Ready when you are: Vigilance Santé bringing its tried-and-tested minor ailments prescribing software to Ontario

Whether they know it or not, all pharmacists in Québec and in every Shoppers Drug Mart locations across the country use technology platforms and modules created by Vigilance Santé, a healthcare software maker in Repentigny, Que. Today the company founded in 1991 by a pharmacist is expanding its offering to more jurisdictions in Canada with a minor ailments prescribing module for Ontario set to launch in January 2023—with plans to deploy similar modules in all other parts of the country. “Ontario is the second province where we’re deploying minor ailments prescribing,” Andrée-Anne Chevalier, Vigilance Santé’s president—and daughter of its founder, Raymond Chevalier—told Pharmacy Practice + Business. “In Québec, where we have a niche market and where we’re in every pharmacy, we started providing minor ailments prescribing software after Bill 41 was legislated in the province in 2011.” The adoption of Bill 41, which gave Quebec pharmacists the authority to renew prescriptions, treat certain conditions and analyze lab tests, was a key milestone for the company, added Chevalier, who leads a team of 62 employees that includes 16 pharmacists. Read: Bills 41 and 31: A look at the 4 million services performed in 2021 by Quebec pharmacists "At that time we decided to develop, with Telus, minor ailments prescribing and we offered it for free to pharmacists who already had a subscription with us,” she explained. “That helped us get the rest of the market." With Ontario pharmacists set to be authorized for minor ailments prescribing as of Jan. 1, 2023, Vigilance Santé—with its RxVigilance software also used by 4,000 community pharmacists, 10,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals—is poised to roll out its corresponding module. That will be integrated with Telus Health’s Kroll pharmacy management solution, MedMe Health’s MedMe platform and Fillware Technologies’ Fillware Rx management system. “Pharmacists love our solutions, which are built into their workflow,” said Chevalier. “Our technology automatically checks if there are drug interactions, allergies or medical conditions and triggers an alert to let pharmacists know if there are any concerns. “With one click, users can also access product monographs that include recommendations for alternatives, or they can quickly check coverage under the provincial drug plan for every province in the country.” Read: Update on Ontario's minor ailment funding Other modules include a pediatric dosage calculator as well as one focused on compounding formulas. “Regulations vary depending on the formula, so we have all that information as well to guide pharmacists and help them with compounding,” said Chevalier. “It’s all integrated into the pharmacy management system—they don’t have to go into another tool to use any of our modules.” For pharmacists, Vigilance Santé’s focus on integration means time saved in their workflow. The wealth of features could also translate to less dollars spent on subscriptions to other software and services. For Ontario pharmacists planning to offer minor ailments prescribing in 2023, Chevalier promises a short learning curve on her company’s software. Read: Techs play vital role in minor ailment prescribing “That’s one of our strengths—our interface is very easy to use,” she said. “We believe it’s one of the reasons why in Quebec, we’ve seen the number of minor ailments prescribing increasing every month for the pharmacists who use our minor ailments prescribing product.” As it gets ready to launch minor ailments prescribing in Ontario, Vigilance Santé is also setting its sights on Saskatchewan—where pharmacists can prescribe within a fairly wide scope—and British Columbia, where minor ailments prescribing is on its way. “Our goal is to cover every province in Canada for minor ailments,” said Chevalier. Read: 'It's exciting': B.C. pharmacists' new prescription and injection powers begin

Ready when you are: Vigilance Santé bringing its tried-and-tested minor ailments prescribing software to Ontario

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