Vale Judy Liauw : 16/07/2010 :

Tasmanian pharmacist Judy Liauw passed away in Melbourne yesterday after a brief illness.

Judy was Tasmanian Branch President of the Pharmacy Guild and a Guild National Councillor - she was made life member of the Guild last week, one of only three women so honoured in the 80 year history of the Guild. She served on the Pharmacy Board of Tasmania until its disbandment on June 30 and is the immediate past Chairperson of the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy. She was Chair of the Guild's Women and Young Pharmacists' Committee and was a member of the external reference group of the Federal Government's National Primary Health Care Strategy. 

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FDA leaves Avandia alone : 16/07/2010 :

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday stopped short of pulling GSK's Avandia off the US market but many members of the FDA committee looking at the drug sought revisions or extra warnings on its labelling.

GSK Australia issues a statement in response yesterday, saying through its Medical Director, Dr Camilla Chong, “GSK Australia continually works with the TGA ensuring that all relevant information on Avandia is shared in a transparent and timely manner. It is our belief that the current label in Australia helps doctors to use the medicine in appropriate diabetes patients.”

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Mobile free zone : 16/07/2010 :

Thanks to Peter Ryan for sending this along.

"I recently saw a sign with similar wording to this one in a coffee shop. So when I got to work I asked our pre-reg to make  our own. She downloaded a  “clip art” type image of a phone and what you see is the final result.

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Many pharmacists *would* work for Colesworth : 16/07/2010 :

In light of recent discussions on AusPharmList about the relative merits of working in a pharmacy owned by a large grocery chain, this week's poll put the question "Would you work in a Colesworth pharmacy?"

58% of respondents said that, well, yes they would, if the conditions were right. 34% of respondents gave an absolute 'no way' with another 9% wanting to see the fine print.

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Wash your hands : 16/07/2010 :

New research released yesterday reinforces the need to improve hygiene practices to “Break the Chain of Infection”, as the world repares for a potential third wave of H1N1 Influenza (swine flu). One highly effective preventive measure is frequent hand washing.

The Influenza A (H1N1) Survival study, carried out by the Hygiene Council, was designed to determine the survival of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus on various household surfaces. A known quantity of live Influenza A (H1N1) was deposited on four common household surfaces (stainless steel, plastic, cloth and wood).

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AHPRA snowed under : 16/07/2010 :

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) put out a statement yesterday acknowledging that it has been experiencing teething troubles getting the new national registration systems bedded down.

AHPRA is the 'parent' agency for all of the new national Health Professioanl Regulataory agencies, including the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

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Next Generation Webstercare Dispensing Blister : 14/07/2010 :

The Concertina Blister looks different. It feels different. It is designed using the latest technology to make it easier to press tablets out of the pack.

Like most good ideas, it is simple. When you press down on the Concertina Blister bubble, you expel air into the adjacent blister bubble through two fine air tracks. The air tracks act like valves that reduce the air pressure inside the bubble. So you can then press tablets through the foil backing with half the usual effort.

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Direct referral of HMRs to accredited pharmacists? : 14/07/2010 :

The Pharmacy Guild yesterday confirmed ongoing funding of Home Medicines Reviews (HMR) and Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMR) under the 5th Community Pharmacy Agreement (5CPA).

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Back to the future : 14/07/2010 :

Here's a nice piece we stumbled across recently about Colin Trevena's Boorowa pharmacy in 1979.

Colin was one of the first pharmacists to promote (and practise) the idea that pharmacists should keep a patient medication record.

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PHARMeFOOTY weekly wrap : 14/07/2010 :

AFL Round 15 went well for tipsters with 18 selecting all 8 winners. Denise Kelly from Collinsville Pharmacy was closest to the margin and is the weekly winner, congratulations Denise. In 2nd place was Michael Tolar of Tolar's Pharmacy with Bruce Gould from Bendigo Hospital taking 3rd spot.

NRL Round 18 was a challenge with only 1 tipster selecting all 6 winners. Heather Todd from Trevor Craig Pharmacy had the perfect round and is this weeks worthy winner, well done Heather. In 2nd place was Craig Trimmer with Kelly Bond from Mapp & Hession taking 3rd spot.

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Non-Prescription Practice Improvement Training Kits : 13/07/2010 :

From 12 July 2010, pharmacists across Australia will begin receiving new Practice Improvement Training Program (PITP) kits which aim to help pharmacists train their staff in the supply of non-prescription medicines and help ensure pharmacies achieve quality use of medicines and optimal health outcomes.

Presentation of the PITP training to pharmacy assistants is recognised under PSA's Continuing Professional Development and Practice Improvement Program for four points an hour of presentation (for the first presentation of all six modules only if multiple presentations are to be held).

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Poll: would you be a Colesworth pharmacist? : 13/07/2010 :

Once again there has been interesting conjecture on AusPharmList as to the community pharmacy experience in Australia if supermarkets were granted permission to have in-store pharmacies.

If a pharmacy were to open in a Colesworth supermarket, would you in principle, as a pharmacist, accept work in that pharmacy?

Please let us know by voting in today's AusPharm poll.

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RGH E-Bulletin: SSRIs and abnormal bleeding : 12/07/2010 :

The topic of this week's RGH E‑Bulletin is SSRIs and abnormal bleeding.

"The first published report of abnormally increased bleeding time associated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) treatment was published in 1990, noting that these antidepressants also have the pharmacological property of diminishing granular storage of serotonin in platelets, suggesting a basis for a drug-induced defect in haemostasis."

Click here to read the bulletin in full. The E‑Bulletins are archived on the AusPharmList website here.

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AHPRA issues communiqué on PI insurance : 12/07/2010 :

The Pharmacy Board of Australia's parent body, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has issued a communiqué regarding professional indemnity insurance arrangements to remind all registered health practitioners of the requirement to maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurance (PII) cover consistent with their National Board's approved registration standard.

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Follow PSA Staff Walkathon Progress in Facebook : 12/07/2010 :

PSA staff across the country are taking part in a health initiative to see how many times they can walk the distance around Australia before the annual Pharmacy Australia Congress in October.

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How The Slim Stay Slim - US Survey Results : 12/07/2010 :

A major survey by CHOICE'S US sister publication, Consumer Reports, has challenged some myths about how slim people stay that way.

Are they blessed with the right genes or does it come down to plain hard work?

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Rx Vending Machine Trial in UK : 11/07/2010 :

Five hospital locations in the UK will trial patients' safe use of 24 hour vending machines to dispense prescriptions.

The Canadian machines require the user to insert a prescription and then speak via live video link with a pharmacist who checks the prescription and payments.

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Industry responds to advice on pregnancy supplements : 11/07/2010 :

In response to a recent newspaper article, ASMI, the Australian Self-Medication Industry, says that women should think carefully about their nutritional status and the need for nutritional supplements to rectify any deficiencies during pregnancy. In the original article, Dr Maria Makrides (Professor, Human Nutrition, University of Adelaide), said there is little scientific evidence to support taking iron or iodine supplements during or ahead of pregnancy.

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ASMI appoints new Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Director : 09/07/2010 :

The Australian Self-Medication Industry (ASMI) has announced the appointment of Steven Scarff as the new Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Director of ASMI.

Steven is a solicitor and a scientist with a long history in regulatory affairs in the pharmaceutical industry. He takes over the role from Dr Deon Schoombie, who will move to the Executive Director’s position in August on the retirement of Juliet Seifert.

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PHARMeFOOTY weekly wrap : 09/07/2010 :

NRL Round 17 saw 3 tippers select all the 6 winners including the Qld State of Origin win. Sue Ryan of Torrens Rd Gordon was closest to the margin and is the weekly winner, congratulations Sue. In 2nd place was Mirella Vitucci from Priceline Pharmacy Griffith with Bruce Moffat of Totem Pharmacy in 3rd spot.

NRL Round 17 saw 3 tippers select all the 6 winners including the Qld State of Origin win. Sue Ryan of Torrens Rd Gordon was closest to the margin and is the weekly winner, congratulations Sue. In 2nd place was Mirella Vitucci from Priceline Pharmacy Griffith with Bruce Moffat of Totem Pharmacy in 3rd spot.

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