Opportunities - Mobilizing Primary Care Access in Alberta: A Novel Mobile Pharmacy Unit (MPU) Model
Mobilizing Primary Care Access in Alberta: A Novel Mobile Pharmacy Unit (MPU) Model
University of Alberta
Background
The Pharmacy on Wheels Project
We are building a Mobile Pharmacy Unit (MPU)—basically a high-tech pharmacy in a van—to make sure everyone in Alberta can get the medicine and care they need, no matter where they live. We are focusing on Northern Alberta at this time.
Working Together with Communities
We aren’t doing this alone. To make sure the mobile pharmacy provides the right kind of help, we are partnering directly with the local communities and their healthcare providers. By listening to the people who live in these areas, we can make sure our services fit their specific needs and schedules.
One Van, Two Important Jobs
Our mobile pharmacy is the first in the world designed to do two things at once:
Daily Care: It will visit small towns and remote areas to help with everyday health needs. This saves people from having to drive hours to see a pharmacist.
Emergency Help: If a disaster hits—like a major wildfire—the unit can be rushed to the front lines. It will provide emergency medicine and support to families and firefighters when they need it most.
Why This Matters
Alberta is a massive province with many rural and remote communities. By creating this "double-duty" pharmacy and working hand-in-hand with local towns and pharmacists, we are making healthcare more fair for everyone.
Patient Partner Roles and Responsibilities
We are looking for patient research partners that live in Northern Alberta that use pharmacy services to join our project.
Firstly, we are looking for a patient research partner with the above lived experience to join the grant funding application and to be named as a research team member on the grant application.
Should the project become funded, patient research partner roles will include providing feedback on project design, sharing what health needs are overlooked, what needs to be included in the grant funding proposal, and reviewing how the proposed concept would work in the their community.
Time Commitment
We would like to invite the patient research partner joining the grant funding application to 2-3 online meetings (30-60 minutes each) to help develop the project design, review the research proposal and provide any feedback. This would take place over the Spring 2026 with funding applications due Summer/early Fall.
Compensation/Reimbursement
Because this opportunity if for a currently unfunded project, we will not be able to offer compensation for the initial meetings to help develop the proposal. However, patient partner compensation will be including in the study budget and should the project become funded patient partners will be offered compensation according to AbSPORU guidelines.
For more information or to express interest please connect with
Kaitlyn Watson
Kaitlyn.Watson@ualberta.ca
780.492.5098
