November 4, 2014
Ignite 2015 leadership program applications open
Applications for PSA’s prestigious ignite Pharmacist Leadership Program 2015 have now opened.
The highly regarded ignite program has been developed by the PSA to meet the ongoing leadership and career development needs of early career pharmacists (ECPs).
National President of PSA, Grant Kardachi, said ignite aimed to develop high-performing ECPs into future health leaders.
“This is an advanced program which helps to identify those pharmacists who will help drive strategy, change and innovation moving into the future,” Mr Kardachi said.
“The ignite program offers a unique development experience that has been specifically designed to broaden the understanding of leadership and to develop the participants’ skills.
“Significantly it takes into account the personal leadership goals of those taking part in the program.
“The program combines interactive workshops, experiential and distance learning, inspirational speakers, mentoring, networking opportunities and a practical workplace project to develop participants as future leaders.”
As part of the ignite program, participants also obtain units of credit towards the exclusive PSA Graduate Diploma of Applied Pharmacy Practice and the PSA Diploma of Management.
Mr Kardachi said an unique aspect of the ignite program was the innovative use of horses for greater personal development.
“To be a great communicator and leader requires great people skills, and great people skills stem from self-awareness and sound interpersonal behaviours,” he said.
“One tool the ignite program uses is interaction with horses to intensify each participant’s awareness of themselves.
“In addition, the inclusion of motivational speakers and mentors in the program gives participants practical perspectives of leadship in various healthcare roles, as well as motivating them for their future careers.”
Places for ignite are limited to 12 ECPs in 2015. Applications are open to those who:
· Are PSA members
· Are early career pharmacists (maximum 10 years post-registration)
Visit http://www.psa.org.au/education/leadership-program for an information booklet and application form. Applications close 5 December 2014
November 2, 2014
UTS survey shows support for greater focus on pharmacist professional services
The pharmacy profession remains pessimistic about its future, but sees opportunities for a greater focus on professional services in the next Community Pharmacy Agreement, according to the latest UTS Pharmacy Barometer.
The barometer, on which a score of 100 represents neutral confidence, showed that in October 2013 after a year of price disclosures, the confidence sat at 61.2, down from 86 in November 2012. The figure has risen slightly to 68.9 this year.
Chief Executive Officer of PSA, Dr Lance Emerson, said the barometer showed support for increased Community Pharmacy Agreement (CPA) funds to be committed to professional pharmacist services.
“This view is aligned with the PSA 6CPA paper released recently, which calls for a greater focus on the provision of professional services,” Dr Emerson said.
“Significantly, the barometer also found 75 per cent of respondents saw professional pharmacist services as the greatest future opportunity. The problem is there has been a decline in federal government funding for them, from 4.9% (4CPA), to 4.1% in the current CP.
“The PSA 6CPA member discussion paper calls for much stronger focus and funding for professional pharmacist services – this is supported by our 18,000 members and affirmed in the UTS survey.
“The UTS report also shows that two-thirds of pharmacists supported a variable dispensing fee based on the amount of patient interaction.
“This supports PSA’s discussion paper which proposes a variable fee based on patient interaction. Dispensing should be seen as a part of continuum of pharmacist services, with remuneration based on the time pharmacists spend with the patient,” Dr Emerson said.
However, Dr Emerson said that he was deeply concerned that two-thirds of owners, managers and pharmacists-in-charge intended to replace lost revenue by cutting staff costs.
“There is a better option, and PSA’s Heath Destination Pharmacy model, to be released soon, offers a solution that includes a non-dispensing pharmacist in the pharmacy,” he said.
The pilot of this program shows this model met consumer’s needs but also resulted in significantly increased profits, mainly through non-government funds. The model relies entirely on professional pharmacist input, with the staff and business system focus on health and minor ailment services.
“So rather than reduce staff numbers, the Heath Destination Pharmacy model helps re-focus them. I would encourage pharmacists to register interest for the next stage of Health Destination Pharmacy to ensure a more financially sustainable, health focused consumer service,” Dr Emerson said
October 28, 2014
Campaign highlights services provided by pharmacists
The launch of a public advertising campaign highlighting the range of professional services being delivered by Australia’s pharmacists has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia campaign, “Discover more. Ask your pharmacist” encourages Australians to learn more about the services provided by pharmacists.
National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the campaign highlighted the need for a greater emphasis to be placed on professional services in the next Community Pharmacy Agreement.
“As detailed in the PSA 6CPA discussion paper released a few weeks ago, pharmacist professional programs funding, as a proportion of total CPA funds has actually declined from 4.9% (4CPA), to 4.1% in the current CPA,” Mr Kardachi said.
“If we are to see more of the services detailed in the advertising campaign, then this amount will need to significantly increase.
“Some of the services focused on in the advertising campaign are among the areas which PSA has long advocated, and are critical to improving patient health outcomes.
”I’m pleased to see the campaign picks up on PSA’s previous Federal Budget submission on the need for transitional care from hospital to after-hospital care to provide better care for patients during this critical time.
Mr Kardachi said that not every pharmacy currently delivered all the services detailed in the advertising campaign, and that an urgent focus was needed to help pharmacies transition to a health-focused and more financially stable model of pharmacist care.
“PSA has developed a solution to help pharmacies move toward this “health hub” model through the Health Destination Pharmacy program pilot.
“The Health Destination Pharmacy pilot showed significant professional and business improvements for the pharmacies involved, and most importantly, improved patient satisfaction and health outcomes.”
The next stage of Health Destination Pharmacy program, incorporating results and lessons from the pilot, would be launched in the near future.
“This program will offer great advantages for the pharmacist and consumer and I look forward to the next Community Pharmacy Agreement providing adequate and sustainable funding for professional service provision which is the basis of the program.”