Toward a stronger future for Australia’s pharmacists

Saturday 27 July 2019

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enabling closer cooperation representing and empowering the majority and spectrum of Australia’s pharmacists and technicians.

The MoU, announced at the members’ breakfast on the second morning of PSA’s National Conference in Sydney, outlines a framework for commitment and cooperation between the PSA and SHPA.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman says codifying the sharing of ideas and resources will ultimately benefit members, patients and consumers.

‘It is a pleasure to welcome leaders of SHPA to PSA19 and make this shared commitment to unite the pharmacy profession in the context of healthcare delivery, strengthen our advocacy to enhance patient outcomes and to lift the profile and engagement of pharmacists within the healthcare team.

‘It is an exciting time for PSA as we prepare to take a seat at the table for negotiations regarding the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA) and undergo an organisational transformation to strengthen the advocacy and training we provide to our members.

‘In the same vein, this MoU is about embracing strategic commonalities and finding new ways of working closer with SHPA to deliver a wider range of events, services and supports for members, while uniting the pharmacy profession toward our common goals.’

SHPA President Peter Fowler says the synergy between the SHPA Strategic Plan 2019-2023 and PSA’s Pharmacists in 2023: For patients, for our profession, for Australia’s health system makes a strong case for closer cooperation.

‘In our respective five-year plans for the future of pharmacy in Australia three areas of alignment clearly stand out: Achieving excellence in pharmacy care benefiting all Australians; supporting pharmacist members to thrive and succeed; and amplifying members’ voices to effect real and positive change.

‘These will be the backbone of this MoU – identifying and developing new approaches, in partnership, to improve the practice, impact and membership experience of all PSA and SHPA members.’

Photo: PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman (left) signs the MoU with SHPA President Peter Fowler

For more information contact:
Nick Sharp-Paul, SHPA Head of Strategy and Communication nsharp-paul@shpa.org.au – 0411 098 838
Monika Boogs, PSA Advocacy Manager Monika.Boogs@psa.org.au – 0419 423 693

About PSA
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is the only Australian Government-recognised peak national professional pharmacy organisation representing all of Australia’s 31,000 pharmacists working in all sectors and across all locations. PSA is committed to improving Australia’s health through excellence in pharmacist care and works to identify, unlock and advance opportunities for pharmacists to realise their full potential, to be appropriately recognised and fairly remunerated.

PSA leads and supports innovative and evidence-based healthcare service delivery by pharmacists. PSA provides high-quality practitioner development and practice support to pharmacists and is the custodian of the professional practice standards and guidelines to ensure quality and integrity in the practice of pharmacy.
www.psa.org.au

About SHPA
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) is the national, professional, for-purpose organisation for leading pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working across Australia’s health system, advocating for their pivotal role improving the safety and quality of medicines use. Embedded in multidisciplinary medical teams and equipped with exceptional medicines management expertise, SHPA members are progressive advocates for clinical excellence, committed to evidence-based practice and passionate about patient care.
www.shpa.org.au

Ask the Pharmacist app wins big at Pharmacy Shark Tank

Friday 26 July 2019

Community pharmacist Shannon Lawrence has taken out this year’s Mylan-sponsored Pharmacy Shark Tank at PSA19 with her ‘Ask the Pharmacist’ app.

Two of the three pharmacy ‘sharks’ – Cathie Reid, Co-Founder of Australia’s Epic Group and Fernando Lizarraga, Mylan’s Product Manager each chose to invest $3,000 in Ms Lawrence’s app which would enable patients to seek pharmacist advice easily and quickly via their smartphone.

Ms Lawrence was one of three finalists who pitched their ideas to the sharks and fielded questions in front of a live audience about how they would address unmet clinical needs or advance patient care and pharmacy practice.

Joey Calandra, PSA’s General Manager Market Engagement and third ‘shark’, invested $3,000 in Natalie D’Onofrio’s Mobile Pharmacist Vaccinators service. The service aims to ensure rural locations or those with sole pharmacists are still able to benefit from the expansion of pharmacist immunisation services.

Brooke Veasey and Brad Butt were awarded the $1000 People’s Choice Award for their Life Cardiac Clinic program – aimed at supporting patients with cardiovascular disease after their first
cardiovascular event.

Mylan’s Country Manager Sylvain Vigneault said that innovation is one of Mylan’s core values.

“No profession can progress without challenging the status quo. The opportunity for pharmacists to find new ways to provide better healthcare to Australians is exciting. We are proud to sponsor this year’s Shark Tank.”

The Shark Tank panel commended all three finalists on their dedication to bringing their innovative projects to life.

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

Digitally empowered pharmacists to lead the way in medicine safety

Friday 26 July 2019

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today released its digital health report Connecting the dots: Digitally empowered pharmacists.

The report, funded by the Australian Digital Health Agency, describes how digital health initiatives and technological transformation will empower pharmacists to be more accountable and responsible for medicine safety and efficacy.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said the transformation to a more digital workplace was long overdue.

Medicine-related problems cause 250,000 hospital admissions and 400,000 emergency department presentations in Australia each year, costing the healthcare system $1.4 billion annually.

“Gaps in information and time delays in accessing important information are the two most significant factors contributing to medicine misadventure,” he said.

“This transformation will connect the dots of a currently fragmented health system, where health professionals such as pharmacists have had to make health decisions without accessing sometimes critical health information.”

The Australian Digital Health Agency’s program of work, particularly in medicine safety, will drive this transformation. This program of work strongly aligns with system changes needed to achieve the outcomes identified in the PSA’s Pharmacists in 2023 report.

Key projects which will transform care include: electronic prescriptions; real-time prescription monitoring; pharmacist input into My Health Record; enhanced incident reporting capabilities, improving pharmacovigilance; and improved medicine information for consumers.

The Australian Digital Health Agency’s Chief Clinical Health Information Officer, Angela Ryan, says increasing the safe and quality use of medicines is a priority area of the National Digital Health Strategy, approved by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council in 2017.

“All healthcare providers, including pharmacists, GPs and specialists, play a role in supporting the safe use of medicines by their patients. The Australian Digital Health Agency is collaborating with governments and industry on digital solutions that will support healthcare providers to manage their patients’ medicines,” she said.

Connecting the Dots: Digitally empowered pharmacists provides readers with multiple case examples which describe a ‘new normal’ of seamless healthcare, protecting medicine safety, backed by the power of digital health. These examples will help pharmacists understand the digital transformation which is taking place and contextualise them to real, tangible patient examples.

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

Embed pharmacists: the answer to addressing medicine-related harm in aged care

Thursday 18 July 2019

Medicine-related harm in residential aged care facilities is an alarming issue – one which could be improved through embedding pharmacists according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

In its submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, PSA has called for a national program that embeds pharmacists in all aged care facilities.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said that residents in aged care facilities deserved to have timely and regular access to the expertise of a pharmacist if they required advice and support with their medicines and medicine management.

“The health of the aged care sector matters a great deal to pharmacists and many pharmacists already contribute to activities and services to improve resident safety and system changes impacting on quality and safety in aged care facilities,” he said.

“However older Australians, particularly aged care residents, deserve more. There must be a stronger connection between health care and aged care.”

PSA’s Medicine Safety: Take Care report showed that 98 per cent of residents in a residential aged care facility have at least one medicine-related problem and over half are exposed to at least one potentially inappropriate medicine. Pharmacists, with their unique expertise in medicines and medicine management, are ideally placed to identify and help resolve these issues.

“Pharmacists embedded in facilities can contribute to improving quality use of medicines facility-wide and reducing harm caused by overuse of medicines,” Dr Freeman said.

“It has been clear through evidence provided to the Royal Commission that we need to have pharmacists protecting patients from the inappropriate prescribing and use of medicines.”

In its submission, PSA also called for further actions to improve resident safety and health outcomes:

• Aged care workforce education and training – pharmacists can support the aged care workforce through education and training of staff on medicines and medicine management issues;

• Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs) – all residents in aged care facilities should have timely access to an RMMR conducted by a pharmacist;

• Quality use of medicines (QUM) service – current arrangements and funding for the delivery of QUM services are inadequate. Appropriate investment must be made to prioritise QUM activities for the clinical care of residents and to improve quality and safety within aged care facilities;

• Funding of Dose Administration Aids (DAA) – similar to patients in the community, residents of aged care facilities should have equitable access to subsidised DAA services when clinically warranted, or where use of a DAA is mandated by the facility.

Dr Freeman said the pharmacy profession was equipped and eager to contribute but pharmacists’ expertise must be recognised more broadly and their skills used across the aged care sector.

“Structural arrangements or funding program business rules must not hinder pharmacists from contributing their unique medication management expertise for the benefit of residents and aged care facilities,” he said.

“Disappointingly, pharmacists who possess unique medicines and medicine management expertise are often excluded from the delivery of healthcare services.

“With our submission today, we are making a commitment to all Australians, particularly those in residential aged care facilities – the pharmacist workforce is ready, willing and able to step up to improve medicine safety in our healthcare system.

“In aged care, the answer is simple. We call on the government to embed pharmacists in aged care facilities nationwide and remove barriers to the provision of pharmacist services.

“Only then can we ensure an improvement in medicine safety and optimal health outcomes for older Australians.”

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

Report highlights need for greater pharmacist involvement in medicine reviews