April 22, 2015
Tasmanian PSA-MIMS Intern of the Year 2014 announced
Caitlin Duff, now a community pharmacist in Burnie, has been announced as the PSA MIMS Australia Tasmanian Intern of the Year for 2014.
The prestigious award, announced in in Ulverstone, celebrates the achievements of exceptional interns in developing skills for their professional career and who have been recognised as striving to raise standards to provide a future model for the practice of pharmacy, even before being fully registered.
Ms Duff completed her intern year at the Launceston General Hospital. Her preceptor, Jay Fitch, said she was an excellent intern whose strong communication skills built trusting relationships with both her patients and other health professionals.
He said that she positively contributed to the team environment and initiated improvements in both patient care and pharmacy work flow for the betterment of her fellow pharmacists and patients alike.
Mr Fitch also said that Ms Duff was able to talk to patients about complex issues thus enabling improvements in personal health care.
Ms Duff received a MIMS $2000 grant to attend PSA15 where the national winner will be chosen. We congratulate her on this achievement and wish her all the best in the finals.
At PSA15, the PSA MIMS Intern of the Year Award recipient will be announced, with the winner being chosen from the State finalists.
The award will go to the State winner deemed to have created the most significant innovation during the year.
MIMS 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 has been publishing medicines information since for 50 years and have a keen interest in the development of the profession of pharmacy.
April 22, 2015
International pharmacy body acts on PSA-RPS antimicrobial initiative
As a result of advocacy by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global body representing pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, is now leading action on the role of pharmacists in addressing the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
FIP will be developing a briefing document on the role of pharmacists in AMR, ready for FIP Annual congress in Düsseldorf starting on 29 September 2015. The document will aim to prompt action on the issue of antibiotics and AMR, and to serve as a foundation for future work within FIP on this topic, including a revision of the FIP statement on AMR. Furthermore, the topic of AMR and responsible use of antimicrobials will also be discussed at a stakeholder roundtable held prior to the 2016 FIP Congress in Buenos Aires.
Both PSA and RPS believe that AMR continues to be a very serious public health risk and needs to be treated as a high priority within national and international strategies – governmental, health and professional.
The PSA and RPS are encouraging strong AMR stewardship amongst FIP membership, assistance in sharing current evidence, and raising the profile of pharmacists’ role in antimicrobial stewardship.
Mr Ashok Soni, President of RPS, welcomed the response by FIP to the PSA-RPS initiative. “We worked with PSA in leading this initiative because pharmacists can play a leading role in addressing this serious issue,” Mr Soni said. “We have an important responsibility to ensure appropriate use of antimicrobials.”
National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said that AMR is one of the most critical health issues affecting population across the globe. Mr Kardachi said that we not only need much greater investment in identifying new antibiotics, but we also need a much stronger response by those at the front line of care.
“We look forward to working further with RPS and FIP to progress this initiative and make a real difference in the battle against antimicrobial resistance,” Mr Kardachi said.
April 24, 2015
Pharmacy practice support resources address changes in HIV dispensing conditions
From 1 July 2015, HIV medicines, on prescriptions dated 1 July 2015 or later, will be able to be dispensed in community pharmacy, with Government remuneration.
The medicines remain Section 100 Highly Specialised Drugs (S100) but will be accessible by patients from community pharmacies, where previously these medicines have only been dispensed in hospital settings.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is producing a comprehensive practice support resource to give community pharmacy a valuable overview of the changes, the condition and the medicines used in treatment.
In addition, a Quick Facts information sheet for pharmacies will provide a valuable reference for easy access of information and a national webinar on 2 June 2015 (register now) will provide a clear understanding of the nuances, challenges and opportunities that this change will provide community pharmacy.
These resources are being developed under contract from the Commonwealth Department of Health and in collaboration with a number of relevant stakeholders including:
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
- ASHM – The Australasian Society of HIV Medicine
- Representatives drawn from:
o State and Territory Health Departments
o HIV prescribers
o HIV dispensing pharmacists
o Community pharmacy owner
o HIV nurses
o HIV consumer health advocate organisations
The resources will be available in late May or early June 2015.