Nova Scotia Pharmacists Cut ER Tick Bite Visits by Half Through Lyme Disease Treatment
A Dalhousie University study found that allowing pharmacists to prescribe preventative Lyme disease treatment in 2021 reduced emergency room visits for tick bites by roughly 50 per cent at three Nova Scotia hospitals. The province, which recorded over 2,300 cases in 2024, further expanded pharmacist authority in 2024 to include early treatment for diagnosed patients.
Researchers at Dalhousie University have found that a 2021 policy change in Nova Scotia, which allowed pharmacists to prescribe preventative treatment for early signs of Lyme disease, led to an approximately 50 per cent drop in emergency room visits for tick bites. The study compared emergency department data at three Nova Scotia hospitals before and after the policy took effect.
Emily Black is the lead author of the research paper examining the impact of pharmacist-led Lyme disease treatment. Nova Scotia has the highest incidence of Lyme disease in Canada, with federal data showing more than 2,300 reported cases in the province in 2024.
Building on the 2021 change, Nova Scotia became the first Canadian province or territory in 2024 to allow pharmacists to provide early treatment for individuals already diagnosed with Lyme disease. Currently, six jurisdictions permit pharmacists to provide preventative treatment.
Experts say the model reduces strain on emergency departments, shortens wait times for patients presenting with tick bites, and improves access to care for both prevention and early treatment. Sadaf Faisal serves as the chief pharmacist officer at the Canadian Pharmacists Association. Matthew Clarke is the associate chief medical information officer for Nova Scotia Health and an emergency department physician in Halifax.