Pharmacy Trial Program topics welcomed by pharmacists
March 17, 2016
The announcement of the first topics for the Pharmacy Trial Program (PTP) under the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement (6CPA) has been welcomed by the peak organisation for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley today announced the first tranche of the trials would involve the following topic areas:
* Improved medication management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through pharmacist advice
* Pharmacy-based screening and referral for diabetes
* Improved continuity in the management of patients’ medications when they are discharged from hospital.
PSA National President Joe Demarte said pharmacists also applauded the release of a Discussion Paper which seeks ideas for community pharmacy programs to improve clinical outcomes for consumers. You can learn more about it here.
“The PSA welcomes the opportunity to create new programs to expand the role of pharmacists in the delivery of primary healthcare services,” Mr Demarte said.
“We look forward to working with a range of key stakeholders, including consumers, to submit ideas for innovative services and programs that can be delivered to consumers by pharmacists.”
However Mr Demarte said:
“Whilst PSA was involved in jointly developing ideas with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia as part of the 6CPA negotiations, it’s disappointing that there has not been a transparent and contestable process for contributing specific proposals in this first tranche of topics under the PTP, which our members will be responsible for delivering across Australia.
“We hope that whatever process has been used that the best teams have been assembled to lead and undertake these initial programs.
“Moving forward, we hope that the Federal Government will ensure that appropriate standards, education and rigorous implementation and evaluation frameworks are included in the development of further PTP proposals.”
The PSA noted that the trial programs would be rigorously evaluated by an independent health technology assessment (HTA) committee.
Link to the Government’s Discussion Paper – Supporting pharmacist delivery of primary health care services through the Pharmacy Trial Program.
WA Intern of the Year and Excellence Awards winners
15 March 2016
Joseph Foster has been named the PSA MIMS Western Australian Intern of the Year Award winner at the WA Excellence Awards, hosted by the peak pharmacist organization, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
The WA Excellence Awards, held in Perth last Sunday March 13, also highlighted the WA Young Pharmacist of the Year, WA Pharmacist of the Year and WA Life Time Achievement Award.
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.
Mr Foster completed his internship at Brooks Garden Chemmart Pharmacy in Albany.
He demonstrated an outstanding commitment to patient care and community engagement. Joseph has also driven community engagement in his local region.
PSA WA Branch President Teresa Di Franco, who presented the Award, applauded the achievements of the Intern of the Year WA winner, saying Mr Foster demonstrated an outstanding commitment to pharmacy.
“Mr Foster identified an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of communication and referral processes between pharmacists, patients and other health professionals.
This drove him to build a business plan and develop a website to improve the referral channel between a pharmacist and a doctor, as well as other health professionals,” Ms Di Franco said.
MIMS Business Development Manager Dinah Graham congratulated WA 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, 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.
PSA WA Branch Vice President Russell Hill said the WA Excellence Awards celebrated the best and brightest pharmacists in the State.
“The quality of candidates for the WA Excellence Awards was exceptional this year and judges remarked on just how difficult their task was,” Mr Hill said.
The three major winners of WA Excellence Awards included:
WA Pharmacist of the Year: Noel Fosbery
Noel Fosbery’s primary focus in delivery high quality pharmacy services is the health and wellbeing of his community.
As the proprietor of two community pharmacies, Noel established clinical services to ensure his pharmacies are considered health destinations.
WA Young Pharmacist of the Year: Teresa Di Franco
Teresa Di Franco combined her pharmacy experience, particularly in medication management and patient care, with her experience as a Credentialed Diabetes Educator to become a passionate advocate for patient care and leader for her profession.
WA Life Time Achievement Award: Jeffery Leach
Jeffery Leach has worked tirelessly to promote the pharmacy profession and has focused on the continual innovation required to keep pharmacy at the cutting edge. Over the past 50 years, Jeff has continued to recognise the need to innovate and evolved his stores and the Friendlies Group to meet the challenges faced by the profession and ensure the delivery of necessary services to the community.