Nova Scotia pharmacy Lyme disease treatments halve emergency visits

A study published in the Canadian Pharmacies Journal indicates that allowing pharmacists to assess and treat tick bites has reduced emergency department visits for Lyme disease in Nova Scotia by approximately half.

Following a 2021 policy change, pharmacists in the province gained the authority to examine suspected bites and prescribe doxycycline, a standard oral treatment used to prevent the development of Lyme disease. The study compared 16-month periods before and after the implementation of this change at three emergency departments.

Before the change, there were 617 visits related to tick bites. In the 16 months following the policy shift, that number dropped to 402. When adjusted for overall emergency department volume, the rate of tick-bite visits was cut roughly in half. Researchers noted that the results suggest patients value the ability to receive community-based care for minor ailments rather than waiting in emergency rooms.