BRAMPTON, Ontario — Loblaw Cos. has introduced a blood pressure monitoring program at its supermarket pharmacies.
The Canadian food and drug retailer said that through the new Blood Pressure Check Program, customers use an in-store machine to take two blood pressure readings and participate in a personal consultation with the pharmacist.
During the consultation, the pharmacist reviews the data from the readings along with other health information to provide personalized recommendations based on guidelines from Hypertension Canada, which partnered with Loblaw to introduce the program.
"During the first month of the Blood Pressure Check Program, more than 20,000 Canadians received consultations at pharmacies in Loblaw store locations across the country," Bobbi Reinholdt, senior vice president of pharmacy for Loblaw Cos., said in a statement. "Through these consultations, our pharmacists helped those at risk make positive life changes, including reducing sodium intake, increasing physical activity and improving medication adherence."
Loblaw said the program is exclusive to its in-store pharmacies, which include such banners as Loblaws, Loblaw greatfood, Zehrs Markets, Zehrs greatfood, Fortinos, Real Canadian Superstore, Your Independent Grocer, valumart, Extra Foods, SuperValu, nofrills, Wholesale Club, Dominion, Atlantic Superstore and SaveEasy.
"Hypertension Canada is committed to working closely with like-minded partner organizations such as Loblaw store pharmacists and the Blood Pressure Check Program to deliver positive benefits to the 7.4 million Canadians living with high blood pressure on a daily basis," stated Judi Farrell, chief executive officer of Hypertension Canada. "It is through these programs that we increase awareness of high blood pressure and empower Canadians to make healthy lifestyle choices."
