Welcome to this weeks edition of i2P (Information to Pharmacists) for 16 March 2015.
We open this issue with a report on a public-private partnership between the UK government and Celesio, a major European pharmacy conglomerate trading as Lloydspharmacy, a well known and long established pharmacy brand in the UK.
What is being proven by pilot study is the effectiveness of a private pharmacy staffed with appropriate clinical pharmacists, to take a certain work-load level from the ED of a major hospital located in Manchester.
A nurse within the ED of the hospital triages patients and gives them the choice of attending the pharmacy with no waiting, or wait in line at the hospital and take their turn.
Both services are free and the pharmacy is able to order other services from the hospital e.g. pathology and radiology.
A similar idea is being considered in four locations in Sydney using clinical nurse practitioners.
I am guessing that the UK version will prove more economical because of the experienced pharmacy management and proven customised infrastructure.
I think long term there is room for nurse practitioners and pharmacists to collaborate in a pharmacy as per the UK version.
Read Taking Pressure Away from the ED Lloydspharmacy Model
The next article details advances in 3D printing which is a technology that can print drugs – either existing molecules or totally new versions.
The technology exists now and will be available commercially within 5 years.
Earlier today on another forum, I was accused of being too academic by describing this technology as part of a solution for community pharmacy.
All I can say to that is that unless community pharmacists get off their collective backsides to invest and own this technology you will see another component of core business disappear.
The Australian government has invested recently in 3D printing technology through Monash University which has the brief of nurturing Australian industries who can use this technology.
Read Print your own medicine – a $9 million 3D printing research and development hub opens in Melbourne and catch up right now.
A third article deals with processes utilised by management consultants to deliver a solution and how this process has to be emulated by clinical pharmacists.
And on two levels.
The first to understand how to manage and develop the logistics of a clinical practice and the second is the actual delivery of clinical services.
It is not a simple process and you can learn by reading Management Consultancy Practices, Best Doctor Service and Establishing Pharmacy Clinical Services.
Front of shop management requires an efficient pricing and labelling system to ensure a smooth marketing delivery with minimal staff involvement.
Major retailers are now trialling e-paper/e-ink solutions and this may be the next new innovation for your pharmacy. Read all about it in Electronic Shelf Labelling – a Nucleus for your own Local Area Marketing System.
Pharmacists are starting to ask questions on how to engage further with their communities. Harvey Mackay has just written an article about respect, and it is suggested that this is a good starting point. Read Foster respect to improve results and apply the self-evident truths.
Also, to keep the information flow going regarding medical cannabis, we publish some clinical evidence concerning marijuana oil from a purpose-grown plant in Spain.
Comparisons are made with synthetic cannabinoids and “shock-horror” the naturally produced marijuana extract performs better than the synthetic versions.
And it can be standardised, which is a requirement for the NSW clinical trials due to begin shortly. Read all about it in CBD-Rich Cannabis Versus Single-Molecule CBD.
You will find all the current media releases for PSA, ASMI and NPS for your reference.
Enjoy your read and for the planners among you, there is some very interesting reference material for you to absorb.
Neil Johnston
Editor
16 March 2015