Digitally empowered pharmacists to lead the way in medicine safety

Friday 26 July 2019

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today released its digital health report Connecting the dots: Digitally empowered pharmacists.

 

The report, funded by the Australian Digital Health Agency, describes how digital health initiatives and technological transformation will empower pharmacists to be more accountable and responsible for medicine safety and efficacy.

 

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said the transformation to a more digital workplace was long overdue.

 

Medicine-related problems cause 250,000 hospital admissions and 400,000 emergency department presentations in Australia each year, costing the healthcare system $1.4 billion annually.

 

“Gaps in information and time delays in accessing important information are the two most significant factors contributing to medicine misadventure,” he said.

 

“This transformation will connect the dots of a currently fragmented health system, where health professionals such as pharmacists have had to make health decisions without accessing sometimes critical health information.”

 

The Australian Digital Health Agency’s program of work, particularly in medicine safety, will drive this transformation. This program of work strongly aligns with system changes needed to achieve the outcomes identified in the PSA’s Pharmacists in 2023 report.

 

Key projects which will transform care include: electronic prescriptions; real-time prescription monitoring; pharmacist input into My Health Record; enhanced incident reporting capabilities, improving pharmacovigilance; and improved medicine information for consumers.

 

The Australian Digital Health Agency’s Chief Clinical Health Information Officer, Angela Ryan, says increasing the safe and quality use of medicines is a priority area of the National Digital Health Strategy, approved by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council in 2017.

 

“All healthcare providers, including pharmacists, GPs and specialists, play a role in supporting the safe use of medicines by their patients. The Australian Digital Health Agency is collaborating with governments and industry on digital solutions that will support healthcare providers to manage their patients’ medicines,” she said.

 

Connecting the Dots: Digitally empowered pharmacists provides readers with multiple case examples which describe a ‘new normal’ of seamless healthcare, protecting medicine safety, backed by the power of digital health. These examples will help pharmacists understand the digital transformation which is taking place and contextualise them to real, tangible patient examples.

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

PSA19: Minister Hunt reaffirms commitment to addressing medicine safety

Friday 26 July 2019

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) flagship conference PSA19 opened today with Federal Health Minister the Hon Greg Hunt MP reaffirming the government’s commitment to addressing medicine safety.

 

Minister Health said the government stood by its earlier commitment to PSA and will work with the Society to address the issue of medicine-related harm in Australia.

 

“The Australian Government will now move, through the Council of Australian Governments arrangements, to make the quality and safe use of medicines a national health priority,” he said.

 

Minister Hunt also highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring pharmacists are able to practice to their full scope.

 

“I get what you do and we’re going to back what you do,” he said.

 

“It makes absolute sense that if we have a group of highly trained medical and health professionals that we should use the full range of those skills.

 

“This really is a moment where pharmacy has the greatest potential to impact on national health outcomes of any time in the last century.”

 

Minister Hunt also discussed PSA’s role as a signatory to the upcoming 7^th Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA).

 

He said PSA would not just be a co-signatory but a critical part of the design in relation to the code of ethics, practice standards and pharmacy services.

 

In his speech, PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman detailed PSA’s ongoing commitment to medicine safety.

 

“650,000 emergency department presentations and hospital admissions are related to medicines misadventure every year, at an alarming cost of $1.4 billion dollars annually,” he said.

 

“Importantly, it is considered that 50% of this harm is preventable – that is $700 million Australian dollars could be saved if we better managed medicines in Australia.”

 

 

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

 

 

PSA announces 2019 Excellence Award winners

26 July 2019

 

Three outstanding pharmacists have been honoured for their high standards of commitment and professionalism in the 2019 PSA Excellence Awards.

 

The Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacist of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award were announced at PSA’s flagship conference PSA19 in Sydney today.

 

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said he was delighted to congratulate this year’s award winners.

 

“The Excellence Awards show the impact pharmacists have throughout the various stages of their careers,” he said.

 

“What unites today’s winners is not only their commitment to the profession and innovative practice, but their dedication to improving patient outcomes.”

 

The 2019 PSA Excellence Awards winners are:

 

• Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Dr Fei Sim, WA

 

• Pharmacist of the Year – Peter Crothers, NSW

 

• Lifetime Achievement Award – Col. (Rtd) Bill Kelly, ACT

 

In accepting her award, Dr Sim spoke of her many influencers and mentors who have helped shape her career. She said not only was the award very meaningful to her, but it was also recognition that she was on the right path.

 

“I see it also as an acknowledgement of the great mentorships I have received from my mentors and the amazing team I work with every day, at Curtin University, Caring Pharmacy, PSA and the communities,” she said.

 

Mr Crothers said his award was recognition of the work of rural community pharmacists and highlighted the unique career opportunities to be gained in rural pharmacy.

 

“One of the best ways to become highly clinically competent is by combining formal learning with rural practice – especially remote rural practice – where you’ll be exposed to more patient-intimate and collaborative models of care and a wider range of clinical, logistical and other situations that you must ‘own’ and deal with,” he said.

 

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Col. (Rtd) Bill Kelly commented on the greatest change he has observed in the profession over his career.

 

“It has undoubtedly been the change to a more clinical, responsible and responsive role to the provision of health care with not only an increased emphasis on medication management through various initiatives such as medication reviews and the like but also now with pharmacy’s immunisation role and the potential to work to an enhanced scope of practice,” he said.

 

The award winners each receive a Symbion Education Grant valued at $9,000. The grants are possible thanks to Symbion’s long-standing support of the awards.

 

CEO Symbion Brett Barons said the PSA Excellence Awards provide much deserved recognition of those pharmacists who have made a substantial contribution to the profession.

 

“On behalf of everyone at Symbion, we extend our congratulations to this year’s winners and thank them for their dedication and for inspiring all sectors of the profession,” he said.

 

“As a proud sponsor for the past 15 years, we are delighted to be supporting their ongoing education and efforts to provide an exceptional level of care to the community.”

 

Videos of the award winners are available on PSA’s YouTube page.

 

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk,
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

 

Health Minister to open PSA’s national conference next week

Friday 19 July 2019

 

Federal Health Minister the Hon Greg Hunt MP will officially open the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) national conference PSA19 in Sydney on Friday 26 July.

 

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said that PSA had an excellent working relationship with Minister Hunt and the Coalition Government and was very pleased that he accepted the invitation to speak at PSA19.

 

“The Government has made many commitments to PSA, most notably declaring medicine safety a National Health Priority Area and announcing that PSA would be a signatory to the upcoming 7th Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA),” he said.

 

“We look forward to Minister Hunt speaking on these topics and more broadly on how the pharmacy profession can work with Government on improving the health outcomes of all Australians.”

 

The theme of PSA19 is Pharmacists in 2023: unlocking your opportunities. This remains PSA’s focus – advocating for expanded roles, improved recognition and fairer remuneration for pharmacists as the custodians of medicine safety.

 

Leading into the 7CPA, community pharmacy is one of the best placed settings to deliver on primary healthcare advancements and preventative health.

 

“We will be calling on the Government to clearly recognise the role that community pharmacy has in primary healthcare and now more than ever commit to investing in the key role of community pharmacy as vital primary healthcare settings,” Dr Freeman said.

 

“PSA and the pharmacy profession look forward to hearing from Minister Hunt at next week’s conference and to continuing to work with the Coalition Government on improving the health outcomes of all Australians.”

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

 

Former PSA National President John Bell honoured for his contribution to diabetes management

Embed pharmacists: the answer to addressing medicine-related harm in aged care

Thursday 18 July 2019

 

Medicine-related harm in residential aged care facilities is an alarming issue – one which could be improved through embedding pharmacists according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

 

In its submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, PSA has called for a national program that embeds pharmacists in all aged care facilities.

 

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said that residents in aged care facilities deserved to have timely and regular access to the expertise of a pharmacist if they required advice and support with their medicines and medicine management.

 

“The health of the aged care sector matters a great deal to pharmacists and many pharmacists already contribute to activities and services to improve resident safety and system changes impacting on quality and safety in aged care facilities,” he said.

 

“However older Australians, particularly aged care residents, deserve more. There must be a stronger connection between health care and aged care.”

 

PSA’s Medicine Safety: Take Care report showed that 98 per cent of residents in a residential aged care facility have at least one medicine-related problem and over half are exposed to at least one potentially inappropriate medicine. Pharmacists, with their unique expertise in medicines and medicine management, are ideally placed to identify and help resolve these issues.

 

“Pharmacists embedded in facilities can contribute to improving quality use of medicines facility-wide and reducing harm caused by overuse of medicines,” Dr Freeman said.

 

“It has been clear through evidence provided to the Royal Commission that we need to have pharmacists protecting patients from the inappropriate prescribing and use of medicines.”

 

In its submission, PSA also called for further actions to improve resident safety and health outcomes:

 

• Aged care workforce education and training – pharmacists can support the aged care workforce through education and training of staff on medicines and medicine management issues;

 

• Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs) – all residents in aged care facilities should have timely access to an RMMR conducted by a pharmacist;

 

• Quality use of medicines (QUM) service – current arrangements and funding for the delivery of QUM services are inadequate. Appropriate investment must be made to prioritise QUM activities for the clinical care of residents and to improve quality and safety within aged care facilities;

 

• Funding of Dose Administration Aids (DAA) – similar to patients in the community, residents of aged care facilities should have equitable access to subsidised DAA services when clinically warranted, or where use of a DAA is mandated by the facility.

 

Dr Freeman said the pharmacy profession was equipped and eager to contribute but pharmacists’ expertise must be recognised more broadly and their skills used across the aged care sector.

 

“Structural arrangements or funding program business rules must not hinder pharmacists from contributing their unique medication management expertise for the benefit of residents and aged care facilities,” he said.

 

“Disappointingly, pharmacists who possess unique medicines and medicine management expertise are often excluded from the delivery of healthcare services.

 

“With our submission today, we are making a commitment to all Australians, particularly those in residential aged care facilities – the pharmacist workforce is ready, willing and able to step up to improve medicine safety in our healthcare system.

 

“In aged care, the answer is simple. We call on the government to embed pharmacists in aged care facilities nationwide and remove barriers to the provision of pharmacist services.

 

“Only then can we ensure an improvement in medicine safety and optimal health outcomes for older Australians.”

 

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

Report highlights need for greater pharmacist involvement in medicine reviews

PSA ready to work with WA Government to expand the role of pharmacists

 

Wednesday 10 July 2019

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is ready to work with the Western Australian Government to increase the scope of pharmacists.

 

A recently-released Western Australian Health Department review of community pharmacy ownership includes recommendations to significantly increase the range of clinical services offered by pharmacists.

 

PSA WA Branch President Dr Fei Sim said this was a great step forward in acknowledging the vital role pharmacists play in Australia’s healthcare system, and their ability to do more to improve health outcomes.

 

“Community pharmacies are a valued and integral part of our communities’ health care,” she said.

 

“They can be found in most cities, towns and suburbs around Western Australia. Their location and accessibility, combined with the expertise and skills of pharmacists, makes them ideally suited to play a greater role in primary healthcare delivery.”

 

PSA’s two key reports Medicine Safety: Take Care and Pharmacists in 2023 advocate for empowering pharmacists to do more than the current healthcare system allows by harnessing their skills and expertise as medicine experts.

 

The Medicine Safety report revealed the enormity of medicine-related harm and its cost to our economy. The report found there were 250,000 hospital submissions annually as a result of medicine-related problems with an additional 400,000 presentations to emergency departments due to medicine misuse costing $1.4 billion annually.

 

“The evidence is clear, pharmacists have significant potential to reduce the number of medicine-related hospital admissions and adverse medicine events in Australia but are prevented from doing so due to barriers in fulfilling our scope of practice,” Dr Sim said.

 

“In its recommendations, the WA Government has taken the lead in recognising the potential of pharmacists and the need to expand their scope of practice.

 

“PSA and the pharmacy profession look forward to working with the WA Government on implementing these recommendations to allow pharmacists to improve healthcare access and outcomes, and reduce variabilities in care.”

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176

 

PSA calls for timely implementation of real-time prescription monitoring in SA

Wednesday 26 June 2019

 

The recent South Australian Government Budget announcement to implement a real-time prescription monitoring system (RTPM) is a good step forward, but the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) calls on the government to ensure it is given high priority.

 

PSA SA/NT Branch President Robyn Johns urged the SA Government to follow through on this Budget commitment to help improve the health of South Australians.

 

“Real-time prescription monitoring was included in the state’s 2018-19 Budget but as yet we haven’t seen any progress,” she said.

 

“The 2019-20 Budget commitment of $4 million dollars to implement the system is very promising. However, timely implementation is crucial.”

 

PSA’s Medicine Safety: Take Care report highlighted the severity and cost of medicine-related problems. They are responsible for 250,000 hospital admissions and 400,000 emergency department presentations in Australia each year, costing the healthcare system $1.4 billion annually. At least half of this harm is avoidable.

 

“Medicine safety is a health priority and implementation of an RTPM system in South Australia will aid clinical decision making and provide an opportunity to identify and appropriately manage patients misusing specific prescription medications. In turn, this will help address medicine-related harm and ensure optimal health outcomes for South Australians,” Ms Johns said.

 

The Budget announcement states the estimated completion date of the RTPM system implementation is June 2020. PSA stands ready to engage with the government to achieve implementation within this timeframe.

 

Although PSA supports the independent work of states and territories in implementing real-time prescription monitoring systems, PSA believes this will continue to pose significant risks around interoperability across jurisdictions.

 

PSA has long advocated for the immediate implementation of a national recording and reporting system which would enable real-time monitoring to address the increase in harm resulting from inappropriate use of certain prescription medicines.

 

In 2018 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to progress a national solution where each jurisdiction develops their own system to connect with a Commonwealth system.

 

Some progress has been made with all states and territories, except NSW and WA, either implementing or setting strategies to introduce an RTPM system. Queensland is the most recent state to do so, introducing legislation into parliament in May that will enable the state’s health department to implement a mandatory RTPM system.

 

One of the key actions in PSA’s Pharmacists in 2023 report is to embrace digital transformation to improve the quality use of medicines; support the delivery of safe, effective, and efficient healthcare; and facilitate collaborative models of care.

 

“Technological improvement in pharmacist care through systems such as RTPM allows us to make full use of pharmacists’ skills and improve health outcomes.

 

“We commend the SA Government for its commitment to implementing an RTPM system, but will continue to advocate for a nationally-consistent system to enable pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to work together to protect the entire Australian population from medicine-related harm,” Ms Johns said.

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176