Dr. Akshay Jain, recipient of an Innovator Award, has significantly reduced wait times and improved patient outcomes, demonstrating the power of strategic resource use and multidisciplinary teamwork.
Dr. Akshay Jain, an endocrinologist at Surrey Memorial Hospital, has significantly reduced patient wait times and improved health outcomes by collaborating with local pharmacists through innovative projects.
The first project focused on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for diabetic patients, aiming to provide more accurate and timely data to manage their condition effectively.
“During the pandemic, I observed an increased demand for endocrinologists managing diabetes,” says Dr. Jain. “This was leading to longer wait times and prolonged periods of high blood sugar for patients.”
To address this, he collaborated with local pharmacies to ensure patients initiated a CGM device and underwent diabetes education before their appointments with him. This information helped him address specific aspects of their diabetes, helping improve their glucose control.
“By having an appointment with the pharmacist before seeing me, patients were able to reduce their A1C (average blood sugar level) by one per cent more compared to the traditional approach,” he says.
A one per cent reduction may seem small but, according to Dr. Jain, this is significant when it comes to diabetes care.
“This seemingly small difference translates to a decreased risk of nine per cent in heart attack, 35 per cent in eye damage, 40 per cent in limb amputation and 20 to 30 per cent in kidney damage,” he explains.
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Wait times for non-urgent cases to be seen by an endocrinologist have also been reduced by half because these patients require less follow-up care.
“Dr. Jain deserves this award for his innovative problem-solving, bravery in trying different approaches and ability to identify effective solutions that benefit both patients and the community. He created partnerships and used available community resources to bridge health care gaps affecting patients' ability to receive care,” says Marilyn Sun, a pharmacist at Well Pharmacy.
Dr. Jain didn’t stop there.
Prostate cancer patients often suffer from weakened bones, leading to fractures and hospitalizations. Recognizing the need for these patients to easily access bone-targeted treatment, his second project involved teaming up with BC Cancer physicians to develop a program where high-risk patients are referred to his clinic for specialized, bone-targeted treatment.
Dr. Jain developed a unique protocol that engages pharmacists to administer bone-targeted injections and monitor calcium levels. The program includes a free home injection service overseen by a pharmacist.
Previously, patients depended on their family doctor for monthly injections, which was logistically challenging and presented a barrier. As a result, Dr. Jain had to administer the injections himself, limiting his ability to see new patients.
Now, patients have an initial intake visit with the pharmacist for detailed counselling about bone health injections and supplements. The pharmacist-led program has freed up Dr. Jain’s clinic time, allowing him to see more patients and reducing wait times by almost 70 percent.
“The positive outcomes from his initiatives improve the quality of life for people living with cancer and Type 2 diabetes. It increases efficiency and long-term management, addressing the increased demand for endocrinologists in our region,” says Dr. Arun Garg, program medical director for the South Asian Health Institute.
Dr. Jain highlighted the model’s scalability and is proud of how physicians and community partners worked together for high-quality care.
“You just need pharmacists who are keen on doing this, along with physicians who want to work in conjunction,” he says.
“Pharmacists are a crucial component of the health care system. They are extremely well-trained. By partnering with the right health care providers, we can increase capacity for physicians and improve patient outcomes.”
Congratulations to Dr. Akshay Jain – recipient of an Innovator Award.
