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The federal The federal Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Jane Philpott, recently traveled across Canada visiting provinces and territories to learn of innovations in mental health and home care.  One of these innovations, the Bloom Program, is a mental health and addictions community pharmacy partnership that’s the only one of its kind in the world.

Developed led by Dal Pharmacy’s Dr. Andrea Murphy and Psychiatry’s Dr. David Gardner, the Bloom Program provides an important connection between individuals with mental health and addictions challenges, their pharmacist, health care team and community.  Participants in the program have their medications and related health concerns assessed by a Bloom pharmacist, and then work with the pharmacist and their health care team over the next six months to resolve issues and make improvements.  The program takes a holistic approach, looking not only at medications and mental health, but also the individual’s physical health concerns, and ensures that they are aware of any community resources that are available to address their needs.  There are currently 70 pharmacists in 23 locations across Nova Scotia taking part in the Bloom Program.

On January 20, Minister Philpott met with Drs. Murphy and Gardner to discuss the Program, along with Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health, Leo Glavine, the province’s new Deputy Minister of Health, Denise Perret, and MP Darren Fisher (Dartmouth - Cole Harbour).

The meeting provided the program’s founders with an opportunity to give an overview of the initiative, as well as share the impressive results of their recent evaluation. As a result of the program, the health and medication issues of four out of five Bloom participants were fully resolved or improved, and their access to community mental health care was greatly expanded – especially in rural areas.  The program has also been successful in reaching individuals who were not receiving care, and engaging them in their own treatment and recovery plans.

“We are really inspired by the interest and support for the Bloom Program, not only from the Nova Scotia Minister of Health but also at the federal level from Dr. Philpott and her advisers,” says Dr. Gardner. “They had very encouraging feedback about the program and great questions that showed their interest in the mental health and addictions roles of community pharmacists.”

He added, “of course I’m hoping that this means that they are considering our proposal to gradually expand the Bloom Program so that it is available to many more Nova Scotians.”

Learn More:

• Visit The Bloom Program or contact andrea.murphy@dal.ca and david.gardner@dal.ca
• "A blooming good idea" Leo Glavine - Kings County Advertiser - February 9, 2017