Pharmacie Catherine Plamondon

by Susan Fisch – October 2023

Catherine Plamondon has taken some important steps to help ease lengthy waits at the CLSC for simple basic ailments and conditions, especially for those people who don’t have a family doctor.

Those pharmacies that opt to take the appropriate training with a doctor and have the required forms on hand, are now mandated to act as intermediaries between doctors and regular pharmacies. That means that specifically trained employees (nurses, technicians, pharmacists) will now be able to test for and administer treatments and vaccines for certain basic ailments and conditions, right here in Hemmingford. They are doctor-trained and well qualified. As long as the client meets the required criteria, tests and treatment can be administered locally.

Catherine has also been trying for several years now to have a clinic for blood tests, so far unsuccessfully. Hospitals have to grant quotas for the use of their labs. Since Catherine already has a nurse on staff, she has applied to several hospitals in the region for a quota and is on a waiting list with each hospital. She tried to hire a nurse who already has a quota from a hospital, but that, too, was unsuccessful. In the meantime, Hemmingford needs a blood clinic. Prior to Covid, our weekly CLSC-based clinics were always full, and it was a great service to the community to have them come here, especially in the winter.

Contrary to CLSC outlets, a pharmacy-based clinic would be a paid service since Catherine has to pay her nurse’s salary. Ideally, we need to have a weekly CLSC service back in Hemmingford, and the pharmacy could act as a back-up for whoever wasn’t available on the day the CLSC came. This is how Lacolle and Napierville operate – a free clinic as well as a paid service.

If we want to have the CLSC back in Hemmingford for blood tests, and the pharmacy acting as backup, we all need to call our deputy for the region, Carole Malette (450-427-2150 or 1-866-540-9097 – email Carole. Malette.HUNT@assnat.qc.ca), and let her know how important this is for our community, especially since Hemmingford is so isolated and has an aging population.

In the meantime, here is a list of treatments and vaccines that our pharmacy now offers. A trained technician is available for consultation and vaccines can be administered from Monday to Friday. Call for an appointment or come in and talk with whoever is on duty. Now a second nurse has been hired in, so there will be a nurse on staff every Tuesday and Friday.

External otitis (outer ear infection)
Hemorrhoids
Diaper rash
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the inside of the nose)
Light to moderate pain management
Minor acne
Ulcers in the mouth
Dermatitis (rash)
Dyspepsia (gastric reflux)
Labial herpes
Urinary infections in women
Cat bites
Yeast infection in the creases of the skin
Pinworms
Rhinosinusitis (adults)
Vaginal yeast infection
Zona (shingles) – severe pain and post herpetic neuralgia
Constipation
Minor skin infections
Throat infections – Strep A
Oropharyngeal fungal infections – Thrush
Initiate a urine or serum pregnancy test
Skin irritations (skin patches)
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Influenza
Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)
Eczema
Emergency contraception
Contraception
Travel health: vaccinations, malaria, Traveller’s diarrhea, acrophobia (fear of heights)
Lyme disease prevention
Prescribing public health vaccines (6 years old plus) from Monday to Friday

Thank you, Catherine, for the dedicated, caring service that you provide to our community.