Pharmacists at breaking point with ongoing RAT shortages

Thursday 20^th January 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is calling for patience and understanding from the general public amidst ongoing rapid antigen tests (RAT) shortages.

 

Extreme stock shortages and unprecedented demand continues to place significant strain on pharmacists and pharmacy staff.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, stressed how challenging these past few weeks have been for the pharmacy workforce as a result of RAT shortages, combined with the commencement of childhood vaccinations and the booster rollout.

 

“The holiday period is already a busy time for Australian pharmacists, and the current situation with accessibility to antigen testing is only making conditions worse.

 

“With the National Booster Program in full swing and the commencement of paediatric vaccinations last week, pharmacists have now administered over four million COVID-19 vaccinations to Australians – an amazing accomplishment!

 

“However, this ongoing predicament with RAT continues to place huge pressure on the profession.

 

“Even though the Federal Government has secured additional RAT stock, supply is still expected to be sparse until mid-February. In the meantime, our pharmacists are working around the clock to source their own supply of these tests, whilst juggling a huge number inquiries from patients about stock availability.

 

“Pharmacists are being inundated with phone calls and inquiries, which is ultimately consuming a large proportion of their time – time which would be better spent vaccinating people against the virus, and even more importantly, allowing them to focus on their core function, medicine safety. Members have reported receiving on average, four calls a minute in relation to RATs. This is simply not sustainable.

 

“Governments keep telling people to get tested – and people are trying to do the right thing – but there is still a lot of confusion in the community.

 

“PSA and other health bodies were stressing the importance of securing RAT supply and establishing effective distribution networks with government over six months ago.

 

“Antigen tests are also available and being distributed through government testing clinics, free of charge – and I implore Australians to consider these services in order to alleviate pressure on our already-stretched pharmacist workforce, until stock shortages are solved,” he said.

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Vaccine pay parity well overdue

Wednesday 19^th January 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is renewing its call for pharmacists to receive equal pay for COVID-19 vaccination services, to that received by other providers.

 

Despite the recent increase in payments for booster vaccination services, an unfair and inequitable pay disparity between immunisation providers still remains.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, said that there are no more excuses to deny pay parity following record weeks of vaccination.

 

“Pharmacists have now administered over four million COVID-19 vaccinations to Australians, in another milestone achievement following record weeks of vaccinations.

 

“In the last three weeks alone, pharmacists have administered a record 1 million plus vaccinations. This is an incredible effort from all of Australia’s pharmacist immunisers, especially during a period when much of the nation was on holidays.

 

“These record statistics come on the back of a moderate increase in payments for booster vaccinations, demonstrating what can be achieved with more appropriate resourcing.

 

“It is disappointing that significant pay disparities remain, with pharmacists’ still being paid much less than other vaccination providers, like GPs, for doing the same job. Increasing remuneration by $8.45 per booster vaccine, taking the payment to $34.45 from $26, would achieve pay parity for pharmacists.

 

“Now that we’ve seen what can be achieved with better resourcing, it is time to remunerate pharmacists fairly and equally for their work.

 

“This is critical to keeping the vaccine rollout program on track, particularly in relation to childhood vaccines, where they have reverted back very low payments for pharmacists. Subsequently, only half of the pharmacy network has opted to provide immunisations to this group.

 

“Without fair and equitable remuneration for the administration of all COVID-19 vaccines, the Government risks having the paediatric vaccination program fall behind,” he said.

 

Graphs below:

(Source: Australian Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/covid-19-vaccination-daily-rollout-update)

Background

 

 

The following table shows a breakdown of the pay rates for different providers:

 

Description	Pharmacists		General Practitioners
	*MM1 Fee	*MM2-7 Fee	*MM1 Fee	*MM2-7 Fee
First Dose Administration	$16	$19	$31.05	$37.70
Second Dose and Booster Dose Administration (by same provider)	$26	$29	$34.45	$37.80
Childhood 5-11 First Dose Administration	$16	$19	$24.45	$27.80
COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment (billable once only)	Nil	Nil	$39.10	$39.10

 

Pharmacists receive a flat $26 for administering a booster vaccine, whilst GPs may be able to claim additional dose administration ($34.45), and a suitability assessment ($39.10) for a total of $63.55. This is higher for GP’s in rural areas and after hours.

 

No after-hours payments are available for pharmacists despite many providing access outside of normal business hours.

 

If all three doses and a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment are provided by the same practitioner, in a major city, a pharmacist would receive $68, whilst a GP would receive $139.05.

 

*MMM = Modified Monash Model defines whether a location is a city, rural, remote or very remote. It measures remoteness and population size on a scale of Modified Monash (MM) category MM 1 to MM 7. MM 1 is a major city and MM 7 is very remote.*

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Additional remuneration for boosters welcomed – but unfair pay disparity remains.

Wednesday 22^nd December 2021

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement this afternoon that payments for booster vaccinations will be increased.

 

From tomorrow, 23^rd December, pharmacists will receive an additional $10 for administering booster vaccinations, taking the total fee for the full service to $26.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, lauded the announcement.

 

“This is a very welcome announcement for pharmacists who are working incredibly hard in the lead up to Christmas, ensuring their communities have timely access to booster vaccinations in addition to their usual holiday workloads.

 

“PSA has been fighting over recent months to secure additional funding for the booster program, to ensure these services do not run at a loss, and we thank the Morrison Government for finally taking action on this prior to Christmas and the New Year.

 

“Frustration amongst the pharmacist community has reached boiling point over recent weeks, with many pharmacies considering whether it is viable for them to continue to participate in the National Booster Program – potentially jeopardising the program’s delivery.

 

“Whilst we expect the increase to incentivise involvement in the National Booster Program, it is not enough. The unfair disparity in rates of remuneration for community pharmacies versus other vaccination providers still remains. PSA will continue to fight for fair and equitable remuneration in all settings in which pharmacists practice.

 

“Pharmacists have more than doubled the number of daily vaccine doses being administered since booster eligibility was shortened, with 284,559 doses administered in just the past 7 days. This is an astonishing effort.

 

A/Prof Freeman went on to discuss the management of the booster program over the next few months.

 

“It has been an incredibly challenging period for pharmacists, who are experiencing a surge in demand for COVID-19 vaccinations. This has been driven by the decision to bring forward booster doses for millions of Australians. Whilst Australia has plentiful stores of COVID-19 vaccines, there is often a delay between ordering the vaccines until they arrive into pharmacy fridges.

 

“Similarly, we have seen a surge in demand for items such as rapid antigen tests, as many consumers are wanting to take precautions before attending work or catching up with family and friends over the holidays.

 

“As the 2021 working year comes to an end for most, it is the busiest time of year for Australian pharmacists. Over this period, many pharmacies will remain open, ensuring that communities can continue to access essential medicines and health services.

 

“I echo the Prime Minister’s advice this afternoon, that we must remain calm. I ask that patients be mindful of, and respectful towards your pharmacist, as they work to provide you with care, essential medicines and health services you need.

 

“I also ask Australians to continue abiding by the current health advice, ensuring that you do not enter pharmacies if you have potential symptoms of COVID-19, wear protective masks inside and practice social distancing,” he said.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Aged care pharmacists needed to improve quality of life for aged care residents

Thursday 16^th December 2021

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is renewing its call to the Federal Government to fund pharmacists embedded into aged care facilities, to improve medicine management and overall quality of life for older Australians.

 

Older Australians living in residential aged care facilities continue to face significant threats to their health, due to harm arising from misuse or mismanagement of their medications. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified growing concerns of inappropriate medicine use in aged care facilities.

 

Pharmacists embedded into aged care facilities undertake a wide range of professional activities. Their involvement is proven to improve collaboration between health professionals; reduce medication misadventure; improve transitions of care; and address medicine-related questions and concerns from patients, particularly around medicine safety, polypharmacy and reducing chemical restraints.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, explained why aged care pharmacists are so desperately needed.

 

“Every day that a pharmacist is not working alongside aged care staff in caring for older Australians, is a day residents are in danger from medication harm.

 

“It is crucial that service providers are allowed the flexibility to determine how they secure pharmacist services. Some facilities may choose to employ a pharmacist directly, some may choose to contract pharmacists through community pharmacies, or via a third party. It can’t be a one size fits all approach as every facility is different.

 

“This approach will ensure that aged care facilities can consistently deliver a patient-centred, multidisciplinary service aimed at identifying, resolving and preventing medication-related problems.

 

“PSA has been championing pharmacists employed by aged care facilities across the ACT, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia – all of which have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from residents, staff and the broader health care team.

 

“PSA believes pharmacists working in this space should receive training and be accredited so that services can be delivered consistently and to the highest of standards. This has the support of the aged care sector.

 

“Now is the time for action, and for the implementation of the findings from the Royal Commission. Pharmacists are an important part of the solution to resolving medicine-related issues and improving residents’ safety and quality of life.

 

“We cannot underestimate the impact that having an on-site pharmacist will bring to the lives of residents and their families. We need pharmacists to be woven into the fabric of residential aged care,” A/Prof Freeman said.

 

Debbie Rigby, Chair of the Interdisciplinary Team-based Care Community of Specialty Interest, added: “It’s nearly 25 years since the first pharmacists were accredited to conduct medication management reviews, and this wealth of experience should be acknowledged and celebrated.

 

“Many accredited pharmacists working in the aged care sector feel frustrated by program rule restrictions and less than optimal collaboration with prescribers. However, many accredited pharmacists have built strong professional relationships based on trust and respect with aged care staff and GPs and know they can contribute more to quality use of medicines and medicine safety for this vulnerable population.

 

“It’s time for the role of accredited pharmacists in aged care to evolve, with funding for a more proactive presence in this space – and to support better medication management,” said Ms Rigby.

 

Background:

PSA’s Medicine safety: aged care report found that:

• Over 95% of people living in aged care facilities have at least one problem with their medicines detected at the time of a medicines review; most have three problems
• 50% of people with dementia are taking medicines with anticholinergic properties, which can worsen confusion and other symptoms of dementia.
• One fifth of people living in aged care are on antipsychotics; more than half use the medicine for too long.

 

The Report from the Royal Commission in to Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended that the Australian Government immediately improve access to quality medication management reviews for people receiving aged care by:

 

1. allowing and funding pharmacists from 1 January 2022 to conduct reviews on entry to residential care and annually thereafter, or more often if there has been a significant change to the person receiving care’s condition or medication regimen;
2. amending the criteria for eligibility for residential medication management reviews to include people in residential respite care and transition care;
3. monitoring quality and consistency of medication management reviews.
   

The Royal Commission detailed well-known issues in medicine management – notably the use of restrictive practices which could not be justified in 90% of cases, and overuse of sedating medicines.

 

A flexible model is needed to give aged care providers and residents the best access to pharmacist-delivered care, and accreditation of pharmacists entering aged care to perform medication reviews must remain mandatory to support a high quality of care.

 

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Pharmacists’ remuneration for COVID-19 vaccinations must be addressed

Friday 10^th December 2021

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is calling on Federal Government to equally remunerate pharmacists for their involvement in the national vaccination strategy.

 

As present, pharmacists are receiving $16 per booster vaccine administered, whilst other providers such as general practitioners can receive up to $63.55 – an unfair disparity for providing the same service.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, stressed that the current remuneration model for COVID-19 vaccinations simply isn’t sustainable.

 

“On Monday, paediatric vaccinations were approved by the TGA, opening up vaccination eligibility to 2.3 million Australian children. This means that extra consultation time will be required to undertake appropriate assessment and consenting, placing further strain on service sustainability.

 

“As mass vaccination hubs continue to downscale operations over the coming months and we revert to pre-pandemic primary health arrangements, responsibility will fall back on immunisation providers to cover both the 5-11s cohort as well as those eligible for their booster dose.

 

“Frustration is mounting within the profession. Our pharmacists have had enough and can no longer justify running this service at a loss.

 

“If the disparity isn’t addressed soon, I am worried we’ll see pharmacies withdrawing their involvement in the national strategy, causing further setbacks in 2022.

 

“If pharmacists are forced to withdraw from the program, pressure will fall on already-overworked GPs and other primary care providers to deliver – causing patients to delay their vaccination.

 

“As a nation that is on the verge of more widely opening up to domestic and international travel, we simply cannot afford to drop the ball on this.

 

“We need to support our frontline pharmacists so they can continue to support the Australian community,” A/Prof Freeman said.

 

Background

 

The following table shows a breakdown of the pay rates for different providers:

 

Description	Pharmacists		General Practitioners
	*MM1 Fee	*MM2-7 Fee	*MM1 Fee	*MM2-7 Fee
First Dose Administration	$16	$19	$31.05	$37.70
Second Dose Administration (by same provider)	$26	$29	$34.45	$37.80
Additional Dose (including third dose for immunocompromised and boosters)	$16	$19	$24.45	$27.80
COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment (billable once only)	Nil	Nil	$39.10	$39.10

 

Pharmacists receive a flat $16 for administering a booster vaccine, whilst GPs may be able to claim additional dose administration ($24.45), and a suitability assessment ($39.10) for a total of $63.55. This is higher for GP’s in rural areas and after hours.

 

No after-hours payments are available for pharmacists despite many providing access outside of normal business hours.

 

If all three doses and a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment are provided by the same practitioner, in a major city, a pharmacist would receive $58, whilst a GP would receive $129.05.

 

*MMM = Modified Monash Model defines whether a location is a city, rural, remote or very remote. It measures remoteness and population size on a scale of Modified Monash (MM) category MM 1 to MM 7. MM 1 is a major city and MM 7 is very remote.*

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Outstanding ACT pharmacists recognised!

Friday 10^th December 2021

 

Last night at the ACT Pharmacy Awards ceremony, held at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) head office in Canberra, outstanding achievement across the Territory was recognised.

 

PSA’s ACT Branch President, Renae Beardmore, presented awards for Intern Pharmacist of the Year, Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacist of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

“Since the pandemic began, Canberra had been relatively sheltered from the full brunt of this deadly disease, causing comparatively minimal disruption to our daily lives. Then, as expected, the Delta variant found its way to the Territory.

 

“In the face of adversity caused by changes to primary care delivery, ACT pharmacists rose to the challenge brilliantly – going above and beyond for their patients and the wider community.

 

“The awards recognise outstanding achievers for their contribution throughout 2021, highlighting the incredible talent that we have across the pharmacy profession.

 

“Whether it be developing and empowering the staff around them, demonstrating working collaboratively within healthcare teams, providing support and education to the next generation of pharmacists or improving medicine safety holistically – this year’s winners have exemplified pharmacy practice.

 

“I congratulate them on their success and thank them for their commitment to our profession and the ACT at large,” Ms Beardmore said.

 

This year’s award winners are as follows:

• Samantha Forge: Intern Pharmacist of the Year
• Brooke Veasey: Early Career Pharmacist of the Year
• Chris Lawler: Pharmacist of the Year
• Dr Gabrielle Cooper OAM: Lifetime Achievement Award

 

 

PSA congratulates this year’s award winners and thanks them for their service to pharmacy in the Australian Capital Territory.

 

Award winner profiles below.

 

Samantha Forge: PSA ACT Intern Pharmacist of the Year

 

Samantha has accomplished a great deal despite undertaking her internship in the middle of a pandemic. We all witnessed the relentless pace of change seen in just a short period. She took on this challenge with determination and leadership, using the opportunity to train, develop and empower the staff around her.

 

She also took on a role in managing the pharmacy’s mental health clients from the local clinic, including supporting a fortnightly clozapine clinic. Under her leadership, a collaborative model of care thrived, fostered by a collegiate approach to care from the entire team of healthcare professionals involved. This led to improvements in the safe and appropriate use of medicines for some of the area’s most vulnerable patients.

 

With a keen interest in drug formulary inventory management, this was used to refine the team’s ordering protocol and improve the accessibility of medicines for her patients despite the ongoing challenges of serious medicine shortages.

 

Brooked Veasey: PSA ACT Early Career Pharmacist of the Year

 

Brooke stepped up to take on the responsibility for all intern pharmacists and pharmacy students across their pharmacy group, including 11 sites in both the ACT and NSW.

 

As part of this, this she single-handedly set up an internal intern training course of sorts to run in parallel and complimentary to the formal intern training program. This included organising internal lectures from specialist interest pharmacists and matching up the interns with various pharmacists for practice oral exams – where she prepared the all of the content. This process has fostered a great sense of connection between interns across the group, enabling them to learn from the wider group and not only rely solely on their individual preceptor.

 

Brooke has also joined forces with a colleague in one of the NSW pharmacies and together they have taken responsibility for driving professional pharmacy services. This includes supporting all pharmacists across the group with weekly teleconferences, providing the opportunity to share and troubleshoot common issues as they arose, and to celebrate wins. This has been a big job, particularly with the enormous task of scaling the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, yet, she has owned this task with poise and confidence.

 

Chris Lawler: PSA ACT Pharmacist of the Year

 

Chris is one of ACT pharmacy’s quiet achievers.

 

He provides care and support to some of the most vulnerable people in the community, including patients accessing opioid dependency treatment and those with HIV and Hepatitis C. He has developed important clinical and patient networks and is a trusted and respected proponent of the essential role that pharmacists play in the delivery of primary care.

 

Chris and his team provide daily support to over 100 patients on opioid dependency treatment. He has a calm, kind and approachable manner which allows them to cultivate rapport that supports continuity of care, leading to both better patient outcomes and reduced risk of abuse, misuse and diversion of opioids in the broader community. He has also been working with the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy and Directions ACT for many years, mitigating the risk of overdose by providing naloxone to patients.

 

He also provides a safe place supporting patients seeking treatment or prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C. He also works closely with the local general practice, and together with local prescribers has built an effective collaborative care model which ensures that support and treatments are provided to patients in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

 

Dr Gabrielle Cooper OAM: PSA ACT Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr Cooper has demonstrated a relentless and career-long commitment to the pharmacy profession since she graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1983. After completing her internship, she commenced her career as a clinical pharmacist in Hobart, before spending almost a decade in clinical pharmacy at the Royal Canberra Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children in London and the University of Tasmania as a clinical educator.

 

Returning to Canberra in 1995, she was appointed as the Director of Pharmacy at John James Memorial Hospital. In the years to follow she was a Poisons Information Pharmacist at The Canberra Hospital and subsequently became the Director of Pharmacy at Calvary Hospital between 2002 and 2003.

 

It was during her years as a hospital pharmacist that she became well known as a motivating and inspirational teacher. She could demonstrate and instill a range of attributes including sound clinical knowledge, a passion for disease state management, problem solving, leadership, and effective communication skills.

 

Her interest in drug overdose led her to undertake a PhD in clinical toxicology. Her seminal work has been widely cited and led to changes in clinical practice such that activated charcoal in drug overdose is now used in more restricted situations.

 

Following a critical shortage of pharmacists in Canberra and the surrounding region, she transitioned from clinical practice to academia and in 2003 she established the Discipline of Pharmacy at the University of Canberra, where she remained the Head of Pharmacy and was promoted to Full Professor in 2010. She understood the value students obtain from clinical placement and was successful in securing funding to allow pharmacy students to undertake placements in what was then a novel environment – general practice.

 

In her ‘spare time’ she was also highly engaged with the profession at the local level with involvement in the PSA ACT Branch as its initial President in 2009 where she remained on the Branch Committee until 2016, serving as both ACT Branch President (twice), and as a National Board Director from 2011 to 2013.

 

Her contribution to the profession locally was also highlighted by her appointment to the ACT Pharmacy Board in 2006 until the formation of the National Pharmacy Board in 2010.

 

She was elected as Chair of the Capital Health Network in 2015, and during this time her highly regarded networking and communication skills led to the establishment of the Pharmacists in General Practice trial in the ACT.

 

And last but certainly not least, her remarkable contributions were recognised in 2017 when she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for “service to the pharmacy sector and to tertiary education”.

 

Her elegant ability to articulate logically has made her a positive role model to students, pharmacists, healthcare workers, and policy makers alike.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Exceptional pharmacists in the toughest of times

Friday 10^th December 2021

 

Last night at the Victorian Pharmacy Awards ceremony, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) Victoria Branch recognised the state’s outstanding achievers for 2021.

 

PSA Victoria Branch President, John Jackson, presented awards for Victoria’s Intern Pharmacist of the Year, Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and the Victorian Pharmacist Medal.

 

“After two of the toughest years in living memory for Victorian pharmacists, the commitment of these winners to their patients and to the safe and effective use of medicines is extraordinary.

 

“These awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contribution to Victorian pharmacy through excellence in all forms of practice.

 

“Year-on-year I continue to be blown away by the efforts of pharmacists across the state and these deserving winners have exemplified the talent and versatility amongst the profession.

 

“Congratulations to Laura, Shefali, Paul, Bill and Jim on your success, and on behalf of the PSA I thank you for devotion to the pharmacy profession in Victoria,” Mr Jackson said.

 

This year’s award winners are as follows:

• Laura Carfrae (Maryborough): Intern Pharmacist of the Year
• Shefali Parekh (Melbourne): Early Career Pharmacist of the Year
• Paul Naismith (Melbourne): Pharmacist of the Year
• William (Bill) Horsfall (Melbourne): Lifetime Achievement Award
• James (Jim) Burns (Melbourne): Victorian Pharmacist Medal

 

Award winner profiles below:

 

Laura Carfrae: PSA Victorian Intern Pharmacist of the Year

 

Laura is a dedicated intern pharmacist keen to use her clinical skills in rural Victoria to increase the health literacy and access to quality use of medicines for the entire community. Her passion for accurate and intentional prescribing in the aged care setting and her ability to communicate this with the patients, nursing staff and prescribers is outstanding.

 

In her time as an intern at Priceline Pharmacy Maryborough, in the midst of the pandemic, Laura has managed to practice beyond her scope as an intern and assist the accredited and registered pharmacists in the following ways, always sighting that rural workforce issues put extra pressure on an already stretched team – and focused on upskilling to help the team.

 

In the aged care setting, Laura conducts chart reviews, collects information from nursing staff and clinical notes so that the accredited pharmacist may provide quality RMMRs. This includes drawing on her previous medical science degree to help interpret lab test data efficiently and provide associated QUM training on de-prescribing, antimicrobial stewardship and pain management.

 

Laura trained as an immuniser under the emergency health order to assist the Goldfields Shire to have above 90% second dose vaccination rates from 12 years and over in a short period of time.

 

Laura also produced the pharmacy’s Pfizer vaccine protocol to ensure reduce error risk across all three COVID-19 vaccines. Laura has been patient in explaining the benefits of vaccination to vaccine hesitant patients, being the lead ‘white coat’ for all the pharmacies quality accreditation requirements including helping to manage documentation for health services, provide orientation and training to new staff to prepare them for their S2/S3 certificates and developing and honing an electronic incident reporting log for errors and near misses and electronic home delivery recording which increased ten-fold throughout the pandemic.

 

Laura also manages the HMR booking system for accredited pharmacists, highlighting potential issues for the pharmacists to raise with GPs sooner rather than later if required. She shows a clinical astuteness and use of resources.

 

Laura has completed further education beyond her PSA ITP program including an asthma educator’s course, this has equipped her to have meaningful conversations with our largely poor health literate community about medicine compliance and the benefits of smoking cessation.

 

Laura is an advocate for rural pharmacy speaking at the RMIT Final Year Students Forum and securing a 2022 intern for the pharmacy due to her passion regarding the clinical work she is performing in a rural setting.

 

She was an active Victorian Early Career Pharmacist Working Group member, involved in organising a highly-attended online event during the lockdown.

 

Shefali Parekh: PSA Victorian Early Career Pharmacist of the Year

 

Shefali Parekh is a rising early career pharmacist who has been actively involved in the professional community since her student days. Primarily working in the hospital setting, she has taken an interest in education and helping to develop the next generation of pharmacists.

 

Shefali is committed to developing her own practice into more specialised areas, more autonomously. She completed the Nicotine Replacement Therapy credential at The Alfred Hospital, allowing her to assess nicotine dependence and to prescribe replacement therapy as appropriate. Here she also completed the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring credential, which enables her to check, interpret and order vancomycin and aminoglycoside levels to ensure their safe and appropriate use.

 

Shefali is also committed to helping develop the next generation. She has completed the Monash Clinical Educator training program and learnt about educational theory such as Kolbs Learning Styles and Gibb’s Reflective Cycle; communication skills for supervisors such as how to give effective feedback; and problem solving. She completed this course to prepare to adopt a more formal preceptor role in the future, to be involved in clinically supervising both students and interns. She also sits on the Continuing Education Committee at The Austin Hospital, helping to organise education to facilitate practitioner development within the Austin Pharmacy Department, which she has passed on topics of interest to the wider ECP community through the Communities of Specialty Interest forum.

 

Shefali works well within healthcare teams, currently within the Austin Haematology and Medical Oncology Health Service. This involves supporting the service through cytotoxic manufacturing for inpatients, ambulatory care, clinical trials and day oncology; inpatient ward-based clinical pharmacy services including taking a medication history on admission, providing discharge counselling and dispensing oral chemotherapy. She also assists with the Novel Day Oncology at Home Program commenced at the Austin in July 2021, which has opened up an opportunity for not only patients to receive life-saving chemotherapy in the comfort of their own homes, but also supports the innovation and expanding roles of pharmacists.

 

Paul Naismith: PSA Victorian Pharmacist of the Year

 

Paul is one of the real innovators of pharmacy and a pioneer of IT, making the software user friendly for community pharmacists. His work in fast tracking electronic prescriptions with almost 100% uptake by pharmacists in Australia during COVID- 19 times has improved access for people in isolation, and GPs working by telehealth. More importantly, electronic prescriptions will reduce medicine safety errors and increase security of patient’s medicines information during the pandemic.

 

Paul is one of the real innovators of pharmacy and a pioneer of IT, making the software user-friendly for community pharmacists. Paul is CEO of Fred IT group and chairman of PDL and APPCO. Paul received a distinguished alumni award from Monash University in 2020.

 

Paul co-founded Fred in 1991 to develop dispensing software (FRED- Fast Reliable Easy Dispensing) that was easy to use, before turning to pharmacy friendly point-of-sale (Quicksell) and a pharmacy specific Internet service (nuNet).

 

He worked with government on the roll out of real time claiming via PBS online. Other achievements include the launch of eRx Script Exchange in 2009 (Australia’s first national electronic prescriptions exchange for pharmacy and health) and MedView (an online cloud-based platform for managing medicines information).

 

In 2019, he assisted with the introduction of real-time prescription monitoring in Victoria to save lives and reduce the accidental misuse of prescription medications. In 2020, electronic scripts were launched to improve the medication supply function and improve medication safety. This was fast-tracked to cope with the change of demand with the lockdowns imposed by COVID-19. The efficiencies of the electronic paperless prescriptions have allowed a seamless process of prescribing, dispensing and supply by reducing the cumbersome method of faxing prescriptions which also still require a hard copy to be sent to the pharmacy. The e-script has seen an increase in pre-ordering of repeats using the technology which has helped pharmacy workflow.

 

The increased take-up has seen eRx Script Exchange achieve the milestone of 20 million electronic prescriptions since Australia’s national system of electronic prescriptions was launched in May 2020. More than 28,000 doctors prescribed 10.5 million of those, while 98% of the nation’s pharmacies produced 9.5 million repeats. Paul has demonstrated the value of engaging with the industry’s many stakeholders – the doctors, pharmacists, organisations that represent them plus industry, government, technology providers and importantly what patients want.

 

Paul has demonstrated the value of engaging with the industry’s many stakeholders – the doctors’, pharmacists’ organisations that represent them plus industry, government, technology providers and importantly what patients want. Paul stands out and has been frequently listed in the Top 14 Most Influential People in Pharmacy.

 

Until recently, he was a partner in two community pharmacies in Melbourne.

 

He is realistic in the change management required to embrace technology change. For many years Paul has been pushing for medication service coordination to reduce high patient risks especially in transition of care.

 

Paul provides an excellent role model of developing systems to use technology to make the life of the pharmacist easier and medicines safer for patients.

 

William (Bill) Horsfall: PSA VIC Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Bill Horsfall is one of the most well-known pharmacists in Victoria. For 23 years, Bill was the Director of CE for PSA Victoria producing the most comprehensive and well attended lectures, seminars, and courses in Australia. Bill continues to influence practice change working in GP education.

 

Bill started his pharmacy journey as a hospital pharmacist in Townsville, then Mackay, whilst also working as an Officer in the Army Reserves. Following a working holiday in the UK, he returned to Melbourne working in hospital pharmacy and then owning two community pharmacies. Following development of and education program for Chemmart Pharmacies, he became Director of Continuing Education for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Vic). He held this role for 23 years and developed the most comprehensive CE program in Australia. Events were usually conducted three times a week and a weekend every month in the 19 regional centres as well as Parkville. Lecture attendance at Parkville averaged 250 pharmacists at the monthly lecture with a record of 720 at one event.

 

One of Bill’s skills was involving other pharmacists. He sought out the key interest groups and worked with a group of over 20 pharmacists and academics who attended the monthly CE meeting and actively contributed to running the courses. Bill’s innovation ran to developing courses in private hospital pharmacy, counselling mental health patients, introduction to pharmacy computers and software programs, business management in conjunction with AIPM, negotiation skills, sports medicine, wound management, pharmacy industry representative training, re-entry courses, a 4-night new drugs course, therapeutic updates, as well as monthly training weekends around regional Victoria. During all this time, Bill continued to work sessionally in community pharmacy to maintain relevance.

 

Bill moved into GP education in 2003 and has worked for 18 years for NPS MedicineWise as an Educational Visitor presenting clinical discussion sessions individually or in groups using evidence-based information to assist with best practice. Due to his well-earned reputation, Bill has the highest call rate for Australia in this work.

 

Bill has continued to work with PSA education and has been the Education Administration Officer for the PSA Offshore Conference for the past 20 years. His networking with key opinion leaders has enabled much of his success in all aspects of his working life.

 

Bill Horsfall, PhC, FPS (at 85 years) is one of the oldest working pharmacists, and to his credit, has kept up with technology.

 

Bill is a role model for all in dedicating his life to the professionalism and recognition of pharmacists and helping all people. He has raised practice standards by example over a lifetime of dedicated practice.

 

Bill recently spoke to Australian Pharmacist reflecting on his career: https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/bill-horsfall-member-insight/

 

James (Jim) Burns: PSA Victorian Pharmacist Medal

Jim Burns has owned and operated his pharmacy in Croydon for over 60 years. Aged in his 90s, he continues to work 5.5 days a week in his pharmacy. He operates a methadone clinic and has supported 100s of people through that program over the years. The community has a lot of love for Jim.

 

Croydon artist, Andy Drewitt, honoured Jim in a local street art installation this year. Titled “The Chemist”, Mr Drewitt stated “He put himself out there, along the way he copped some slack from the community, and the community wasn’t always primed to help people that are often regarded as falling through the cracks.”

 

Mr Burns grew up in Croydon. After working overseas, he went into partnership with Don Grey in 1959 and has been working in Croydon ever since.

 

In the mid-1980s Jim started an opioid pharmacotherapy clinic (sometimes colloquially referred to as a methadone program). He explained that he was driven to do so after a long-time customer found out his son, who was drug dependent, had stolen thousands of dollars from him. Mr Burns said “Then I thought, alright these people get into trouble. It’s not necessarily other family members that get hostile, but the general public get hostile when they find that drug-dependent people do things that are anti-social, stealing money or stealing other things to sell to get a few dollars to stop their pain.” He feels that pharmacotherapy programs allow people to lead a normal life – get a job, have a family.

 

He advocated early on for treatment to be more comprehensive, incorporating counselling and access to community services.  Also he has always kept his pharmacotherapy program very affordable seeing it as a community benefit for it to be accessible.

 

Countless lives have been improved over the decades, with 40 patients in his pharmacy currently supported on pharmacotherapy.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Pharmacists ready with Moderna boosters but services must be sustainable

Thursday 9^th December 2021

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the announcement that Moderna’s SPIKEVAX vaccine has been provisionally approved as a booster dose for Australians aged 18 years and above.

 

Yesterday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) confirmed that a second vaccine will be available for the National Booster Program.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, acknowledged further enablement of the pharmacist workforce.

 

“With the National Booster Program well underway, this move is timely – one that provides Australians with greater vaccine choice in the lead up to early 2022 when the majority of the population becomes eligible for their booster dose.

 

“This announcement, coupled with Monday’s provisional approval of Pfizer for Australians aged 5-11 years, marks a week of significant progress in the pandemic response and PSA commends the Government’s approach to making these decisions.

 

“This development now means that the potential number of pharmacists offering booster vaccinations across Australia has more than doubled, accounting for those already participating in the Moderna program.

 

“However, it is imperative that pharmacists are paid fairly, and at least equally to other providers, otherwise the provision of this critical service is not sustainable. With 2.3 million children becoming eligible for vaccination, extra consultation time will be required to undertake appropriate assessment and consenting, placing further strain on service sustainability.

 

“Pharmacists have already administered over 2.5 million vaccinations to Australians, and as mass vaccination hubs continue to downscale their operations over the coming months, pharmacists will become an even more critical part of the vaccination strategy,” he said.

 

PSA is dedicated to supporting Australian pharmacist immunisers through the National Booster Program and will continue to work closely with the TGA and ATAGI to ensure pharmacists are equipped with the most up-to-date advice regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness.

 

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Training for community pharmacy to support people who are grieving

Wednesday 8^th December 2021

 

In partnership with COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network, The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has developed an online training module designed to equip community pharmacists and pharmacy assistants with skills to better support people who are grieving.

 

The content for Supporting People with their Grief and Bereavement was written by subject matter experts from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) and is now live.

 

PSA NSW Branch President, Chelsea Felkai, explained how this initiative supports pharmacists and pharmacy staff who are often the first primary care providers that these people come in contact with.

 

“Grief is a natural part of life, and for some people, it can be incredibly debilitating. Its intensity and longevity varies for each individual and everyone has unique coping mechanisms for managing the loss of a loved one,” she said.

 

“Pharmacy staff frequently come into contact with patients and or customers who are grieving, many of whom have lost someone close to them in recent weeks, days or even hours – often meaning they are the first point of contact.

 

“It’s upsetting to see a patient or customer break down in front of you, and for pharmacy staff who may have less experience in these scenarios, it can be quite confronting. In most cases, the individual just needs someone to listen and respond with compassion.

 

“As Australia’s most accessible healthcare provider, local pharmacists are well placed to assist these individuals – and through completion of this new training module, the profession will be better equipped to support them.”

 

Ms Felkai went on to discuss the module itself.

 

“Upon completion of the module, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants will be more perceptive when it comes to identifying someone who may be experiencing difficulty with their grief.

 

“The evidence-based training teaches appropriate communication strategies, enabling pharmacists to better converse with the individual – it also helps to identify suitable referral pathways for consideration if additional support is needed.

 

“As community pharmacists, our ability to connect with patients and customers is the crux of professional practice and this innovative training resource will ultimately raise the standard of pharmacist care across NSW.

 

“I strongly encourage all community pharmacists and pharmacy staff across NSW to undertake and complete this module,” Ms Felkai said.

 

To access the module, Supporting People with their Grief and Bereavement, please visit this link.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463