Pharmacy Check-in: Tasha Porttin
Tasha Porttin, RPh (she/her)
Pharmacy Owner, Pharmacy Manager, Pharmacist
Jasper mettra Pharmacy
Jasper, AB
Tasha Porttin graduated from the University of Alberta in 2013 and opened Jasper mettra Pharmacy in October 2021. She grew up in the small community of Sylvan Lake, AB, where she developed an early appreciation for the value of rural community pharmacy and rural health care that she has carried with her through her education into her pharmacy practice.
Tasha loves being a pharmacy owner and the ability it provides for her to make an even greater difference in her community. The unique nature of practicing within the boundaries of Jasper National Park, including the presence of a national and international seasonal workforce, extremely large tourist population and year-round local population, means that her pharmacy does a lot of problem solving to help patients with things like lost or forgotten medications, how to access the Canadian health-care system, and even triaging patients to determine whether a visit to a physician is required.
In terms of pharmacy services, Tasha is passionate about diabetes care, travel medicine and women’s health, including prenatal, post-partum and newborn health, and she will be implementing lactation consultant services in the coming months. She is dedicated to advocacy, inclusivity, and the non-judgemental space of the pharmacy.
Tasha is an active community member, a mother, stepmother, partner, empath, business owner, (lightly) practicing yogi, (new) potter, advocate for those who need it, and a person who lives with generalized anxiety disorder.
Q&A with Tasha
We caught up with Tasha to talk about the important role pharmacists can play in providing sexual and reproductive health care to their patients.
What is the #1 thing pharmacists can do to support their patients in the area of reproductive health and wellness?
The most important thing that pharmacists can do to support patients and their reproductive health and wellness is to create and foster a non-judgemental environment. It’s important to be open to discussing options that might not necessarily be your choice, but to remain unbiased and prepared for the patient to respond in any possible way. I remember one time I congratulated someone the day they found out that they were pregnant, and they disclosed that they were not going to continue with the pregnancy. I realized how even that comment could have negatively impacted the patient and that experience really opened my eyes to how important it is to listen first and support patients in whatever way they need to be supported.
What role can pharmacists play in ensuring access to medication-based abortion? Why is it important for pharmacists to be involved?
I believe that it is important to make sure that patients know that medication-based abortion is an option. Many patients aren't aware that ending a pregnancy can occur in the comfort of their own home. Pharmacists are the most accessible health-care provider, and the pharmacy is often the place where patients purchase pregnancy tests, the morning-after pill, etc... Patients are comfortable with being vulnerable with us; they may be more willing to share the idea of ending a pregnancy confidentially with a pharmacist than they would be making a doctor's appointment alone and discussing it with them for the first time.
What role can pharmacists play in ensuring access to contraception? Why is it important for pharmacists to be involved?
Pharmacists are crucial in ensuring access to contraception. Most assessments for contraception can be done through a conversation in a confidential manner in a pharmacy setting. As previously mentioned, pharmacists will often sell/counsel patients when purchasing a pregnancy test or morning-after pill, and these are great opportunities to discuss options for prevention of pregnancy.
How can pharmacists empower their patients in this area?
Having an open dialogue about reproductive health is really important. Even if a patient isn't comfortable talking about it at the first conversation with you, they will remember that it is a safe space to come back to with further questions. I make it a regular practice when a young individual is prescribed contraception for the first time to reinforce that STIs are not prevented with an oral contraceptive pill. Even just mentioning this opens the conversation to more discussion around reproductive health in general. In addition, we have a small slip of paper that is put into the box of all the morning after pills that we sell in our store that outlines resources for further reproductive health services, STI testing, sexual abuse counselling resources, etc. It is a small way that the information can be further disseminated into the community where people may not be aware of services that are available.
Do current legislation and regulations in Canada give pharmacists enough authority to effectively and appropriately provide comprehensive reproductive health services to their patients?
I practice in Alberta, where we have the greatest scope of practice in Canada in terms of our ability to prescribe for patients. I believe that in Alberta, we do have enough authority to prescribe for contraception, and in Jasper specifically, I can directly refer patients to Sexual Health Services through the Alberta Health Services Public Health Centre for STI testing, Pap smears, etc. With the authority to prescribe for contraception options, I believe that patient care is enhanced immensely. The knowledge that pharmacists have about different options makes us a valuable resource for patients. Whether someone is looking for information on contraception for the first time, or wanting a to discuss different contraceptive pills, the pharmacist will often have a variety of ideas for the patient based on the patient’s desires and needs.
As health professionals, how can we protect access to reproductive health services for our patients and our communities?
Continuing to provide these services, ensuring patients know about them and talking openly about options that are available helps to protect future access in our communities. Collaborating with other health-care professionals and referring patients where required also helps. I have even phoned the doctor's clinic on behalf of patients to make appointments to discuss ending a pregnancy when patients have felt unable to communicate effectively over the phone.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part of my practice by far is having a patient thank me for helping them. Whether it's a small smile, or accepting a hug from me, or them simply saying thank you, those are the reasons that I give my empathy, care, and energy to my patients. I am so grateful that others entrust me with their health information, and are willing to be vulnerable with me, and I do not take that for granted.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Despite the fact that there is a crisis in health care across Canada, I really hope that young pharmacists coming into the profession see all of the positive aspects of being a pharmacist and that they discover a rewarding and meaningful career.