The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) launched new guidelines today for pharmacists to promote meaningful clinical use of the My Health Record system to enhance patient-centred care.
The new guidelines will help increase the number of pharmacists using My Health Record, a digital system that enables healthcare providers to share secure health data and improve the safety and quality of patient care.
My Health Record enables important health information including allergies, medical conditions, treatments, medicines, and scan reports to be accessed through one system.
The benefits include reduced hospital admissions, reduced duplication of tests, better coordination of care for people with chronic and complex conditions, and better informed treatment decisions.
PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson said that the guidelines will further enable the digital capability of pharmacists is a game changer for pharmacists’ contribution to enhancing medication safety and ensuring quality use of medicines.

“Having access to information will allow pharmacists to deliver more effective and efficient care,” said Dr Jackson, who is the Chair of the Project Advisory Group.

“Pharmacists have a professional responsibility to review their practice and where necessary, build on their digital health competency, to integrate use of the My Health Record system into patient care.

“PSA is delighted to offer these professional guidelines for pharmacy practice as well as implementation tools for digital health.”

Queensland pharmacist, and Chair of the Project Working Group, Chris Campbell said the ease of access to information by using My Health Record was going to make the biggest difference for pharmacists to providing care.

“The My Health Record integration helps to make key clinical decisions possible at the point of professional interaction such as dispensing and medication review.

“Until now, pharmacists have been dispensing, counselling, providing advice, and conducting medication reconciliation partially blindfolded,” Mr Campbell said.

“My Health Record helps to lift the veil and our contributions will further cement pharmacists as an integral member of the primary health care team.”

Australian Digital Health Agency CEO Tim Kelsey said the guidelines were an essential support for pharmacists in the transition to embedding My Health Record as a normal part of daily pharmacy practice.

“PSA, and in particular Dr Shane Jackson’s strong leadership for My Health Record is much appreciated by the Agency as it gears up for the expansion of My Health Record to every Australian unless they choose not to have one, later this year,” Mr Kelsey said.

“The ability for pharmacists to contribute patient health information to My Health Record is an integral part of the My Health Record system. In My Health Record, pharmacists have a platform to enhance the provision of patient-centred care through access to key patient health information and by contributing valuable information related to care they have provided.”

All Australians will be provided with a My Health Record by the end of 2018, unless they choose not to have one.

Ms Belinda Wood has been appointed to the role of General Manager, Policy and Advocacy of the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
As an accomplished leader with over 23 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Ms Wood brings expertise and a deep understanding of the emerging challenges and opportunities facing the health sector.
Ms Wood has demonstrated her ability to advocate on behalf of members, work constructively with policy makers and political decision-makers, and build trusted relationships with stakeholders over the past three years as CEO of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), leading negotiations of the GBMA’s first ever Strategic Agreement with government in 2015, and again in 2017.

PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson welcomed Ms Wood’s appointment on behalf of the Board: “The PSA Board recognises that as this is an important time for PSA and for the profession, we need the right team to deliver tangible improvement in the recognition of the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system.

“I am confident that Belinda will drive the PSA agenda of expanded roles for pharmacists, improved recognition of the expertise of pharmacists and will also lead our work on improving remuneration for pharmacists,” Dr Jackson said.

“I am delighted to welcome Belinda to PSA as General Manager, Policy and Advocacy and am confident her proven ability to build productive relationships and deliver value for members will ensure pharmacists are well represented.”

Ms Wood said, “I am excited to take on this important leadership role with PSA and look forward to working with a dedicated team led by incoming CEO Graham Catt.

“The PSA Board has set a clear strategic direction to secure the organisation as a leader in health policy while continuing to set high-quality practice standards and ensuring pharmacists are supported to be the very best healthcare professionals they can be.

“My focus will be to represent PSA as the leading professional body for Australian pharmacists, advocate for pharmacists to be fully utilised in medicines management and develop opportunities for pharmacists regardless of where they practise their profession,” she said.

High profile pharmacy experts and speakers from across the globe will discuss how to lead the future of pharmacy at PSA18, the flagship annual conference for the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
PSA18 will occur on 27 to 29 July in Sydney this year with a brand new theme of Leading Pharmacy Future.
Well-known international and local speakers will focus on expanded roles for pharmacists in pharmacy through innovation, diversity, leadership and speciality models of practice.

The Shark Tank will be a major new addition to the program where pharmacists from around Australia can pitch their pharmacy innovations to an expert panel.

Delegates can learn more about artificial intelligence and the future of healthcare, new streams in specialty practice, healthcare pathways and industry matters.

The opening plenary will be delivered by Dr Catherine Duggan, CEO of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global voice of pharmaceutical practice, sciences and education.

The exciting PSA18 conference program at the Hyatt Regency Sydney in Darling Harbour will also feature an interactive forum for pharmacists to strategise and advise on the pharmacy issues that matter most.

Social events will be bigger and better than ever, giving delegates the opportunity to network and discuss emerging issues in pharmacy practice at the ever-popular Welcome Reception, Gala Dinner, Fellows Dinner, Member Breakfast and Early Career Pharmacist (ECP) Party.

A limited amount of Early Bird tickets are available until 20 May 2018 – register now at the conference website.
Postal registration is coming soon.

Discounted tickets are available for interns, students and ECPs. Pharmacists who join as a PSA member will save up to $600 on registration.