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PSA media releases June 2010

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	Peter Waterman articles by this author...
Keeping you up to date with PSA activities.

Information made available from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia by Peter Waterman. 
Peter Waterman is the Public Affairs Manager for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. 
He may be contacted by telephone (02)62834782, or on mobile phone 0419 260 827.

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30 June 2010

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE STANDARDS UPDATED

The new revised version of the Professional Practice Standards is now available following an update to bring them into line with current practice. 

The review, a collaborative process involving pharmacy organisations, pharmacists and consumer representatives, has ensured the Professional Practice Standards (version 4) is the most comprehensive to date and has ensured the standards reflect, and are appropriate to, today’s pharmacy environment.

The Professional Practice Standards is an educative resource for the self-regulation of pharmacists and the pharmacy profession which encourage pharmacists to be involved in a range of pharmacy services and to promote recognition of professional service delivery.

They also help consumers recognise and build confidence in the pharmacy profession by ensuring professional activities are performed appropriately and effectively.

Key differences with version 4 of the Professional Practice Standards include:

• The broadening of the S2/S3 standard to include all non-prescription medicines and devices;
• An updated table format for easier reading and use;

• The merging of the previous Standards 1 and 2 to create a single overarching standard relevant to all areas of pharmacy practice; and

• A broadening of some standards to cover key functional areas rather than specific pharmacy services.

For the individual pharmacist, the Professional Practice Standards version 4 provides a clear framework that defines and describes the qualities required to deliver a range of pharmacy services effectively and to an acceptable level.

Pharmacists are encouraged to self-assess their professional practice annually using the Professional Practice Standards to identify areas where improvement may be required and to reassess their performance after changes have been implemented.

The Professional Practice Standards version 4 will be sent to all PSA members and all community pharmacies in Australia in early July 2010. The Professional Practice Standards version 4 can be viewed on the PSA website www.psa.org.au from 30 July 2010.

30 June 2010

5CPA - DRIVING THE BEST OUTCOME

Having been negotiated in a tough financial environment and a climate of health-care reform the 5CPA delivers a mixed result for community pharmacy, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia says. 

On the debit side is a $1 billion clawback by the Government from dispensing-fee revenue, compounded by the estimated $3 billion loss from ongoing PBS reform and drop in generic pricing, on top of which is the revenue loss of $1.9 billion from the Medicines Australia/Government deal. 

On the positive side, after a strong rearguard action from PSA we have increased funding for professional programs amounting to some $650 million, as well as total reimbursement for all e-prescriptions.

National President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said despite the increase in professional service funding, PSA was disappointed funding had been terminated for a number of successful and unfinished programs from CPA4, including DMAS, PAMS and the Change Management Support program. The loss of HMR facilitators was also a big blow.

“On the bright side, PSA was pleased to see its lobbying efforts rewarded with restoration of adequate funding for our cornerstone services of HMRs and RMMRs along with the introduction of the important new services of clinical interventions and medicine use reviews - demonstrating recognition of the pharmacists’ expertise and potential contribution to better medication outcomes. 

“However, it is important to emphasise that the only parties to this Agreement are the Government and the Pharmacy Guild - with the Guild successfully looking after the specific interests and priorities of its pharmacy owner membership.

“Such interests and priorities do not always coincide with those of the wider pharmacist population.”

Mr Plunkett said PSA represented the professional interests of all pharmacists and therefore had the development and implementation of professional services as its core business. Its submissions to Government were naturally focussed in this direction.

“The difficulty that PSA now faces as a result of its absence as a signatory to the Agreement is that it has no legislated role in the eventual roll-out of the agreed services and must therefore depend on the goodwill and common sense of the two parties to utilise the expertise and commitment within PSA to bring these programs into the marketplace in a sustainable form,” he said. 

“While the Agreement states: The parties understand that the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, whilst not a signatory to this Agreement, will be an active participant in those areas of this Agreement that are related to professional practice, there is no clear indication or direction as to how this will be enacted.

“Given PSA represents more than 13,000 members across the spectrum of the pharmacy profession, nearly all of which work in community pharmacy, compared with less than 4000 within the Guild membership, it is time that this anomaly was changed.

“I would therefore encourage all pharmacists to lobby not only the Guild but also the Government through their local member to allow PSA full carriage of professional programs in the CPA whilst the Guild concentrates on the important ownership, supply and remuneration issues. 

 “With a Federal election to take place this year, now is the time for pharmacists in all sectors to begin talking to stakeholders and their local politicians to get this situation changed for the good of the profession and the wellbeing of all Australians

29 June 2010

PAC10 PRE-CONGRESS SESSIONS HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Pharmacists from all sectors of the profession are being catered for in the Pharmacy Australia Congress this year, with the wide-ranging program offering topics to give delegates a business and professional edge. 

PAC10 is using as its base the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s)  principle that the appropriate, efficient and cost-effective use of resources should be the foundation of a pharmacist’s work, regardless of which sector of the profession the pharmacist is engaged in.

WHO has encapsulated this approach in its Seven Star Pharmacy principles which form the basis of PAC10’s over-arching theme of Star Performance - the future for pharmacy.

PAC10 also features exceptional pre-congress sessions which include the Military Pharmacists Special Interest Group meeting, a Pharmacy in Health forum, Pharmacy Practice in Government meeting and a workshop on Mandatory CPD - Make It Work For You.

In addition, one of the highlights of the pre-congress sessions is the all-day AACP Consultant Pharmacists’ Forum, a feature of previous congresses.

National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Warwick Plunkett, said the pre-congress sessions were tailored to suit many of the diverse interests of the profession and were an ideal lead-in to the congress proper.

“The topics covered are designed to complement the Star Performance - the future for pharmacy theme while providing pharmacists with essential and topical information,” Mr Plunkett said.

“Attendance at the pre-congress sessions gives delegates the full PAC10 experience.”

Being held in Melbourne from 28-31 October this year, delegates to PAC10 can also earn Continuing Professional Development points which are mandatory under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for health professionals which comes into effect on 1 July.

To register or for more details visit www.pac10.com.au. 

24 June 2010
DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR PAC10 POSTER SUBMISSIONS

The deadline for submissions of poster abstracts for presentation at PAC10 this year will expire on July 29. 

This is the second year PAC has featured posters as part of the pre-eminent pharmacy event and follows the overwhelming success of the poster presentations last year.

National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Warwick Plunkett, said posters are an important method of communicating pharmacy practice and research to a wide audience of industry and professional peers.

“Being able to present at an event of the stature of PAC gives researchers and practitioners from the fields of pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical science an opportunity to have their ideas and concepts viewed and discussed by a wide audience they may not otherwise be able to reach,” Mr Plunkett said. 

“At PAC10 we are particularly interested in receiving submissions from practitioners who wish to share their own work without necessarily having undertaken structured research.”

All abstracts must conform to the following requirements:

 

a short title (up to 20 words)

the authors’ names (*asterisk the presenting author)

structured with the headings:

• Background
• Methods (or discussion in case of a practice pearl)
• Results
• Conclusions

maximum length 250 words

presenting author’s contact details including institution, address, email and telephone.

 

Special poster presentations sessions have been set aside during the middle of the day so delegates can attend without impacting on their other Congress attendances.

PAC10 is being held in Melbourne from October 28-31 and will feature a range of pharmacy and business specialist speakers, workshops, social functions (including the Welcome Reception being held on Thursday October 28), a trade exhibition and a range of other activities ensuring there is something to interest and educate all delegates. 

To submit your abstract online go to www.pac10.com.au. Congress registrations and full details of PAC10 (including program) are also available atwww.pac10.com.au

24 June 2010
RECOGNISING ROLE OF PHARMACISTS AS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

The role of pharmacists as health professionals is one that is sometimes overlooked by consumers who therefore may not take full advantage of the extensive range of services offered by the pharmacist.

Chair of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Early Career Pharmacist group, Justin Lee, said that all too often consumers pick up their medications without being aware of the additional professional services offered by pharmacists.

“Pharmacists are integral members of the health-care team and their expertise and experience is invaluable for consumers,” Mr Lee said.

“With the growing emphasis on primary and preventive health, consumers should be more aware that pharmacists play a pivotal role in helping to achieve the best possible health outcomes for all Australians through advice, counselling and professional services – as well as dispensing medications. 

“Services to be found in your pharmacy include smoking cessation and  weight management programs, medication reviews, clinical interventions, methadone programs, asthma management advice and services,  and diabetes services – to name but a few.

“In addition to the value of the professional services offered is the fact that pharmacists are the most accessible of any health professionals in Australia.

“You usually don’t have to have an appointment and can walk in and receive the best possible health advice available from a highly trained health professional.”

National President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the PSA’s “Future of Pharmacy Project” had recently released an Issues Paper on The Future of Pharmacy in Australia which invited input from pharmacists and other stakeholders to help plan the future direction of the profession.

“The question of raising the profile of pharmacists as health professionals is one area that we would welcome comment and suggestions on as part of the process that has been initiated by the Issues Paper,” Mr Plunkett said.

“The Issues Paper relies on the profession and those associated with it to make their views known and the perception of pharmacists and their role as health professionals is a good example of the input we are canvassing.”

15 June 2010
EARLY CAREER PHARMACISTS WORKING GROUP ELECTS NEW CHAIR

Queensland pharmacist Justin Lee has been appointed chair of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Early Career Pharmacists Working Group. 

The group, entering its second year, was established to give a greater focus on pharmacists in the early stages of their career and to address some of the particular issues facing early career pharmacists. 

Mr Lee, a Medication Safety Officer with Medication Services Queensland, Queensland Health, said he aimed to build on the work of the group’s first year under the chair of Tasmanian pharmacist David Peachey.

 “We want to advance the work done during the first year of the group’s operation and ensure that early career pharmacists have an influential say in their profession and its future,” Mr Lee said.

“The establishment of the group last year was an important development and recognition of the important role early career pharmacists play in the profession as a whole.

“Under the leadership of David Peachey the group has built a solid foundation from which to grow.

”On behalf of all members of the group I want to thank David for the great work he has done in getting the group to the position of strength where it is now.”

Mr Lee said that among the issues to be addressed by the group were concerns over the workforce and the number of pharmacy graduates, particularly evident in an early career pharmacists’ survey recently commissioned by the group.

“The workforce issue is one affecting the profession as a whole and early career pharmacists in particular feel especially vulnerable,” Mr Lee said.

“Another area which we will be paying particular attention to is career progression and how early career pharmacists can better advance their careers in the current environment.”

A comprehensive report on the strategic direction of the group and survey results will be published in the August edition of the Australian Pharmacist journal.

8 June 2010
PSA HELPS ALL PHARMACISTS MEET NRAS REQUIREMENTS

From July 1, the new National Registration and Accreditation Scheme comes into effect which will have a marked impact on the way pharmacists are required to record their continuing professional development activities.

Under the NRAS, all registered pharmacists (except those registered in a non-practising category) will be required to complete continuing professional development (CPD) which is relevant to their scope of practice. 

The initial requirement for CPD credits will be 20 credits for the period ending 30 September 2011, increasing 12-monthly to 40 credits for the period ending 30 September 2013.

As the Pharmacy Board will audit compliance with this requirement annually, it is essential that all pharmacists record their CPD activities and to assist in this, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is opening its CPD points recording system to pharmacists who are not yet members of PSA. This tool is available via the PSA website, www.psa.org.au

Members and non-members attending PSA functions will have their points recorded automatically.

In addition, pharmacists will be able to log on to the PSA website and manually record their CPD activities.

National President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the PSA board had decided to open the PSA facilities to non-members because of the importance of accurate recording of CDP points under the NRAS.

“NRAS will be robust in its auditing of these points and all pharmacists must comply with the CPD requirements as a condition of their registration,” Mr Plunkett said.

“PSA feels it is in the best interests of the profession as a whole to enable all pharmacists, whether members or non-members, to utilise the specially designed PSA tool for this purpose.”

Mr Plunkett said PSA members had access to the wide range of other unique member benefits that help give PSA members a professional and business edge over their peers.

“The NRAS marks an exciting new era for pharmacy and PSA is proud to be able to help ensure that its implementation is effective and beneficial to the whole pharmacy profession.”  

8 June 2010
REVIEW OF PSA CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has commenced a review of its highly regarded Code of Professional Conduct. 

A Code Review Working Group, chaired by Dr Shane Jackson, and a panel of expert advisors have been established which will initially be assessing gaps in the current code arising, for example, from changes in legislation, changes to the health-care landscape, or the evolution of professional pharmacy practice.

The working group also will be looking at codes of overseas pharmacy organisations as well as codes of other health professions in Australia to help inform its work.

At its first meeting the working group said it believed the way forward was to revamp the current code into a simpler ‘code of ethics’.

This ‘code of ethics’ would articulate the core values of the profession and be supported by additional guidance documents. 

The working group will also be considering how a revised code can be implemented for the entire pharmacy profession.

National President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the revision was timely given the changing environment of the profession.

“The review of PSA’s code is important in the context of its inclusion in the health professions’ code which will apply to pharmacists under the national registration scheme,” Mr Plunkett said.

“The code is also one of the requirements that approved pharmacists must comply with in dispensing prescriptions for pharmaceutical benefits.

“The review of the code will complement the work currently being led by PSA through the review of the Professional Practice Standards as well as the Competency Standards.

“Further down the track there will be an open consultation period during which we will be inviting comments from interested parties within and outside of the profession.”

The current Code can be accessed at: www.psa.org.au/site.php?id=628

Further information will be provided at a later date regarding the stakeholder consultation.

7 June 2010
RURAL CONCESSIONS MUST APPLY TO ALL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Advice that rural incentive payments to rural doctors will not be subject to 46.5 per cent PAYE withholding tax is a welcome decision which should not be limited to doctors, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia says.

National President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the decision was clear recognition of the importance of incentives in attracting health professionals to rural areas.

“However, we would urge the Government to extend the scope of its incentive programs and tax concessions to other health professionals like pharmacists who are also critical to the health needs of rural populations.

“The Rural Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance is a very positive program but more needs to be done to build the rural pharmacy workforce.

“The decision to exempt rural doctors from the withholding tax provisions on incentive payments is a good one, but doctors are only one part of the health-care teams which service the needs of rural areas.

“The Government’s health reform agenda puts heavy emphasis on primary health care and preventive health and the teams who provide these services to work closely together to deliver better health outcomes for all Australians.

“It creates an imbalance if one member of this team, the doctor, gets tax concessions while other members of the team may not receive any such benefit.

“In fact such a situation threatens the whole structure of rural health teams and must be addressed.”

Mr Plunkett said there were already regulatory obstacles to attracting and keeping pharmacists in rural areas and these would only be compounded if one sector of the health profession received preferential treatment over other areas.

“Health professionals in rural areas work closely with one another in often difficult conditions and their commitment to their professions is second to none,” Mr Plunkett said.

“To attract health professionals to these regions where they are greatly needed requires an even-handed approach to incentives and this is not what we are witnessing at the moment.

“It is a situation which needs to be addressed with some urgency to ensure the health wellbeing of people living in non-metropolitan areas.  It is time the Government matched its rhetoric on this issue with action.”

7 June 2010
PAC10 LOOKS AT THE IMPERATIVE FOR CHANGE IN PHARMACY PRACTICE

Pharmacy practice must shift its primary mission from supplying medicines to helping people make the best use of medicines in order to meet the needs of the public and ensure its survival as a health profession. 

This is the view of leading US pharmacy expert Professor William A. Zellmer who will present on the topic of The Imperative for Change in Pharmacy Practice at PAC10 in October this year.

Professor Zellmer said the shift that pharmacists must make required a change in the pharmacist’s self-concept, which in turn entails the development of a strong moral compass and a deep commitment to professionalism. 

“Pharmacists and pharmacy educators should discuss candidly the meaning of professionalism and the challenges of pursuing it, acknowledging the tensions between professional practice and business interests,” he said.

PAC10 will be held this year at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 28-31 with the theme of ‘Star Performance - the future for pharmacy’ which is based on the World Health Organisation's Seven Star Pharmacist principle.

Professor Zellmer is President of Pharmacy Foresight and Clinical Professor, Affiliate Faculty, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States. He is also contributing editor to the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.

His particular areas of interest include projects designed to foster professionalism among pharmacists, which he believes will be needed for pharmacy to truly transform itself into a patient-care health profession.

He has also been involved in the analysis of issues of strategic importance to hospital and health-system pharmacy; written articles and given speeches about these issues with special emphasis on the role of pharmacists in helping people make the best use of medicines.

His work with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has included strategic planning, policy development and advocacy, communications, and international affairs. He has led association activities designed to advance hospital and health-system pharmacy practice, foster positive relationships with scientific and governmental agencies, and promote public understanding of the role of the hospital and health-system pharmacist. 

To register for PAC10 or for more details, please visit www.pac10.com.au

3 June 2010
ROADMAP CONTRIBUTES TO DEBATE ON PHARMACY’S FUTURE

The release of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s document, The Roadmap - The Strategic Direction for Community Pharmacy, has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA). 

PSA National President Warwick Plunkett said the Roadmap presents the Guild’s vision which had been understandably developed with a view to the business aspects of the profession.

“The focus of the Roadmap is clearly on the business side of community pharmacy and this is in keeping with the Guild’s membership base of community pharmacy owners,” Mr Plunkett said.

“This focus is also reflected in the professional programs which the Roadmap correctly addresses as playing a central role in pharmacy’s future which PSA had already identified in its Issues Paper on the Future of Australian Pharmacy.”

From the timing of the Guild's Roadmap after the PSA launched its Issues Paper on the Future of Australian Pharmacy, it would suggest that the Guild is anxious to ensure it has a strong voice in the forthcoming debate over the future direction of the profession and this is welcomed. 

 “The PSA’s Issues Paper has been developed with a view to generating wide-ranging debate on the future of the profession and provides a whole-of-profession approach and debate which unfortunately the Roadmap will not do,” Mr Plunkett said.

“It invites consultation from across the broad range of stakeholders in the profession because PSA sees significant change ahead in the flexibility and structure of the remuneration model for pharmacy which will affect everyone involved in the profession, regardless of which sector they are involved in.

“Professional services which are provided in return for sustainable fees are one of the keys to the future viability of pharmacy in Australia. The input of all stakeholders to the PSA Issues Paper is vital to ensure that the future direction we take is the right one for pharmacy and for the needs of Australian health consumers. The Guild’s Roadmap will help inform that consultation process and we look forward to further input from the Guild as the principal representative of pharmacy owners.”

 

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