October 24, 2014
PSA vaccination training course granted national accreditation

PSA has gained national accreditation with the Australian Skills Quality Authority for the PSA vaccination training used in the highly successful Queensland Pharmacist Immunisation Pilot (QPIP).

The course – APPIMM806A Manage the delivery and administration of injections and immunisations – also forms part of the exclusive PSA Graduate Diploma of Applied Pharmacy Practice.

National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the recognition by the Australian Skills Quality Authority was testament to the quality and robustness of the PSA training.

“The PSA training program has been successfully used in the QPIP and was modelled on, and adapted from, pharmacist-specific training used overseas and locally by a total of more than 150,000 pharmacists,” Mr Kardachi said.

“The feedback from QPIP was extremely positive, with participants stressing that they not only enjoyed the workshop but also were confident in their skills to vaccinate.

“This training reflects PSA’s commitment to providing high-quality competency-based training for our members, one that sets the benchmark for the whole of the profession.”

Completion of PSA’s nationally accredited vaccination training course gives pharmacists the bonus of one unit towards the PSAGraduate Diploma of Applied Pharmacy Practice.

PSA is the only pharmacist training organisation that provides pharmacists with this added benefit.

“The Graduate Diploma gives pharmacists everything they need to move their careers or businesses forward. It also provides pharmacists with an articulation pathway into a Master of Business Administration and other postgraduate qualifications,” Mr Kardachi said.

“I invite pharmacists to register their Expression of Interest for this proven training by sending their details to vaccination@psa.org.au.

“We will keep you up to date with the training developments and also with other issues of interest in this exciting new area of practice.”

October 22, 2014
PSA congratulates recipients of Innovative Pharmacist of the Year Award

A team comprising three PSA officials has won this year’s prestigious Innovative Pharmacist of the Year Award.

The Queensland Pharmacist Immunisation Implementation Pilot team, led by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Queensland President, Professor Lisa Nissen, was named as the recipient of the prestigious University of Technology Sydney Innovative Pharmacist of the Year award at a function held in Sydney last night.

The team is made up of Professor Nissen; Chris Campbell, Professional Services Pharmacist at Terry White Management; Michelle Rosenthal, PSA Queensland Branch Director; and Megan Del Dot, PSA Queensland Branch pharmacist.

The QPIP Pilot was a key health initiative run as a collaboration with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch.

National President of PSA, Grant Kardachi, who attended the awards ceremony, said the award was a deserving recognition for the work the team had put in ensuring the success of the pilot program.

“The QPIP team developed and implemented a world class pilot program in Queensland that achieved outstanding results,” Mr Kardachi said.

“Their program is now being seen as a foundation for similar programs across other States and Territories in Australia.

“The award is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the QPIP team in developing and implementing this pilot which saw some 10,000 people in Queensland receive vaccinations from pharmacists.”

Mr Kardachi said PSA and the Guild had been the driving forces behind the pilot.

“We saw quite obvious public health benefits in the program and the initial data backs this up with some 10,000 people receiving vaccinations through the program,” he said.

“The vast majority of these people would not otherwise have been vaccinated.

“I congratulate all members of the team, and everyone involved in the pilot, for their success and on being named Innovative Pharmacist of the Year.

“This program is indeed innovative in that it opens up the provision of vaccinations to more people while also presenting new areas of practice opportunity for pharmacists.”

October 21, 2014
Qld pharmacist immunisation pilot team wins national award

The Queensland Pharmacist Immunisation Pilot implementation team, led by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Queensland President Professor Lisa Nissen, has won the prestigious University of Technology Sydney Innovative Pharmacist of the Year award.

The QPIP Pilot was a key initiative run as a collaboration with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch, led by Tim Logan. The professional groups combined to facilitate this important professional initiative.

The implementation team is made up of Professor Nissen; Chris Campbell, Professional Services Pharmacist for the Terry White Group; Michelle Rosenthal, PSA Queensland Branch Director; and Megan Del Dot, PSA Queensland Branch pharmacist.

The QPIP was chosen ahead of a strong field of contenders for the award which was presented at a dinner in Sydney tonight.

Professor Nissen said she and the other members of the team were honoured by the recognition of their work.

“The pilot has been an overwhelming success, so much so that we are entering Phase II in Queensland while a number of other jurisdictions across Australia are now following suit,” Professor Nissen said.

“The figures speak for themselves with more than 10,000 vaccinations being completed during the pilot held across Queensland.

“In addition, recipients expressed overwhelming satisfaction with the service and the professional manner in which the vaccinations were provided. Importantly, a significant number of patients had never had a vaccination before, or did not receive one every year. It has certainly been a success by any measure.”

Professor Nissen said the pilot showed that having pharmacists performing vaccinations had important and very demonstrable public health benefits.

“The accessibility of pharmacists as trusted members of the healthcare team has ensured that many patients are now protected.This is an important program and I am exceptionally proud of the whole team who developed and implemented it,” Professor Nissen said.

“The pilot received a lot of criticism and some unjustifiable attacks as we sought to implement this important health initiative, but our success shows pharmacists are certainly up to the task and we are all proud of what we have achieved.

“The team overcame obstacles to arrive at a goal of vaccinating people who may otherwise not have been protected against diseases and the fact that the Queensland Government has extended the program is testament to its robustness and efficacy.”