Ripley Pharmacy welcomes nurse practitioner

The Ripley Pharmacy has welcomed nurse practitioner Rebekah Peters to help provide enhanced health-care services in the community.

A ribbon-cutting was held Thursday afternoon, at the pharmacy, with Huron-Kinloss mayor Don Murray and Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb in attendance, along with the two of the owners and the pharmacy assistant.

Owner Ahmed Bialy said the pharmacy decided to bring a nurse practitioner to Ripley because many patients in the area do not have a family doctor, and travelling to see a physician in Kitchener, Waterloo, London, or even Owen Sound, can be difficult — especially in winter.

“Some patients travel more than 100 miles just for an injection,” he said. “Additionally, many patients prefer to avoid emergency rooms, where they might wait seven to eight hours for a condition that is easily diagnosed but outside the pharmacist’s scope.

“Having a nurse practitioner provides a convenient and time-saving alternative, particularly for immuno-compromised patients and infants who would otherwise risk exposure to infections in a hospital setting. This also helps reduce strain on emergency departments, ensuring critical cases receive priority care while improving overall health-care efficiency and reducing costs for the health-care system.”

Bialy said the nurse practitioner will be operating out of the Ripley Pharmacy Walk-in Clinic. And she will be providing the following services:
 

• Administration of all types of injections
• Prescription renewals
• Walk-in appointments
• Family practice for patients without a family doctor
• Future affiliation with LifeLabs for urine, blood, and stool sample collection
• Driver’s medical reports
• Sick leave notes
• Specialist referrals
• Virtual consultations and phone visits

On-line booking is now available at: ripleyclinic.inputhealth.com/.



Welcoming nurse practitioner Rebekah Peters (second from left) to the Ripley Pharmacy, are owner Amgad Amer (left), Huron-Kinloss mayor Don Murray and owner Abdullah Al Nawajha; absent for the photo, is owner Ahmed Bialy; photos courtesy of Amy Irwin, Huron-Kinloss economic development officer



Taking part in the ribbon-cutting to welcome the nurse practitioner to the Ripley Pharmacy, are owner Amgad Amer (left), nurse practitioner Rebekah Peters, Huron-Kinloss mayor Don Murray, owner Abdullah Al Nawajha, Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, and pharmacy assistant Maria Rejep; absent for the photo, is owner Ahmed Bialy