Pharmacists in GP clinics
July 23, 2014
THE Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia (PSA) and the Australian
Medical Association (AMA) are
working together to develop a
model of pharmacists working in
general practice clinics (PD breaking
news yesterday).
An AMA spokesperson said it
was proposed that the pharmacist
would be working in the GP clinic
but not be involved in dispensing.
Instead, activities the pharmacist
might undertake included
medication management reviews,
updating GPs on new medications
and supporting GP prescribing.
PSA ceo Dr Lance Emerson
said it was important to develop
appropriate funding parameters
for such a model to ensure it was
viable and sustainable.
The AMA said work was still in the
early stages and the organisations
were looking to develop a funding
model for Government to consider,
“possibly in the context of the
2015-16 Budget cycle.”
PSA national president Grant
Kardachi said there were already
examples of pharmacists working
successfully in GP clinics, including
PSA Young Pharmacist of the Year
Chris Freeman in Brisbane.
Duties performed included
education for staff and patients
about medication issues and
working with GPs to deliver the
best drug therapy for patients.
With regards to the Queensland
Pharmacist Immunisation Pilot,
Kardachi said the fact that the
organisations could work closely
on this project while “agreeing to
disagree” on pharmacist-delivered
vaccinations reflected the maturity
of the relationship.
“We won’t always agree on the
delivery of services but we are
united in our commitment to
improving health outcomes for the
community.”
The Society of Hospital
Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA)
president Professor Michael
Dooley said the SHPA was strongly
supportive of any strategy where
there was multi-disciplinary
collaboration with regards to
patient care.
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