US pharmacist jailed over dispensing error : 17/09/2009 :

Earlier this year we read about UK pharmacist Elizabeth Lee, who was sentenced to 3 months jail (suspended) for making a dispensing error.

Now we read about Ohio pharmacist Eric Cropp (shown at right) who has just been sentenced to 6 months in prison, 6 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, 3 years of probation, 400 hours of community service, a $5,000 fine, and payment of court costs, for his role in a fatal medication error.

Mr Cropp had been found guilty of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter after making an error that  led to the death of a child.

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Medicines Australia CEO calls it a day : 17/09/2009 :

Medicines Australia chief executive Ian Chalmers, pictured at right, has tendered his resignation, effective 30 September 2009, completing a three-year term representing the organisation.

The Chairman of Medicines Australia Will Delaat paid tribute to Mr Chalmers’ achievements as chief executive. “Ian has made a very significant contribution to the industry, championing our members’ interests with conviction and passion. On the industry’s behalf, he has navigated an exceptionally challenging policy and economic environment with skill and agility, particularly with regard to bedding down the most extensive reform of the PBS in its 60-year history," Mr Delaat said.

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NPS needs a hand : 17/09/2009 :

The National Prescribing Service (NPS) in partnership with the Divisions of General Practice has recently completed a therapeutic program which explored the evidence for the symptomatic treatment of dementia titled “Treating the symptoms of dementia“.

In the past NPS has collected information which assesses the value of programs to pharmacists by using paper-based surveys. For the first time, NPS is collecting this valuable follow-up information from pharmacists electronically.

NPS would greatly appreciate pharmacists' assistance in completing a 5 minute survey to assist them to evaluate the program and ensure it has been of value to pharmacists. To complete the survey please click on the link below before Friday 16th October 2009:

Click here.

All responses are confidential and will be used for evaluation purposes only. All data are received as pooled estimates for each question thus ensuring the privacy of all respondents.

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Yet another poll on cod*ine containing OTCs..... : 16/09/2009 :

In a post to AusPharmList today in response to Mike Page's thought provoking article on ibuprofen/codeine OTCs  Martine Light quotes the AMH:

There is no evidence that combination analgesics, containing lower doses of codeine with paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen have any benefits over these non-opioids alone.

Is this the way we practise? Please let us know what you do in today's AusPharm poll below. (Note the exclusion of Panadeine Extra from the poll question. ie we're taking aout products that have 12.8mg or less of codeine phos. per tablet).

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AusPharm CE: Menopause : 16/09/2009 :

The latest AusPharm CE topic is Menopause - it's been put together for us by Australian pharmacist, Debbie Rigby.

"Up to 80% of perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience some menopause symptoms, hot flushes being the most common. Whilst oestrogen remains the most effective treatment, concerns around the adverse effects of hormone replacement therapy have lead to increased interest in other therapies for improving menopausal symptoms."

Click here to do this Continuing Education activity or, if you prefer, take a look at our other CE activities here .

AusPharm gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the sponsors of our CE program, MIMS.

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Know a good webmaster? : 16/09/2009 :

After many years good service AusPharm's webmaster is moving on to greener pastures.

In looking to replace him, rather than go to the Yellow Pages, we thought we'd ask for advice from the people whose opinions we value most, yours!

If you think you know the (wo)man for us, please drop us a line.

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PHARMeFOOTY 2009 winners announced : 16/09/2009 :

The 2009 AFL and NRL preliminary seasons are now over and the year's PHARMeFOOTY winners have been finally determined.

Nerida Croker of Rose Bay North Pharmacy won the 2009 AFL PHARMeFOOTY Tipping contest and Matthew Kobryn of Blooms The Chemist took out the 2009 NRL competition.

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Big spend on osteoporosis drugs : 16/09/2009 :

A report released last week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reveals that the amount spent on prescribed pharmaceuticals for preventing and managing osteoporosis nearly tripled (in current prices) from $75.5 million in 2000-01 to $215 million in 2004-05. This was almost three-quarters of the total expenditure for the prevention and management of osteoporosis.

The report Health expenditure for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions 2004-05 also found that, for rheumatoid arthritis, prescription pharmaceuticals accounted for over half ($92 million) of the annual expenditure.

According to the report, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions were the fourth largest contributor to direct health expenditure in 2004-05, amounting to $4 billion or more than 7% of total allocated health expenditure.

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How did Patricia beat thrush? : 15/09/2009 :

"Fully recovered from her hostage ordeal, Patricia revisits her experience and talks to MTV about how the T.W.A.T Team helped her look to the future… Four weeks ago, Patricia was taken hostage by Thrush, but with Judy and her T.W.A.T Team (Thrush Weapons and Tactics) on hand to negotiate her release, it all feels like a distant memory now."

This ad for Canesoral is very clever. Have a look at it here.

(Declaration - no, they're not a sponsor!)

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The times, they are a changin' : 15/09/2009 :

Most pharmacists would agree that the pharmacy industry is in a time of rapid change. 

Two drivers of this change are professional services and the use of technology in daily practice.  For many pharmacists however, implementing change can be challenging and often frustrating.  On the one hand pharmacy wishes to evolve its patient care offering and on the other pharmacy needs to continue to provide efficient dispensing services.  What is needed is a way to use the current, efficient dispensing services to drive the evolution of patient care services. 

Enter Mirixa Australia™ programs – professional services underpinned by technology - custom designed for Australian pharmacy.  Let's take a moment to see ho how it all works. 

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Pharmacy Cricket Scholarships for 2009 -2010 : 15/09/2009 :

Once again in 2009 Pharmacy Cricket is offering two Pharmacy Cricket scholarships, each valued at $2500. They are available to 3rd or 4th year pharmacy students.

There is no requirement for applicants to play, watch, listen or even *like* cricket. You can download a copy of the scholarship application criteria here or you can request a copy from Pharmacy Cricket President Greg Hodgson by email: hodgsong@bigpond.com.

The 2010 Pharmacy Cricket Carnival will be held in Perth WA. Watch this space for details

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First GP Super Clinic opens : 15/09/2009 :

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon and Member for Ballarat Catherine King yesterday officially opened Australia’s first fully operational GP Super Clinic in Ballan, Victoria. The Rudd Government provided $1.4 million towards the clinic with the local community contributing the remaining $900,000.

The clinic will accommodate privately practicing GPs, practice nurses, visiting specialists, and a range of allied health services such as physiotherapy, dietetics and nutrition, podiatry, mental health services (including after hours psychology), pathology and chronic disease management services, with a particular focus on heart disease (including post acute care).

In particularly good news for the community, the clinic will also offer dental services for the first time in Ballan.

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Amendments to the Pharmacy Relocation Rules : 14/09/2009 :

Here is an update from from our friends at Cropper Parkhill Solicitors on some changes made to the Pharmacy Location Rules earlier in 2009.

Pharmacists may not be aware of a number of amendments made to the Pharmacy Location Rules which came into effect in respect of applications made after 17 March 2009.

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Patient care improves when pharmacists, nurses take on some GP roles : 14/09/2009 :

A systematic review published on Friday in Australia and New Zealand Health Policy found that patient outcomes were improved when pharmacists or nurses are more closely involved in co-ordinating the care of older people with chronic disease.

The review included 46 studies that looked at the planning and delivery of continuous care in the community (not aged care facilities) by nurses or pharmacists. The authors concluded that 'nurses or pharmacists can provide ongoing care or health promotion for older people - many of whom have chronic conditions - as effective, or more effective, than that provided by a GP.

You can read the review here.

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Do you have income protection insurance? : 14/09/2009 :

Many 'listers, particularly those in Victoria will know Lyn Phelan. Lyn is a pharmacist who's worked in community pharmacy and, in more recent times for the Victorian Pharmacy Board. She found out earlier this year that she had a malignant brain tumour (a Grade 4 astrocytoma - GBM, the same one suffered by Professor Chris O'Brien).

Lyn is keen to spread the message that income protection insurance is important and, with assistance from our friends at Guild Insurance, you can hear Lyn tell her story here (6mb .ppt file, with audio).

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Super Pharm, Afula, Jezreel Valley, Israel : 14/09/2009 :

AusPharm's roving reporter, Bill Arnold, is in Israel at present, on his way home from FIP in Istanbul.

These photos were taken in Afula, Jezreel Valley, Israel, yesterday. The population is a bit over 40,000 and there are two Super Pharms. The total floor area of this one was about 350 sq. m.

The 'pharmacy' is, of course, right at the back and the main item on display in it was Advil. Some of our Aussie operations could learn a thing or two about layout, displays and lighting.

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RGH E-Bulletin: Thiamine deficiency : 14/09/2009 :

"Thiamine (vitamin B1) is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as a coenzyme in the metabolism of glucose and lipids. The most common cause of thiamine deficiency in Western countries is alcoholism. Alcoholics are particularly predisposed to deficiency due to factors including inadequate dietary intake, impaired gastrointestinal absorption, and impaired hepatic storage. Deficiency can however occur due to any condition of unbalanced nutrition that lasts for 2-3 weeks, e.g. malignancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, and use of total parenteral nutrition without adequate thiamine."

Click here to read this E-Bulletin in full. The E-Bulletins are archived on the AusPharm website here.

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NPS: better use of medicines needed in palliative and end-of-life care : 11/09/2009 :

A report into appropriate, safe and effective medicines use in palliative care will be launched by the National Prescribing Service and Palliative Care Australia at the 10th Australian Palliative Care Conference in September.

The report, Achieving quality use of medicines in the community for palliative and end-of-life care, is the first to document a shared understanding of the barriers to the best use of medicines during the end stages of life.

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The view from my pharmacy : 11/09/2009 :

A 'lister emailed us recently and suggested that we run a competition to find the Australian pharmacy with the best view from its front door. This sounds like a good idea to us and we'll send one of our much sought after AusPharm pens to everyone who's photo gets published. We'll choose the best photo submitted before Christmas and award an AusPharm premium subscription (or extension to existing sub) to the winning photographer.

To start us off, here's one of AusPharm's taken from the door of Channel Pharmacy in Hobart suburb, Kingston. It's a view of the eastern face of Mt Wellington on a recent (cold!) morning.

Click here to send us your photo.

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Poll result: pharmacists enjoying their work less? : 11/09/2009 :

This week's poll asked 'listers to tell us whether or not they enjoyed their work as a pharmacist.

We've run this poll a few times over the years and, for reference, we've included the 2006 results with this week's results (2006, because that was the last time we ran an *identical* poll).

We'll leave it to 'listers to comment.

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