Pharmacy Trial Program innovations on PSA16 agenda
June 27, 2016
Pharmacy practice innovations from the 6CPA Pharmacy Trial Program (PTP) will be a major focus of discussions at the flagship conference for the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
Embracing the theme Leading Pharmacy Innovation, the comprehensive and engaging PSA16 conference will be held from July 29 to 31 at the Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour hotel in Sydney with new state-of-the-art facilities.
A major highlight of PSA’s premier professional development event will be a panel session ‘Implementing innovation: The 6CPA Pharmacy Trial Program and what it means for you’ on Friday 29 July at 4pm.
This high-level panel session will focus on progress of the 6CPA PTPs and the relevance to the future role of pharmacists. The panellists include:
Ms Leanne Wells: CEO Consumer Health Forum of Australia
Dr Shane Jackson: Technical Advisory Group member for 6CPA Pharmacy Trial Program
Mr George Tambassis: National President Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Ms Penny Shakespeare: First Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, Department of Health
Dr Claire O’Reilly: Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) member.
The not-to-be-missed session will be chaired by Dr Alison Roberts, PSA’s Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Innovation.
Another PSA16 highlight will be the PSA ‘Member Only’ breakfast on July 30 at 7.30am, which will include a presentation by Bill Scott and Jo Watson from the Panel for the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation.
PSA National President Joe Demarte said PSA16 offered something for all pharmacists and was a not-to-be-missed event.
“Come and learn how PSA is leading the profession and taking pharmacists to the next level through a number of exciting innovations as well as exploring what we can do to improve remuneration opportunities for the profession,” Mr Demarte said.
PSA16 offers a vast array of practical, income-generating workshops, clinical and therapeutic updates, career pathways as well as thought-provoking plenary and panel sessions
“PSA16 has been specifically designed to maximise delegate networking and engagement with industry partners – register now to avoid missing out,” Mr Demarte said.
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Pharmacists welcome new RACGP President
1 July 2016
The appointment of Dr Bastian Seidel as President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has been welcomed by the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
Dr Seidel is a leading General Practitioner from the Huon Valley in southern Tasmania and a clinical Professor at the University of Tasmania.
PSA National President Joe Demarte applauded Dr Seidel’s appointment, saying he is a strong supporter of collaboration between GPs and pharmacists in Australia.
“I congratulate Professor Seidel on becoming the new President of the RACGP, an organisation which works closely with PSA on a range of healthcare and consumer issues,” Mr Demarte said.
Mr Demarte said: “I look forward to working with Professor Seidel and strengthening PSA’s relationship with the RACGP as well as progressing innovative, evidence-based models of care with a focus on collaboration between GPs and pharmacists to improve health outcomes for all Australians.”
Health Destination ‘pharmacies of the future’ achieving success
8 July 2016
An innovative, whole-of-business program transforming pharmacies into a local health destination is delivering effective healthcare services and improving consumer engagement, according to new independent analysis by the peak national body for pharmacists, the PSA.
The evidence-based Health Destination Pharmacy program has successfully repositioned pharmacists as local healthcare providers and empowered pharmacies to provide high-quality consumer healthcare in their local communities.
Along with offering greater access to pharmacist care and professional services, Health Destination pharmacies across Australia are outperforming other pharmacies by more than three times.
“The results from the Health Destination program, which is tailored to individual pharmacies and the communities they serve, highlights that pharmacies investing in the whole-of-business solution are delivering more consumer-focused care,” PSA Executive Director Policy, Advocacy and Innovation and Dr Alison Roberts said.
Since the program began in October 2015, Health Destination pharmacies achieved a 6.4 per cent increase in average sale compared with the same period last year – well above the industry average of 1.8 per cent growth, the independent analysis showed.
Dr Roberts said the program contained all the key elements proven to work to achieve better consumer engagement with the added benefit of generating financial results for pharmacies.
“This program is all about enabling pharmacists to do what they do best and what we know consumers want – to be accessible to provide evidence-based advice and assistance on minor ailments and medication management. It’s no surprise that when they do this well, it’s also good for business,” Dr Roberts said.
“It’s very exciting for Health Destination pharmacies to see that in only six months, they’re already getting genuine results for local consumers and their businesses,” Dr Roberts said.
“These results reinforce that the program works, however we don’t always expect to see success so quickly – it’s a credit to the pharmacists and their teams working hard on change and being supported by our expert coaches through this program.”
“This is the ‘pharmacy of the future’ – as it’s about focussing on the local community needs and working collaboratively with other healthcare providers, particularly GPs. Pharmacists participating in the program are reporting positive feedback from GPs, consumers and local healthcare organisations.”
Dr Roberts said while many Australian pharmacies were experiencing revenue decline, Health Destination pharmacies were seeing improvements in business viability and sustainability.
PSA National President Joe Demarte said: “The latest Health Destination results speak for themselves – this unique program is informed and endorsed by multiple industry leading experts in each area of pharmacy change, bringing together the best of the best, in a tried and tested program.
“Importantly, the Health Destination program supports pharmacies to build a viable, value-adding business platform to ensure their future sustainability.”
Learn more: www.healthdestinationpharmacy.com.au