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).

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to be a "premium" subscriber to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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).

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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?

You need to be a "premium" subscriber to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

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.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Galvus on PBS from August 1 : 09/07/2010 :

A new dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor will be available on the PBS as a streamlined authority item  from August 1 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 

Galvus is indicated for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 in patients 18 years and older. It should be used in conjunction with metformin, a sulfonylurea or pioglitazone to improve glycaemic control when a single agent, combined with diet and exercise, fails.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Young pharmacist receives SHPA international preceptorship in rural and remote pharmacy services : 09/07/2010 :

Catherine Hughes is the recipient of the SHPA HOSPIRA DBL Young Pharmacist Award and she will undertake an international preceptorship in Canada. 

A former President of the National Australian Pharmacy Student’s Association, Catherine graduated in 2006 and was a pharmacy intern at the Repatriation General Hospital, Adelaide.  Catherine is the current Chair of the SHPA SA&NT Branch and after working in several other Adelaide hospitals she took on a pharmacy management role at Mount Gambier Hospital, South Australia (SA).

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Poll: pharmacists better superannuation planners than many : 09/07/2010 :

In the context of the recently released Cooper Review into Superannuation this week's AusPharm poll asked pharmacists how well they were preparing for their retirement.

In a result that surprised us somewhat, more pharmacists than not told us they were indeed on top of their superannuation planning / funding. Self employed pharmacists in particular (3.4:1) say they're happy with where they are. The ratio for employees was 1.4:1, and for pharmacists who are both self employed and employees 1.33:1. Only a few people had no idea where they stood or held the view that they were too young for this to matter anyway.

The result of our poll suggests that pharmacists do seem, on the whole, to be better prepared than the community at large, who are thought to be hugely under-funding their superannuation.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

MIMS Monthly Medicine Update : 08/07/2010 :

The MIMS July 2010 Monthly Medicine Update is now available. Click the link to read it now.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Health Reform Implementation Guide released : 08/07/2010 :

The Commonwealth Government yesterday released the implementation plan - A National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s Future – Delivering the Reforms which provides details of health reform implementation activities over coming months and years, including timelines and major milestones to implement the  health reform agenda agreed by COAG in April 2010.

A Health Reform Overview website provides details of reforms planned for the health workforce, including GPs, and for hospitals.

It's all here: http://www.yourhealth.gov.au

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

AACP Forum a highlight of PAC10 : 08/07/2010 :

A highlight of the annual Pharmacy Australia Congress every year is the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy Accredited Pharmacists’ (AACP) Forum which attracts accredited and other interested pharmacists from across Australia for a day of educational and informative sessions.

At PAC10 this year, the AACP Accredited Pharmacists’ Forum is titled Clinical and Practical Skills for MMRs, Building your Portfolio. It will be held on Thursday 28 October from 9.00am – 5.00pm and the day’s program includes a wide range of speakers with a mix of clinical presentations, therapeutic updates, clinical controversies and practice pointers.

You need to log in to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Pharmacists remain second most trusted profession : 07/07/2010 :

In the annual Roy Morgan Image of Professions survey pharmacists were the second highest out of 30 professions ranked according to perceived honesty and ethical standards.

89% (unchanged in a year) of Australians aged 14 and over rate Nurses as the most ethical and honest profession — the 16th year in a row since Nurses were first included on the survey in 1994. Pharmacists (85%, up 1%), Doctors (79%, down 3%) and School teachers (73%, down 3%) were the next highest ranked.

You need to be a "premium" subscriber to read the rest of this article. Click here for details

Click here to go to the old "Industry News" page (pre 01/09/2006).