Tech Refresher: Accommodating staff—and patients—with disabilities

Dr. Elena Salgado developed a repetitive strain injury (RSI) in 2020 that ended her career as a pharmacist in a retail pharmacy setting.The culprit behind the injury was a counter that was five inches too high for her to work comfortably, a problem that could have been rectified through the installation of an adjustable countertop. But that did not happen until 2021, too late for Salgado. “By then, I had decided to leave traditional dispensing roles,” she says.Workplace injuries are common for pharmacy staff, who work long hours and perform many repetitive tasks. “My biggest takeaway for anyone managing RSI or trying to prevent RSI in any workplace is to think proactively,” says Salgado, who is now regional clinical coordinator for London (Waterloo Pharmacy) and clinical pharmacist at LMC Healthcare. “When we look at systems and act after the fact, it is much too late.”Read: Tech refresher: Eliminating weight bias in the pharmacySalgado says Complete Ergonomic Assessments should be performed regularly for staff to assess the risk of RSI, and recommends that all pharmacies be equipped with:Adjustable monitors (tilting and distance from face);Ability to move telephones so the receiver is not out of reach and/or use headsets;Ergonomic mice/trackpads with space to move the mouse around comfortably; Anti-fatigue mats (and level floors);Placement of garage/recycle bins that do not require hyperextension of arms or twisting of body;Tools to assist in opening/closing vials (Dycem Non-Slip pads);Strategically placed mirrors (e.g., to be able to see wheelchair users waiting at the front counter.Team members should also be encouraged to take stretch breaks and use orthotics and step or standing stools as needed. While the Employment Standards Act protects pharmacy technicians and assistants in terms of mandatory break periods, pharmacists and pharmacy students/interns are exempt. “It would be best practice for all employers to treat their employees equally,” Salgado says.She suggests that pharmacy technicians break down their day-to-day tasks and determine if there are ways to optimize and reduce redundant motions. “Encourage the RPhT to become the Health and Safety representative and gather requests from other staff to make the work environment more comfortable.” The accommodation of disabilities also extends to patients and is a legal requirement. The Accessible Canada Act federal law aims to identify, remove and prevent barriers facing people with disabilities, while the provinces also have laws that mandate creation of provincial accessibility standards. The Ontario College of Pharmacy (OCP) notes in its “Pharmacy Connection” that “registrants and pharmacy owners must comply with the legal duty to accommodate patients living with disability.”For example, to support safe medication practices for patients living with a visual impairment, pharmacies can use accessible prescription formats such as audible, braille and large print, based on the patient’s unique needs, says OCP. Salgado suggests using patient notes to identify those who would benefit from accommodations to disabilities. “People living with various abilities can benefit greatly from staff who are familiar with options available in dispensing software, are creative thinkers and are good at troubleshooting.”

Tech Refresher: Accommodating staff—and patients—with disabilities

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