can help. We’re dedicated to your whole health!


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