Health Destination Pharmacy launched during PSA roadshow
9 March 2016
A new, evidence-based program to reposition pharmacists as health care providers and pharmacies as a health destination in the community to provide high-quality healthcare has been launched as part of a successful national roadshow by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Australia’s peak organisation for pharmacists.
The innovative Health Destination Pharmacy program provides everything a local pharmacy needs to increase their engagement with the community and better respond to and meet local health needs.
The new program also offers consumers greater access to pharmacist care and a wide range of minor ailment and professional pharmacist services.
PSA Chief Executive Officer Dr Lance Emerson said the response from pharmacists during the national roadshow – which covered 17 capital city and regional locations over the past month – had been very positive about the Health Destination program.
“Overall, we have reached more than 1000 pharmacists and industry leaders during the roadshow events – this is an outstanding response from pharmacists who are committed to learning about new initiatives to reduce the burden on our health system and hear the latest industry updates,” Dr Emerson said.
“After engaging one-on-one with hundreds of pharmacists, there was a recurring theme of owners having invested in programs that promised to transform their pharmacy business but haven’t worked. A driving force for PSA bringing Health Destination to market is we don’t want to see pharmacy owners wasting limited funds on programs without evidence any longer.”
PSA Executive Director Policy Dr Alison Roberts said PSA had developed and extensively-tested the Health Destination Pharmacy model that supported pharmacists and pharmacy staff to provide high-quality consumer healthcare.
“We know from years of evidence and experience in successive Community Pharmacy Agreements that simply providing people with tools, even high quality tools, and leaving them to make changes alone doesn’t work,” Dr Roberts said.
“The change process is more complex and a tailored, on-site coach is what has been proven to work. This is what sets Health Destination apart from other approaches.”
PSA National President Joe Demarte said the Health Destination Pharmacy program contained all of the key elements that are shown to work to achieve change and generate financial results for pharmacies.
“The program is informed and endorsed by multiple industry leading experts in each area of pharmacy practice, bringing together the best of the best, in a tried and tested program,” Mr Demarte said.
“The program is also tailored to individual pharmacies to provide health solution that meet local community needs.
“Importantly, the Health Destination Pharmacy program also provides a viable, value-adding business platform to ensure sustainability of pharmacies in the current and challenging economic environment.”
PSA MIMS ACT Intern of the Year winner
March 8, 2016
Hayley Young has been named as the PSA MIMS ACT Intern of the Year Award winner, the peak pharmacist organisation the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) said today.
The prestigious Intern of the Year Award acknowledges the achievements of exceptional pharmacist interns in developing skills for their professional career. Interns are recognised for striving to raise standards to provide a future model for the practice of pharmacy, before being fully registered.
Ms Young began her internship in 2014 after graduating with a Master of Pharmacy from the University of Canberra Capital Chemist. Hayley is commended by the PSA ACT Branch Committee for demonstrating leadership, commitment and outstanding pharmacy service delivery as an intern.
PSA National Board Early Career Pharmacist Working Group Chair Rachel Dienaar applauded the achievements of the Intern of the Year ACT winner, saying Ms Young demonstrated an outstanding commitment to pharmacy.
“This important Award recognises an exceptionally high-achieving intern and proudly highlights their success. It clearly shows the high standard of interns we have in Australia,” Ms Dienaar said.
MIMS Business Development Manager Dinah Graham congratulated the ACT Intern of the Year winner. “MIMS is delighted to once again be involved in this exciting Award that recognises the future leaders of the pharmacy professional in Australia,” Ms Graham said.
The PSA MIMS Intern of the Year Award, who will be chosen from the State/Territory finalists, will be announced at PSA16 conference in Sydney from July 29-31. The Award will go to the finalist deemed to have created the most significant innovation during the year.
MIMS Australia has been publishing medicines information since 1963 and is the leading supplier of trusted, quality, independent medicine information to Australian healthcare professionals, known for its high level of editorial integrity and independence.
MIMS Australia offers a range of digital products that reflect current advances in information delivery; from hand held devices to online to integrating databases into clinical and dispensing software applications. MIMS also continues to offer the printed reference products that have supported health care professionals for over 50 years.
MIMS Australia is the leading sponsor of the Award and contributes the major prize of $2000 to each State/Territory winner to be used to help advance their pharmacy career.
Joint statement: Pharmacist vaccination program progressing in Victoria
8 March 2016
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia have been working with the Victorian Government and local health authorities to progress a pharmacist-administered vaccination program.
It is expected that regulations will soon be introduced into Victoria to allow pharmacist vaccinations after several other Australian States and Territories have already received approval for immunisation by pharmacists.
The Victorian Branches of the PSA and Guild are looking forward to the introduction of the new regulations in Victoria that will enable pharmacists to administer influenza and pertussis-containing vaccines to adults at approved pharmacy premises, including those who qualify for the National Immunisation program.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy’s announcement last November that a pharmacist-administered vaccination program would commence in 2016 was welcomed by Victoria’s pharmacy sector.
It’s understood that vaccination regulations and other necessary requirements have been drafted by the Government. Consultation with stakeholders is also currently underway in accordance with an established standard regulation-making process.
Pharmacist-delivered immunisation is a very positive development for health delivery in Australia and will help to vaccinate cohorts of the community who previously would not have been vaccinated.
Pharmacists also play an important role in promoting immunisation and reducing the impact of vaccine-preventable disease in the community.
It is expected pharmacists will be required to undergo an approved training program to administer vaccinations in Victoria.
The two pharmacy organisations are working together with the Victorian Government to have the workforce ready for mid-2016 for this development in pharmacy practice.
The Victorian PSA and Guild Branches look forward to continuing to work with the Victorian Government and authorities to ensure pharmacists can provide this important public health program and as a means of managing an individual’s health.