Akarsha Bhat Mairaje is helping Shuswap residents connect to new avenues for receiving medical care. 

Mairaje is the manager, owner and pharmacist at the newly opened Shuswap Valley Pharmacy, located on Ross Street in downtown Salmon Arm. Having previously worked with other pharmacies, the Salmon Arm resident said running his own gives him greater flexibility to help customers on their time. For example, he keeps his pharmacy open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. He also does deliveries to Salmon Arm patients outside those hours. 

"My goal is to build up the business91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦ and make sure everybody is healthy and happy," said Mairaje.

Along with the pharmacy, Mairaje set up his business so two doctors could set up practice without having to worry about initial overhead costs. 

"That91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a big challenge, overhead, especially in the beginning," Mairaje said. "I have bought all the stuff, equipment and everything91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦ so someone can come in and start a practice."

In the meantime, Mairaje is using technology to fill the gaps and direct people to the medical help they need. For example, should someone be suffering from a minor ailment, they could arrange for an in-person consultation with Mairaje, who would then determine the next steps. Should a doctor be required, for example, he can arrange for a patient to speak with one on the same day or the following morning through Avee Health, a Vancouver-based business that assists pharmacies to serve as a central hub for fast, accessible virtual care. 

"What the patient can do is they come to me, I do the initial assessment, I figure out if they have to be seen in person or if they have to go to the ER or if it can be done over the phone," Mairaje said. "If it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s just a consultation between a doctor and a patient, it can be done over the phone91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦ I can have a doctor call and keep the same doctor for the next appointment so it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s kind of like a family doctor."

While this is a temporary solution, Mairaje said it has been working very well, noting this system reduces stress on the ER while making sure patients receive care in a timely manner. 

"I think it works a little bit better because then a patient trusts the system and then it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s better for the outcome," Mairaje said. 

This virtual approach is one of a variety of ways pharmacists are now able to assist patients. 

"The way of care has been changing the last few years 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ pharmacists can do different stuff. I focus on clinical more than just writing a prescription," said Mairaje, who is also certified to do custom compounded prescriptions. 

For more information, call 250-835-1095, email shuswap.rx@gmail.com or visit Shuswap Valley Pharmacy on Facebook.