If you have been looking for a family doctor, the search ends on Dowad Drive and Rockridge Place, where a new clinic and pharmacy is now accepting patients. The Terra Nova Medical Clinic and the Garibaldi Pharmacy opened in early February at The Wilfred condo building at 1870 Dowad Drive.
However, before you register for a family doctor, the man who brought the clinic to town has a request. Dean George, the owner of Garibaldi Pharmacy, would like residents to consider filling their prescriptions at his new pharmacy. In fact, it’s the only way the clinic can stay and grow in Squamish.
“It would be nice if patients would support me by filling their prescriptions at the pharmacy. That way, it helps to keep the clinic open because if the pharmacy does well, it means the clinic can stay and grow,” Dean says.
Dean decided to replicate a model he has seen in several Lower Mainland communities, where an independent pharmacist collaborates with a medical clinic to bring more doctors to the community. The clinic has one doctor accepting patients, but Terra Nova, which operates out of Tsawwassen, also plans to bring two nurses and one more family doctor to the Dowad Drive clinic. Those looking to get a family doctor can pick up some forms at the clinic and email the reception to get an electronic copy.
Before starting Garibaldi Pharmacy, Dean George worked at big pharmacies in Squamish and Whistler but disliked the impersonal nature of the job and the pressure to generate more business. He also wanted to create an independent pharmacy to get into compounding and create customized medicine for patients. With a special room and equipment just for compounding, Garibaldi Pharmacy will be the only pharmacy in town that will offer more personalized medicine for the patients, reducing both the time of delivery and cost.
“Most of the drugs are made by big manufacturing companies, and they make a kind of one-size-fits-all product unsuitable for everyone. But when a patient needs unique products, say a precise dose, we can make it from scratch at the pharmacy. And compounding pharmacy is very useful because the pharmacist can go back there, get the raw ingredients, and make medicine specifically for a patient,” he says.
Lacking a clean room and equipment, most pharmacies must send compounding work outside Squamish, requiring the patient to wait seven to 10 days. Dean can return the medicine in a day or two and hopes to offer same-day delivery soon and at a lower price. But more than a competitive price, it’s the personalized care he says more significant pharmacies will find hard to match.
“The huge thing for me is personalized care. I always try to follow up personally with all my patients, and I will be able to spend that extra time to ensure that everything is right and the treatment is right. If a patient has a problem with a prescription, I can always provide advice and help them tweak things,” he says.
If you want to register as a patient at the clinic, please email squamish@terranovamedical.ca. Residents who wish to transfer or refill prescriptions to Garibaldi Pharmacy can access this link.
