Study: Tick Bite ER Visits in Nova Scotia Drop by Half After Pharmacists Granted Prescribing Authority
A new study published in the Canadian Pharmacies Journal reveals that emergency department visits for tick bites in Nova Scotia decreased significantly after pharmacists were authorized to assess bites and prescribe preventative Lyme disease treatment in August 2021.
Emergency department visits for tick bites in Nova Scotia have dropped by approximately half since pharmacists were granted the authority to assess bites and prescribe preventative treatment for Lyme disease. The findings come from a study published Monday in the Canadian Pharmacies Journal, which analyzed patient cases from three Nova Scotia emergency departments over 16-month periods before and after the policy change implemented in August 2021.
The research compared data from the 16 months preceding the change with the 16 months following it. Before pharmacists could provide this care, there were 617 total visits for tick bites. In the period after the implementation of pharmacist prescribing authority, that number fell to 402 visits.
Emily Black, the lead supervising author of the study and acting director of the College of Pharmacy at Dalhousie University, noted the shift in how patients access care. Under the new regulations, pharmacists can examine suspected bites and prescribe doxycycline if the bite is confirmed to be from a tick capable of transmitting Lyme disease.
Allison Bodnar, CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia, highlighted the growing role of pharmacists in this area. In the quarter from April to June, pharmacists in Nova Scotia assessed more than 8,000 tick bites. This rapid assessment is critical because treatment for tickborne illnesses must be administered within 72 hours to limit the risk of development.
Pharmacists have become a primary source for this type of care. A separate 2024 study showed that pharmacists prescribed 61.3% of all single-dose doxycycline prescriptions following the province granting them this authority. While the study focused on Lyme disease prevention, Nova Scotia has seen an increased prevalence of tick bites, with other tickborne illnesses also present.