SHPA members are progressive advocates for clinical excellence, passionate about patient care and committed to evidence-based practice. Here, we spend a minute with some of them, to learn about their lives across Australia and how their work in a variety of healthcare settings improves patient outcomes.
A Minute With… Deanna Mill
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have harnessed SHPA membership to launch into their early pharmacy careers.
Deanna Mill says the unique opportunities to network with pharmacy leaders, and contribute to high-quality journals and conferences, is what sees her renewing with SHPA every year.
‘As a full time PHD student, working casually in hospital, my SHPA membership has proved invaluable for networking and ensuring I stay up-to-date with the latest in hospital pharmacy.
‘It was only after I became a registered pharmacist that I started to understand the importance of SHPA advocacy to the profession; I’m in the loop with what's happening in pharmacy via SHPA’s weekly eNews and find opportunities to give feedback on policy work.
‘Í have presented at two Medicines Management conferences and the SHPA Virtual Congress over the past three years – making connections with pharmacists who are renowned in their field, both virtually and face-to-face – has been extremely beneficial for putting forward research opportunities.
‘Being active in the Specialty Practice discussion forums has been beneficial for networking with influential pharmacists who would sometimes be out of reach as an early career pharmacist.
‘Being an SHPA Member has also led to unique publishing opportunities, I have contributed to DrugScan in Pharmacy GRIT, which has been key in improving my research, writing and communications skills.
‘Working across different sectors as an early career pharmacist, there is immense value in the networking opportunities found across SHPA’s forums, events, and conferences – that is the power of SHPA membership.’
A Minute With… Shania Liu
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have harnessed SHPA membership to launch into their early pharmacy careers
Shania Liu says SHPA membership has proved invaluable for networking and ensuring she has a voice while advancing from a Student, to Provisional (registration) and now a Full Pharmacist member.
‘While I was a student, I was involved in the education sub-committee for the NSW Branch, allowing me to be involved in planning seminars and networking with hospital pharmacists before my career began.
‘As my interest in Pain Management grew, I joined SHPA’s Speciality Practice forum at the Interest Group level as a Student and have now been elected to the SHPA Pain Management Leadership Committee as a Full Pharmacist member.
‘For me, the best part of being at this level is the two-way nature of working with other members and leaders. You gain an understanding of other pharmacists’ priority areas and glean ideas from their practice, as well as having your own voice and making sure it is heard by leaders in the field.
‘For such an important and ever-changing field such as pain management, there’s nothing like having this forum at your fingertips to understand how you can all work together and ensure safer medicines use for patients experiencing pain.’
A Minute With… Kelly Beswick
We chatted with Kelly Beswick, who is set to inspire at the 2020 SHPA Virtual Congress (VCON) in November where she’ll share the strategies and tools that saw her lead her team in uprooting an entire pharmacy department while balancing patient care with the health and wellbeing of her staff.
On Friday 3 April Kelly Beswick received a call: two health care workers at one of Tasmanian Health Service North West’s two hospitals had tested positive for COVID-19.
Kelly, who is the Pharmacy Manager for the service, and her team leapt into action. By Easter Sunday – with the majority of the Pharmacy staff in isolation and estimates of up to 5000 people in the region requiring isolation – it was announced one of the two hospitals would close, and all staff who worked there would be required to quarantine with their families for the next 14 days.
Presenting in the session ‘Reflecting on 2020: to support our patients, who supports you and your department?’ at VCON, Kelly will share the strategies and tools that saw her lead her team in uprooting an entire pharmacy department, all the while successfully balancing the ongoing provision of patient care with the health and wellbeing of her staff.
Kelly says that while she and her staff had thoroughly planned for the unfolding pandemic, nothing could prepare them for such a drastic event as full hospital closure.
‘I was trying to manage all the logistics – ensuring outpatients could access their scripts, managing outcentres, planning how a pharmacy department one-third the size of ours could complete our work, and determining how to reopen an Emergency Department without a pharmacy or pharmacy staff on site!’
At the same time, Kelly understood how fundamentally important it was that her staff felt informed and supported.
‘We were overwhelmed, and we were scared. It was immediately apparent that we needed to find resources that could help us adapt to our new working environments, so we could continue to provide the best care to our patients, while at the same time looking after each other.’
Don’t miss this session at VCON in November, in which Kelly will share how she led her team through this extraordinary time; from undertaking training to complement the psychological support provided to her staff, keeping communication channels consistent and transparent, to the value of creating spaces for staff to share their experiences, and ultimately, support one another.
The ‘Reflecting on 2020’ session also features Paul Toner, Director of Pharmacy, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic, and Anna McClure, Executive Director SA Pharmacy, Sally Marotti, Lead Pharmacist – Experiential Learning, Training and Research, SA Pharmacy and Amber Bendyk, SA Pharmacy Psychological Wellness Lead, presenting on the SA Pharmacy Psychological Wellness program.
A minute with… Kara Joyce
We chatted with Kara Joyce, who is set to inspire at the 2020 SHPA Virtual Congress (VCON) in November where she’ll challenge healthcare professionals to consider what true person-centred care should look like.
Kara Joyce is ready to inspire new conversations and encourage hospital pharmacists and technicians to rethink the way they support people with dementia at the 2020 SHPA Virtual Congress (VCON) in November!
Kara, who is Clinical Program Officer and Educational Visitor Lead at NPS MedicineWise in Melbourne, says she’s focused on the ‘training of trainers’ in the effort to better tailor aged care to the individual.
‘In the age of COVID-19, our training is now multi-modal, with online sessions supplementing face-to-face (where possible) training, in conjunction with in-the-field support. This create positive networking environments for nurse champions based on their geographic area.
Presenting ‘Dementia and changed behaviours: a person-centred approach’ at VCON, Kara will discuss practical tips for hospital pharmacists to keep non-pharmacological interventions top of mind in caring for people with dementia.
‘Who were they before their diagnosis? What’s important to them? These questions are central to understanding an individual’s preferences around how they receive care, beyond any medical conditions.
‘For instance, if we know that Roger used to be a farmer who checked the paddock gates were locked every day at 4pm, and we notice him wandering around this time, it may help us understand his motives. In the right setting, allowing him to safely wander or taking him on a walk may help lessen the discomfort of not being able to clearly share what he’s feeling. ‘
‘As healthcare professionals we’re trained to notice changing behaviours like agitation, aggression and wandering, but we need to remember these are often responses to unmet needs.’
Kara says the timing is right to challenge ourselves on what true person-centred care looks like.
‘I’m really pleased to see Aged Care has dedicated session at VCON in November. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s Interim Report and the COVID-19 situation in aged care facilities has highlighted the need for further training and support in caring for older Australians
‘It can be so overwhelming for a person with dementia to be in a hospital environment – the sounds, sights and smells – without recognisable people, objects or routines to tether familiarity. How we talk to people with dementia is incredibly important, providing reassurance their day is going to be OK, involving them in the process and taking a little more time than we would for others.
‘I believe part of the challenge lies in changing the language we use. In the busy hospital environment it is understandably easy to label delirium or the shorthand BPSD (‘behaviour and psychological symptoms association with dementia), but the onus is on us to take the time to bring it back to the person.
‘Describing non-cognitive symptoms of dementia as “changed behaviours” instead of using these out of date terms is an example of how a seemingly small shift can encourage positive new perspectives.’
A Minute With... Yvette Haselden
Yvette Haselden has taken her professional impact to a new level in recent years.
As a pharmacist specialising in mental health in Far North Queensland, Yvette Haselden says linking into the knowledge, networks and the support of the Mental Health stream of SHPA’s Specialty Practice program has proved invaluable.
‘With a long-held passion for mental health, I was naturally drawn to the Mental Health Interest Group, initially so I could connect with similarly minded practitioners across Australia.’
Having significant expertise in mental health and an appetite for deeper involvement, Yvette joined the Mental Health Practice Group as a stepping stone to becoming involved at the Leadership Committee level. There, she could directly contribute to the development of educational opportunities for pharmacists with mental health patients in their care.
‘In 2018 I was elected to the Leadership Committee, and in that same year, with the support of the SHPA Secretariat, we hosted the inaugural Foundation seminar in Mental Health. Aimed at all pharmacists, the seminar comprised of presentations from experienced pharmacists, interactive workshops and patient case studies.’
The power of the combined networks of Leadership Committee members sees them uniquely placed to have impact not just at an educative level, but also in national policy and research. Yvette says access to those networks have proved vital.
‘When the discontinuation of phenelzine was announced, Leadership Committee members activated. Drawing on our collective networks, we collaborated with the TGA and The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, culminating in the release a joint statement which provided important information and guidance for practitioners whose patients would be impacted.
The committee has also provided feedback on the Advance Care Planning Clinical Guidelines, the Fifth National Mental Health Plan, NPS MedicineWise initiatives to name a few.
While her achievements as a Leadership Committee member have given weight to her Advanced Practice portfolio, Yvette says she didn’t anticipate just how friendly and supportive the group would be.
‘What I love most about Specialty Practice is the friendly, supportive community space it provides, where members share their experiences and networks. Senior members gladly offer advice, assurance, and guidance to junior pharmacists, and it’s so rewarding to see those members’ confidence and skill-bases grow.’
Are you heading for the next level in your specialty area? Read more on the 2020 Specialty Practice elections!
A Minute With... Ron Cheah
It had been a long-term goal of Ron Cheah’s to learn more about anatomy and diagnostic imaging, but it was during his respiratory rotation that he identified it as a need to improve his practice.
Doctors in his ward round would review diagnostic images and notes to form their diagnosis and treatment plans. Like most pharmacists however, Ron says that anatomy and radiology was not part of his formal training.
‘I felt that there was a gap in the understanding of a patient’s condition, as interpreting diagnostic images, or doctors’ notes on diagnostic images, are not currently the expertise or in the scope for pharmacists’.
‘Knowing the full clinical picture of a patient is critical when making decisions regarding their treatment. Having witnessed doctors using diagnostic imaging to help inform their decision‐making, I knew that being able to access that information would empower me to better contribute to collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to patient care.’
Ron identified a gap in education offerings for pharmacist after a series of unsuccessful searches online for imaging or anatomy courses tailored to pharmacists. He then approached SHPA with this idea to address this gap.
‘Within my own network, I found physicians who were not only wholly supportive of the value of empowering pharmacists with this knowledge but were also really keen to get involved. This Masterclass therefore, sees physicians who are experts in infectious diseases, respiratory medicine, emergency medicine, and radiology keen to impart their knowledge to pharmacists.’
Quite possibly the first of its kind, SHPA’s Masterclass in Diagnostic Imaging on Saturday 17 October 2020 will arm participants with the skills to interpret diagnostic imaging reports in the context of general anatomy, acute settings, respiratory disease, and infectious diseases, specifically lung disease, equipping them to make more informed decisions when assessing and recommending pharmacotherapy.
Masterclass in Diagnostic Imaging
Face-to-face in Melbourne + virtual attendance option
8:30am Saturday, 17 October 2020
Further information and registration →
A Minute With... Kristin Michaels
As well as being SHPA’s Chief Executive since 2015, Kristin Michaels FAICD is a qualified futurist and executive coach, enabling the organisation to offer a powerful new service to members this year.
Kristin says one-on-one executive coaching is a powerful way to lift your eyes to the horizon.
‘Executive coaching is such a strong formula because it puts you in the driver’s seat.
‘At your pace, you unpack your management style and explore some of the enablers and barriers to your current and future leadership performance.
‘Understanding and harnessing your unique leadership style can improve your personal touch, rapid decision-making skills, and capacity to think and network effectively and strategically.’
New in 2020, SHPA Executive Coaching offers intensive one-hour sessions held via Zoom and/or FaceTime, with discounted rates available only to current SHPA members.
Kristin says Executive Coaching is one of many planned – and unplanned – changes to SHPA’s offerings this year.
‘As we have done for more the six decades, SHPA is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our extraordinary members, particularly through challenging times.
‘The last few months has seen SHPA undertake a tremendous organisational shift to ensure Australia’s hospital pharmacists and technicians are ready for any COVID-19 contingency.
‘Now, we have waived the annual increase in membership fees, and have reintroduced our refer-a-friend offer, as part of our commitment to support every member to renew for another year.’
View all SHPA member benefits and renew today →
A Minute With... Jesseca Eglington
Jesseca Eglington first joined SHPA in 2014, and was soon a regular fixture of SHPA Queensland activity.
‘I had a total of five years contributing to the SHPA Qld Branch, between my roles as Intern rep and observer, Early Career Pharmacist rep, Treasurer and Continuing Education Chair, but this time was memorable for different reasons.
‘On one hand, I was heavily involved in the planning and running of CE events and annual symposia, which provides real-world leadership and organisation experience as well as an easy way to gain high-quality CPD that’s relevant to hospital pharmacy.
‘But more importantly, attending Branch events was fantastic for networking. It can be hard to meet other pharmacists outside my department – let alone from other hospitals! – and the face-to-face time with other people going through the same career stages is just priceless.’
Jesseca says she utilised her SHPA Membership to gain discounted access to Medicines Management conference over many years.
‘I’ve been to five of the last six MM conferences, all around the country, which offers networking on a whole new level, plus motivation and inspiration to keep moving forward and to get involved with research and leadership activities.
‘In recent years, the SHPA Residency Program has added another layer to my involvement, and I have loved mentoring and educating Foundation Residents in my hospital. These residencies are crucial to improving the practice development of our newest team members.’
Jesseca says Specialty Practice is the icing on the cake of her SHPA involvement.
‘As my career grows, the openness and accessibility of the forums – in particular, cardiology – becomes more valuable. Members can keep up with what’s happening nationally in their work areas while troubleshooting their own issues, as others often experience the same issues, first!
‘In a country as big as ours, there’s nothing quite as valuable as breaking down distance to understand how you peers are understanding and tackling issues affecting today’s hospital pharmacy practice – to me, that is the power of SHPA membership.’
A Minute With... Amanda Tey
Amanda Tey says the opportunity to shape the profession, while carving her own career path, is what sees her renewing with SHPA every year.
‘In my early career stages, Medicines Management was influential in exposing me to research ideas in pharmacy. The four I’ve attended and presented at were a great forum for networking and collaborative learning.
‘I joined the Oncology and Haematology Practice Group in 2017 to use the discussion forum as a key resource – it opens you up to peers and experts in the field across Australia. The Practice Group also helped me grow in the discipline. Last year, I was elected to the Oncology and Haematology Leadership Committee.
‘Even in early career stages, Specialty Practice gives you the chance to contribute to key practice and policy documents, which are all about ensuring more people in more places have access to high quality pharmacy care.’
Amanda says big life changes preceded signing up to the Specialty Practice group.
‘At the end of my maternity leave, professional development was the last thing on my mind – but SHPA Specialty Practice membership gives you access to networks and connections that might otherwise lapse.
‘I’m now pleased to be linked in with education opportunities, as I can easily gain all the CPD I need while organising and presenting at SHPA seminars, most recently the Masterclass in Leukaemia and the Foundation Haematology Seminar.’
Amanda, who is ClinCAT credentialled and the recipient of the Vic Branch’s 2019 William Mercer Award, says her SHPA membership answers a simple question.
‘How can you make a national impact, without a national body?
‘For me, that is where the value lies: influencing advances in practice nationwide, while making the most of opportunities to learn from and grow with other experienced pharmacists.’
A minute with... Dr. Roisίn O’Hare and Ann McCorry
Co-presenters Dr. Roisίn O’Hare (top image), Lead Teacher Practitioner Pharmacist, Northern Ireland (NI) Universities Network and Clinical Pharmacist, and Ann McCorry, Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust In Northern Ireland (NI) told us what key developments they've seen in pharmacist prescribing and what delegates can expect to come away with after their session ‘Pharmacists prescribing and its impact on patient care’.
'The roles and responsibilities of all health professionals have undergone tremendous transformation in recent years and the prescribing, and deprescribing, of medication is the most common healthcare intervention patients receive. This has been evidenced by the implementation of prescribing by nonmedical health professionals (NMPs) across many countries including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, with pharmacists prescribing in Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
'Those NMPs who have gained prescribing rights, as well as the aims of their prescribing, vary from country to country but are largely focused on:
• improving patient outcomes without compromising patient safety or indeed by improving patient safety
• increasing patient access to medicines via facilitating the most appropriate healthcare professional to prescribe for them
• making better use of the skills of health professionals.
'Given the evidence-base demonstrating widespread suboptimal prescribing by doctors, there is great potential for NMPs to impact positively on patient outcomes and ultimately to improve patient safety in relation to medication use.
'In our session, we aim to outline the use of pharmacist prescribing across the UK, specifically describing our personal experiences in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in NI. We hope to lead a lively and interactive discussion with delegates while we describe the process of becoming a prescriber in the UK, and debate the many benefits to patients, healthcare teams and health systems when harnessing pharmacist prescribers appropriately.'
A minute with... Meredith Craigie
We chatted with Dr Meredith Craigie, who is set to light up Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019) in November by asking: is medicinal cannabis a medical miracle or an annoying weed? And are opioids pain killers or just plain killers?
As Staff Specialist at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network Pain Management Unit at South Australia’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Meredith says she is passionate about tightening the working relationships between medical staff and pharmacists to improve medication safety.
‘There’s so much value in collaborating to consider the challenges we face regarding medication safety and identifying opportunities to reinforce each other’s messages regarding approaches to prescribing.
‘This cooperation is all about ensuring appropriate checks and balances are in place and, ultimately, keeping our patients safe.’
Meredith, who is also Dean, Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in South Australia, says she highly rates the role pharmacists can play in education.
‘In the hospital setting, pharmacists have so much to offer as educators, not just educating patients at the dispensary, but also providing guidance to early-career medical staff.’
In her talk, ‘Pain killer or just plain killers? How can we work with opioids in the future?’ Meredith will highlight the benefits of medical staff and pharmacist collaboration in the context of opioid stewardship.
‘In tertiary referral clinics we see patients present with a high level of complexity, distress and varying narratives that no single approach can solve. A multidisciplinary approach ensures the safest pain management strategy.
‘The same approach also sees the safest outcomes regarding deprescribing; another area in which pharmacists add value as patient educators.’
In ‘Medicinal cannabis – the next medical miracle or just an annoying weed?’, Meredith will explore the complexities around prescribing new medicines.
‘The immediate challenge is determining which patients benefit and which don’t and how we can keep them safe, particularly in the context of pain management in end-of-life patients, palliative care, and chronic pain.
‘There is also an information void around the new cannabinoid medicines, and high community expectation, so it is important how we can learn from other countries’ experiences.’
A minute with... Natalie Tasker and Duncan McKenzie
This week the Purple Pen Podcasters Jane Booth (@MI_JaneBooth), Formulary and Business Development Manager at Monash Health and Kristin Xenos (@Kristin_Xen), Senior Project Officer at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care caught up MM2019 Program Committee Chair Natalie Tasker and Deputy Chair Duncan McKenzie.
Nat says the MM2019 Program Committee is looking forward to a number of Medicines Management ‘firsts’ in 2019.
‘We will have a knighted presenter this year! Keynote speaker Sir Harry Burns, a public health expert and surgeon by trade, will talk us through the Glasgow effect and what health and wellness means for us all, as a population.
‘Sir Harry will also hold a conversation session where he’ll discuss what shapes and predetermines health in Australia; societal groups which have poorer health outcomes, health inequity and inequality and potential strategies to help promote health and wellness for all Australians.
‘In another first,’ adds Duncan, ‘we’ll have the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health opening the conference this year!’
Duncan says the new national organising approach allows the committee to draw on inspiration from across the country.
‘With expertise, and indeed speakers, from every corner of Australia, we believe this conference will have even more of a national flavour.’
‘It’s allowed us to better represent the views, challenges and opportunities in hospital pharmacy across all of Australia,’ says Nat, ‘ensuring we’re bringing together the most dynamic program we possibly can. The varied knowledge the committee has brought immeasurable value to the conference.’
Nat and Duncan also cover the pre-conference sessions, including Specialty Practice Leadership Committee input, the hot topics covered by invited speakers, great engagement through the Saturday workshops and, of course, their all-important outfit choices ahead of the Octopus’ Garden Gala Dinner!
A minute with... Jessica Toleman
We chatted with Jessica Toleman, whose presentation at Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019) will explore the topic of ‘In search of the best waves – value-based healthcare’.
Being a part of a patient’s healthcare journey drew Jessica Toleman to hospital pharmacy.
‘It is a privilege to a member of a multidisciplinary team that takes part in the patient’s healthcare journey, providing them the best possible care when they are at their most vulnerable.’
Jessica is currently Acting Executive Director for Women’s and Newborn Services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where she also supports the facility’s Choosing Wisely Program as clinical lead.
At this year’s Medicines Management conference, Jessica is running the session, In search of the best waves – value-based healthcare. In it, she will explore novel value-based healthcare, through strategic partnerships and pharmacy-driven investment and disinvestment that can improve both patient experiences and outcomes and reduce individual and healthcare system costs.
With a background in both community pharmacy, where she completed her pre-registration, and hospital pharmacy in clinical and management positions, Jessica has been involved with a wide variety of project areas ranging from electronic medicines management and optimisation of state-wide anticoagulant use to own source revenue and medical engagement projects.
‘I’m committed to improving the use of medicines, particularly the quality use of medicines, which I believe will facilitate opportunities to reduce low value care in our health system.
‘I am also passionate about providing mentoring and development opportunities to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
‘When I’m not focusing on improved use of medicines, I’m enjoying living in beautiful Brisbane! I love sharing its great weather and amazing beaches with my family, friends and colleagues.’
A minute with... Libby McCourt
We chatted to Libby McCourt, who will present ‘From watch to recovery – how would you prepare and respond in a natural disaster?’ at Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019)
It was during her intern year at Rockhampton Hospital that Libby McCourt came to know hospital pharmacy work was right for her.
‘What I love most about hospital pharmacy is working as part of a team with patients, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other pharmacy staff to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
‘The impact a pharmacist can make on someone’s treatment and care, sometimes with very simple advice or interventions, can be extraordinary.’
Now an evaluation pharmacist, Libby recently completed her PhD at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) on the preparedness of pharmacists for disasters and emergencies in Australia.
Having been deployed in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie in 2017, Libby has seen firsthand the challenges health professionals and patients face during times of crisis.
‘I believe the care and services pharmacists provide are just as, if not more important in a disaster aftermath. As a follow on from my thesis I hope to help the pharmacy workforce in Australia become more prepared for disasters or emergencies.’
Libby says she is excited to be co-presenting a workshop at MM2019, From watch to recovery – how would you prepare and respond in a natural disaster?
‘We’re planning a very hands-on session and we look forward to working with participants as they learn about disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
‘It’s not all doom and gloom in my work, though! Outside hospital pharmacy, I enjoy the ease of Brisbane life; it’s not too busy, there are lots of great restaurants and I love living near the Brisbane River and walking along its less inhabited parts.’
A minute with... Lisa Harris
We chatted to Lisa Harris, who will present ‘Taking the AMS tsunami to rural hospitals’ at MM2019.
Lisa Harris says she was inspired to specialise in hospital pharmacy early on in her career.
‘Very early in my undergraduate course I saw first-hand how knowledgeable and effective clinical pharmacists were in the hospital wards. This helped drive my focus on infectious diseases as an area of interest and, more recently, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS).’
Now working as the Hunter New England District Antimicrobial Stewardship Governance Pharmacist at Hunter New England Health, NSW, Lisa is implementing a health service-wide AMS framework and will present ‘Taking the AMS tsunami to rural hospitals’ at MM2019.
Lisa says her passion for AMS grew through more than ten years as a specialist infectious diseases pharmacist at John Hunter before she moved to a wider scope of practice in her current district role.
‘I advocate strongly for AMS because antimicrobial medications are a dwindling resource and we need to work hard to ensure their efficacy so they are available to future generations. I aim to champion AMS; to inspire and draw more health professionals to this important cause.
‘In my presentation at MM2019 I will draw on my experience to demonstrate how we can overcome the challenges and barriers to AMS in rural and regional communities, where AMS consultants are few and far between.
‘Outside of work, I love living in Newcastle. While it is one of the largest regional cities in Australia, it still retains a small town feel with the best of the beach, rural and café lifestyle as well as wineries, walking trails and the coastline.’
A minute with... Dr Sacha Muller-Botti
We chatted to Dr Sacha Muller-Botti, who will lead the Saturday morning workshop at MM2019: ‘Teaching adults: how to make a difference’.
Dr Sacha Muller-Botti says the relief and satisfaction of taking away pain is something that drives him in his work.
‘In anaesthetics, it is a heroic feeling – what we do has an immediate effect. I’m yet to find someone who doesn’t surrender to Propofol!
‘Given that emergencies don’t happen that often, the key question is: how can we train and stay skilled? In simulation, we have the best way to teach as no one gets harmed.
Sacha – who carries extensive professional titles: Senior Staff Specialist in Anaesthesia, Hunter New England Health, NSW; Instructor, Hunter New England Simulation Centre, NSW; Faculty for the Institute for Medical Simulation in Harvard, Boston, USA and Santander, Spain – says his MM2019 workshop will explore theory, modelling and practice on how to speak up to adults in difficult situations.
‘I believe we can learn and practice how to have difficult conversations, while having fun doing it.
‘Ultimately, it’s all about patient safety. Sometimes we know we have something to say, and we know someone has something they can learn from you, but it is difficult to get your message across.
‘We need to have difficult conversations, the stakes are too high; depending on how you analyse the data, medical errors are the #3 cause of death in the United States. This is not OK!
‘I hope attendees will walk out of ‘Teaching adults: how to make a difference’ feeling empowered to speak up to trainees, peers or other disciplines in healthcare.
The beachside setting of the Gold Coast is familiar territory for Sacha, who lives on the picturesque northern coast of Spain.
‘The city of Santander is not so big that it’s hectic, and not so small that it’s boring – it has the best beaches of the world married to the best weather!
‘On a perfect day I can go to the Farmers Markets on my bike, play with my daughters and relax in the hot tub before enjoying wine and a fresh meal while watching a movie with my wife.’
A minute with... Lisa Rathjen
Over the coming weeks we turn the spotlight onto Resident of the Year finalists. Representing SA/NT is Lisa Rathjen.
Lisa Rathjen says the SHPA Residency Program was crucial to her smooth transition from community to hospital pharmacy.
‘Coming from a community pharmacy background with limited hospital experience, I was eager to develop my clinical knowledge and skill set. At first, I felt a bit lost on how to achieve my learning goals and knew I would benefit from some direction, so I applied for the Foundation Residency. It seemed like the perfect way to incorporate my clinical knowledge base into everyday fulltime clinical practice.
‘The SHPA Foundation Residency Program has given me experience in a variety of areas and provided me with opportunities to take on more senior activities, like committee involvement, protocol reviews, workforce recruitment and research projects and audits.
Among the first cohort of Foundation Residents, Lisa says she felt ‘spoiled’ with opportunities to take on greater clinical responsibilities, which led to her place in the 2019 national final of SHPA Resident of the Year.
‘The program leads worked hard to facilitate our learning objectives. I now have a professional development portfolio demonstrating my personal qualities and practical contributions to local clinical pharmacy services, which has helped me to identify areas of personal interest I can focus on now I have completed the Foundation Residency.
‘I was really excited to enter the Resident of the Year competition, to share all I’d learned and showcase the hard work I’d put into meeting the objectives of the Residency Program.
‘My five-minute lightning talk highlights the findings of my research project, looking at the potential for deprescribing antihypertensive medications in the elderly. Deprescribing is an important area of practice as pharmacists can make impactful recommendations, so I set out to apply simple and justifiable deprescribing criteria to my cohort of elderly patients to determine the scope for structured deprescribing.’
Lisa says she is driven to work toward a senior specialty pharmacist role.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the emergency department and can picture myself in this area, learning by being exposed to a variety of medical conditions. I enjoy challenging myself to take on new responsibilities and learning opportunities and plan to use my residency experience to apply myself to further career development, either further study or possibly research opportunities.
‘While being called Resident of the Year would be nice, it’s more about the hard work that I and all the other residents have put into the last two years. Regardless of the outcome, it’s been a great couple of years with my first cohort of fellow residents, my first research project and my first additional study since university.
‘Of course, there’s life outside the workplace! When I get a rare day off, I like going to the gym, hiking and playing footy with mates.’
Resident of the Year will be announced at the Residency Symposium on Saturday 24 August. Register now!
A minute with... Michelle Paine
Michelle Paine works as Medication Safety Pharmacist at Royal Hobart Hospital. She is passionate about the collaborative aspects of the Specialty Practice program and has joined four streams.
‘It’s great to have an extended network of peers to share experiences and ask questions, it provides a really valuable system, regardless of specialty area, and I’m always being updated through others sharing their experiences. I really appreciate the opportunities to network, learn and contribute to ongoing practice. As a paediatric pharmacist, I have never had access to this kind of resource, so am thrilled SHPA developed Specialty Practice groups.
‘I initially joined the Medication Safety group as it’s relevant to my current role. Then I noticed the Electronic Medication Management (EMM) stream. While EMM infrastructure is still a way off for Tasmania, there are aspects of EMM that are relevant to our health services. There are some risks as we’re still setting up our EMM capabilities, so to avoid any potential errors, I joined this specialty stream to keep up with potential issues for patients, which loop back to helping me in the role of medication safety pharmacist.
‘Women’s and Newborn Health and Paediatrics and Neonatology are long-standing interests of mine, having been a paediatric and NICU pharmacist for 17 years of my career. Practising in a tertiary hospital with a neonatal nursery and paediatrics among mainly adult patients, it’s really vital that I keep up with current issues in these areas as my current role in medication safety covers these areas as well.
‘The opportunities Specialty Practice has offered me are invaluable. For example, I represented SHPA at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) clinical roundtable for the introduction of neuraxial devices (NRFit). As Tasmania is an early adopter of ENFit, and I was heavily involved in the roll-out, I thought the experience and lessons would be useful to participants; this opportunity arose because I am a member of the Medication Safety Practice Group.
‘Of course, work isn’t everything! When I have a rare day off, I spend time visiting Tasmanian eateries, getting out in the garden and spending time with the family.’
Remember you have to be a member to join Specialty Practice Streams, enhance your work prospects and unlock amazing further career opportunities through these specialties. Renew your SHPA membership now.
A minute with... Alex Chan
Alex Chan is a Geriatric pharmacist in the Transitional Aged Care Program (TACP) at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. He is passionate about the ‘brains trust’ aspect of SHPA’s Specialty Practice program, which connects members to 25 nationwide networks of pharmacy professionals, peer learning and advocacy opportunities.
‘I joined Geriatric Medicine and Transitions of Care and Primary Care because they both provide convenient platforms for information, discussions and questions around my current role and interests. The bonus of getting email notifications on every post on the forum is invaluable, and the updates and information on practice-targeted SHPA events and education means I can forward plan my diary. As a bonus I’m exposed to extra CPD opportunities through engaging and interacting in discussion forums as it aligns with my CPD.
‘Being on the Geriatric Medicine Leadership Committee means I have an added opportunity to work and connect with some of the best geriatric pharmacists in the country, which has also been invaluable to me. I am able to contribute to seminar/workshop planning, peer reviewing and writing for DrugScan in Pharmacy GRIT and Practice in Focus and reviewing Standards of Practice.
‘In Transitions of Care and Primary Care I’m enrolled in the Practice Group, through which I’m able to develop and share my expertise and experiences to shape the future of the field. In both groups, I get to connect and discuss with a ‘brains trust’ from all over Australia and find out what other regions are up to. The opportunities offered are tremendous, I can have a voice in Standards of Practice, which means my input can directly impact the future.
‘I think the opportunities of expansion of Specialty Practice streams through things like Advanced Training Residencies can’t be measured. I really appreciate the leadership role I have and some of these contributions, which are all great learning experiences and open a myriad of work opportunities.
‘My family is a priority on days off, things like taking the kids to local parks for bike riding and games, and I love watching and playing basketball when I can.’
Remember you have to be a member to join Specialty Practice Streams, enhance your work prospects and unlock amazing further career opportunities through these specialties. Renew your SHPA membership now.
A minute with... Dr Jennifer Stevens
Dr Jennifer Stevens is anaesthetist and pain specialist at St Vincent’s public and private hospitals at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, and she presented at SHPA’s inaugural Medicines Leadership Forum in 2018, which focused on multidisciplinary collaboration to reduce opioid-related harm in the Australian community.
As part of Scriptwise’s Medication Dependence Prevention Month, Dr Jennifer Stevens shares her thoughts on how to reduce opioid dependence and harm.
‘Together we can achieve so much if we keep patients and prescribers educated and informed. Hospital pharmacists should instruct junior doctors in public hospitals and consultants in private hospitals with consistent messaging about safe opioid use and safe discharge prescribing.
‘Simple information circulated to patients about secure opioid disposal in the home including establishing a safety-at-home program will dramatically change the available opioid pool in the community and prevent unplanned use and misuse.
‘We must support our most junior doctors regarding patient prescribing needs by encouraging them to ask questions of pharmacists and pain medicine specialists, which will increase their awareness about opioid prescription and safety.
‘There is evidence that if whole hospitals work together to increase pre-operative opioid management, the result is a decline in patient post-operative analgesic use, fewer complications and better surgical outcomes, even six months later. The pre-operative link is currently missing. Closing this gap means the peri-operative pain and opioid management of our patients will be easier.
‘My weekends always feature a lot of extra kids and a walk in Centennial Park with my family and the dog. Pancakes for lunch and a run around the Glebe foreshore.’
SHPA is partnering with Scriptwise to promote Medication Dependence Prevention Month, an annual event to raise awareness about preventing medication harms and finding community support.
A minute with... Melissa
Melissa is sharing her story as part of Medication Dependence Prevention Month to raise awareness about the need to help patients understand how to use their medications safely.
'My husband lost his life on 7 July 2016, just one week before his 36th birthday, after a 10-month battle with prescription medication dependence and addiction.
'It all began when he injured himself at work, which resulted in a L4/5 prolapsed disc. He was placed on work cover and under the care of a work doctor to manage his pain and injury.'
'He was a very fit and active man who trained at the gym 6-7 days per week and had done so for over 17 years. He found being inactive and restricted very difficult. He was placed on a graduated return to work plan but continued to be prescribed multiple opiate based pain medication, muscle relaxants, sleeping tablets, anti-inflammatory medications and antidepressants.'
Melissa was amazed how quickly her husband changed and she became gravely concerned for his health. He became more secretive and it was clear he was hiding how much medication he was using.
'The more I tried to help him, the more he pushed me away because deep down he was very ashamed of this.'
'I notified AHPRA of my concerns that his doctor continued to prescribe a cocktail of medications, but things continued to spiral out of control. I was worried sick.'
One afternoon after his daughter found him, and his mother and Melissa performed CPR on him, Melissa’s husband lost consciousness and never recovered.
'The effects of this for us all have been absolutely devastating. Our lives will never be the same again. What I cannot accept and never will is, where was the duty of care? Where was the care plan, the follow up?'
Since her husband’s passing, Melissa joined ScriptWise as a Community Advocate and has shared her story to empower others at community events and workplaces across Victoria.
She is dedicated to reducing the stigma around seeking help and advocating for essential policy changes and more education around this issue.
'I want to help prevent other families from going through what we did.'
SHPA is partnering with Scriptwise to promote Medication Dependence Prevention Month, an annual event to raise awareness about preventing medication harms and finding community support.
A minute with... John Shanks
John says the energy of his co-workers solidified his path into hospital pharmacy.
‘My first post at the John Hunter Hospital had me surrounded by a very enthusiastic group, and it was really contagious. I knew I wanted to work in hospital pharmacy as soon as I’d started.’
After John completed his Masters of Pharmacy at Newcastle University, his early career saw him take up a role combining IT skills and clinical decision support.
‘I became the Top End Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at Darwin Hospital. This job covered a geographical area seven times the size of Tasmania and I realised pretty quickly the impact a few simple clinical rules can have on improving patient care, such as automatically picking up life-threatening drug interactions in remote patients.
‘The experience motivated me to complete a Graduate Diploma in IT and moved me to the role of project manager for a massive IT redesign project in the Northern Territory – a role I’m still in today.’
John says he wants to see further, effective integration of IT and pharmacy practice.
‘I would like to set up a world-class clinical decision support system for our health service, I think a lot of what we can do could be captured by a computer.
‘We will do more good if we have the tools available to direct us to the patients who need our input and help the most. I’m working to set up a system which helps identify patients in need and facilitates automatic handover as patients progress through wards while allowing auditing as part of our usual pharmacist workflow. I’m looking forward to talking about using dashboards and data in clinical practice, specifically AMS, at SHPA’s EMM Conference in Sydney on 22 June.’
John says his downtime involves all of the good things the NT has to offer.
‘No rain for nine months lets me spend evenings camping or having a BBQ, and the national parks and untouched coral reefs are amazing. In my days off, spearfishing is another passion of mine, I find the challenge… and the reward… very satisfying!’
A minute with... Kristin Xenos
A single lecture inspired Kristin to become a hospital pharmacist.
‘In the first year of my Bachelor of Pharmacy, I saw a presentation by Dr Lisa Pont about hospital pharmacy. I was hooked and knew that was where I wanted to be. I’d started working in community pharmacy at 14 and I was ready for another challenge.’
After her intern year in community pharmacy, Kristin secured a maternity leave role at Sydney and Sydney Eye Hospital and the rest, she says, is history.
‘I have a real passion for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infectious diseases and was lucky enough to secure a role. Through my work in AMS, I developed an interest in public health and began to see where pharmacy fits into the grander scheme of health care.’
‘I’m currently working as a senior project officer at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. My role here has taken everything I have learned as a pharmacist and allowed me to inform the work of the Commission at a national level.’
‘Working at the Commission has inspired an interest in equity in healthcare. We interviewed the Commission’s Healthcare Variation Team on the latest episode of the Purple Pen Podcast, about the Third Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation.’
Kristin says she considers herself lucky to have joined the Purple Pen Podcast team.
‘Working on this podcast with Dan (Guidone) and Jane (Booth) means I have spoken with some incredible people and, in turn, shared that with the listeners. I’m also really passionate about pharmacists taking their skillsets into project work, hospital executive suites and being agents of change in the healthcare system.
‘Outside work, I love discovering new cafes around Sydney that hopefully are dog friendly – so my beautiful dog Penny can tag along – and I can hunker down with a good book.
‘I suppose my husband can come too. We are trying to give Penny lots of TLC before our first baby comes along in May!’
A minute with... Kerry Fitzsimons
Three weeks was all it took for Kerry Fitzsimons to fall for hospital pharmacy.
‘At high school I undertook work experience at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) pharmacy department, and I was convinced that I wanted to become a hospital pharmacist. The biggest draw card to working in hospital pharmacy was the many opportunities and varied specialities there are available for pharmacists to be a part of in a stimulating and learning environment.
‘Fortunately, I got one of four intern positions at RPH when I finished my Bachelor of Pharmacy. At the time, RPH was the only hospital in WA offering pharmacy internships. Times have changed!
Throughout my career to date I have had some wonderful mentors who fuelled my enthusiasm and passion for hospital pharmacy practice. I would strongly encourage members to take advantage of the SHPA Mentoring Program which will assist you in building confidence, addressing challenges/barriers and improve job satisfaction.’
One of the mottos Kerry abides by is to never let an opportunity pass you by. ‘My role in medication safety morphed from being the senior audit and drug bulletin pharmacist to medication safety pharmacist at Fremantle and now Fiona Stanley Hospital, the first role of its kind in WA at the time. Taking up my medication safety position at the WA Department of Health was certainly a leap of faith out of the hospital environment, which has broadened my reach for medication safety.
‘I think we all essentially have a medication safety pharmacist within us, as we all strive for safe and effective medication management advocating on behalf of the patient's best interest on the path to wellness.’
Kerry says her main goal as a medication safety pharmacist is to engage as many health professionals as possible in the importance of the safe use of medication.
‘We need to ensure all patients stay safe, and I enjoy working toward this goal through my work in the hospital and health department settings.
‘Working in hospital pharmacy and being a SHPA member since internship has given me so many valuable opportunities, I want to be able to support other pharmacists in their career journey through my involvement on the SHPA WA Branch Committee (currently WA Chairperson).
‘In my spare time I like to be with my family and friends, walking with Holly, my border collie and playing the piano… I’m also partial to the odd TV series binge – I can’t wait for the final series of Game of Thrones!’
A minute with... Chin Yen Yeo
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have used SHPA membership to launch into their early hospital pharmacy careers.
‘Transitioning from community to hospital pharmacy in 2016, I recognised the benefits of SHPA membership to confidently build my clinical capacity and improve my therapeutic knowledge to ensure my patients would receive the optimal care they deserve.
‘Since then, I’ve completed a Foundation Residency at Blacktown Hospital, which provided hands-on SHPA-accredited learning and allowed me to build skills across education and research.
‘Through the Residency Program and my SHPA membership I gained discounted access to essential SHPA extension seminars and an engaging and interactive seminar on cardiology (cardiology was one of my favourite rotations!)
‘I also attended discounted NSW Branch Symposia in 2016 and 2017 as well as monthly CE hosted by the Branch, at no cost. I have recently joined the NSW Branch Education sub-committee to assist in developing and implementing CE events for members.
‘My Residency projects and SHPA membership saw me enjoy heavily discounted access to the 2017 and 2018 Medicines Management conferences where I presented posters. I secured a research capability grant through SHPA’s National Translational Research Collaborative network to attend the pre-conference Research Bootcamp in 2017. I also presented my research project at the 2018 Residency Symposium and shared my experience as a novice researcher at the 2018 pre-conference Research Bootcamp.
‘Now I am undertaking my Masters in Public Health and plan to specialise in antimicrobial stewardship, I know I need to be active in the Infectious Diseases Specialty Practice stream and I have recently applied to join the Practice Group.
‘In my spare time I also enjoy reading JPPR and Pharmacy GRIT to stay on top of the latest in my field, and to be inspired as to where my pharmacy practice, education and research will go next!’
A minute with... Andy Campbell
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have used SHPA membership to launch into their early hospital pharmacy careers.
‘I first joined when I was an intern and my SHPA membership started with a bang…
‘In 2015 I was selected as an Intern Representative for the WA Branch Committee. That same year, my honours research was presented at Medicines Management conference in Melbourne.
‘I then joined the Scientific Organising Committee for MM2016 in my home state of WA. I was also an invited speaker, giving insight into ECP perspectives on the development of SHPA’s Residency Program – it’s great to now see the program entrenched nationwide as a crucial stage of experiential learning for early career hospital pharmacists.
‘Through my membership I enjoyed contributing to the mentoring stream at the 2015 Future Summit in Melbourne, which led to another member benefit and source of pharmacist support: the SHPA Mentoring Program, launched in 2017.
‘I have been a WA Branch Committee member since 2018 and I gain my annual 40 credits of CPD through my activity on the WA Branch, either as a presenter or by coordinating CE events.
‘Equally as important at my early career stage is networking, which happens every day through the SHPA Specialty Practice forums. I’m an active member of the Interest Groups for Dispensing and Supply, Sterile Compounding and Leadership and Management and look forward to using the platform to influence and advocate for pharmacists’ essential role in improving patient outcomes in the hospital setting.
‘I’m hoping to present some research at MM2019. I’m really looking forward to networking and sharing ideas with our hospital pharmacy network, and to catching up with colleagues and contemporaries from across the country.’
A minute with... Cindy Lau
Cindy Lau says that she’s been lucky to be in the right place at the right time more than once in her career.
‘During my internship at Mona Vale and Manly Hospital, the Director of Pharmacy sat me down and said, “this is your year to learn as much as you can”, and in that moment I gained a whole new perspective on what I wanted for my career.’
With support from inspiring mentors, a well-timed nudge from her DoP and a love of chemistry and science, Cindy plunged headfirst into an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist (AMS) role soon after she registered.
‘I was very new to pharmacy but absolutely loved the mix of AMS on wards and the exposure to the challenges of infectious diseases, which when combined with the excellent training I received, propelled me towards a role at St Vincent’s and a Masters.’
But while studying for a Masters might answer a lot of question, for Cindy it created so many more!
‘Every hospital pharmacist is frustrated by medicines shortages and how, as a result of using alternate antibiotics, we’re sometimes seeing more patients with toxicity. Despite this happening, the toxic range for some antibiotics is still really vague.’
It’s exactly this vagueness that inspired Cindy to leap into research, a move that saw her take out the 2018 Pfizer Young Pharmacist Grant for her proposal looking at the toxicity threshold of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infection.
‘I never thought I would go into this field, it’s really been a series of fortunate events, and I can’t wait to learn the basics of pharmacometrics in Adelaide before I travel to Hamburg to undertake a preceptorship with Professor Sebastian Wicha, the man behind the web application TDMx.’
While she’s humble about her achievements and insists her life usually revolves around work, study and research, Cindy divulges that she has a secret double life - as a drummer in a wedding band called The Honeymoon Social.
‘It’s been a lot of fun playing 90s style pop and rock with a group of pharmacists and doctors and stepping out of our normal life - we’ve even had a few gigs which have really amused our friends and family.’
A minute with... Ron Batagol
With over 50 years’ experience in pharmacy and an impressive array of contributions under his belt, Ron Batagol knew applying for Advancing Practice credentials was a worthy challenge.
‘I’m delighted to receive Stage 2 Advancing Practice credentials and learnt so much about aligning practice activities to the advanced level requirements, and the evolving necessity for a career long practice portfolio’.
As a prominent voice in specialist, general and consultant pharmacy, author of ‘Taking Medicines in Pregnancy - What’s safe and what’s not’, and contributor to numerous advisory groups and committees, Ron has a long history of career advancement.
‘From the moment I started my graduate diploma and apprenticeship, I was fascinated by pharmacy, and after 12 years managing in community pharmacy, I wanted to learn more, so I applied for a job at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and after starting studied a Diploma of Journalism and SHPA Fellowship in Hospital Pharmacy’.
Combining an appetite for knowledge and a flair for words, Ron was part of the group of pharmacists who spearheaded the establishment of SHPA’s ‘Guidelines for Clinical Pharmacy Practice’ in 1978.
‘It’s just as relevant now as it was then for pharmacists to measure their current practice competencies against standards, professionally and also medico-legally - you can’t argue with pharmacists doing advancing practice.’
Notwithstanding a lengthy career, Ron shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to pursue his interest in the medico-legal side of pharmacy.
‘I was involved in providing public advice on a major case recently, which was challenging as I put my work forward to researchers and QCs, so I’m keen to continue pursuing that while remaining up-to-date with new drug information and medicines changes.’
When he’s not in the public eye or working as a Senior Pharmacist at Monash Medical Centre and Specialist Advisor to Therapeutic Goods Administration Committees, Ron enjoys catching up with friends and family, and cruising around the world.
‘Good food, good wine and good people to relax with is critically important, taking a break and looking at the world around me has given me the focus I need throughout my career and study to continue achieving my goals.’
A minute with... Tom Simpson
By his own admission, 2018 Tasmanian Pharmacist of the Year Tom Simpson ‘kind of’ got into pharmacy by accident.
After graduating from university with a B.Pharm and working in web development and IT, a move into an information systems role at the Royal Hobart Hospital spurred Tom into completing a pharmacy internship and becoming registered.
‘The key moment for me was at the SHPA National Conference, Medicines Management 2001 where I won a best paper award – that’s when it all came together and I realised I had a real passion for the profession.’
Tom says it took more than ‘getting the prize, getting registered, and getting a specialist job’ to get him where he is today.
‘I’ve had some great mentors who took me under their wing and I was lucky enough to have a Deputy CEO who taught me about hospital management and finances which led to a bunch of cool opportunities across the health system.
‘Looking back, moving out of pharmacy and working with other areas of a hospital such as the kitchens or cath lab has been a real career strength, not only giving me the context I need to manage the pharmacy ecosystem, but also re-energising me and helping me realise I want to be here, in pharmacy.
Tom was also fortunate to be mentored by a hospital CEO who taught him that just because pharmacists do serious work that affects vulnerable people, it doesn’t mean it should be joyless.
Managing an ambitious state-wide program encompassing the roll-out of seven-day services, establishing a multidisciplinary medication safety unit, evaluating bedside medication management, and looking to implement smart pumps across multiple hospital sites is not without its difficulties.
‘Attracting staff is difficult, even though we offer great work/life balance in Tasmania with no traffic jams or overtime, if I announce a great program but can’t find the staff, it stalls.’
Tom stands by this commitment to work/life balance, spending as much time as he can with his family enjoying Tasmania’s outdoors and looks forward to ‘taking my daughter on a trip to a rainforest to go ziplining’.
His other hobby, particularly in Winter, is ‘blowing things up in video games’.
‘I’ve just finished the new Wolfenstein game and last week attended PAX – a national game conference – with my nephew and brother-in-law where, would you believe, there were some really interesting presentations on mental health and the community health benefits of video games.’
If you want to learn more about Statewide Hospital Pharmacy, why not visit Tom and the Tasmanian team at their booth at Medicines Management 2018 in Brisbane.
A minute with... Mark Clifford
What started as a weekend job filling bags and doing odd jobs at a local pharmacy in his teens led Mark Clifford to a new passion, career and country.
‘I started out as a high school teacher initially and realised pretty quickly it wasn’t for me, but it taught me a lot and, education-wise, that’s the reason I now do what I do.’
After Mark stepped away from teaching to gain his UK pharmacy technician qualifications, he tagged along on a trip to Australia with his partner in 2012 – but didn’t anticipate it would lead to a pivotal training and development role today.
‘The Sterile Production Coordinator, in charge of training pharmacists and technicians/assistants in aseptic technique at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, was running everything on her own. My position as Senior Technician was new at the time (2014) so I was able to take over the training to relieve her.
‘Not long after I joined SHPA, which resulted in developing and hosting Branch technician CE sessions and becoming involved in SHPA’s National Pharmacy Technician Network.’
Mark’s commitment to education and his profession has led to not one, but two speaking slots at Medicines Management 2018 in Brisbane this November.
‘I feel so fortunate to be able to present twice about the Branch committee’s innovative thinking in this space and what we’ve achieved with our technician sessions – it’s such a joint effort.
‘I don’t think a lot of technicians realise how they can get involved with research or by submitting abstracts and we’re encouraging that by setting up the NSW Technician Sub-committee which will help them realise their potential.’
For Mark, pharmacy and teaching have nicely dovetailed and in an ideal world he’d create his own job title - Senior Technician for Education and Development - but in the interim, and just as importantly, he’s travelling when he can, crashing on the sofa after a long week or, as he did recently, eloping with his partner to New York.
Be sure to check out Mark's presentations at MM2018 by viewing the full program for more details or registering now.
A minute with... Brooke Bullock
Brooke Bullock knows that if you want to affect change you have to put your money where your mouth is and turn your passion into proof. As one of Gold Coast Health’s Principal Medical Education Officers, and a current PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, Brooke’s passion for pharmacy and education is already making waves.
Focusing on the impact of clinical pharmacists on post-take ward round prescribing, medication appropriateness and cost, the findings of Brooke’s PhD have already been well-received by doctors and pharmacists alike. ‘I am yet to submit my PhD thesis, however the Royal Brisbane and Womens hospital have already implemented placing pharmacists on post take ward rounds because our interim findings were so positive, so that’s a win in itself,.’ Brooke has undertaken numerous volunteer teaching positions abroad and is intent on driving the pharmacy agenda forward and advocating for safe prescribing; naturally drawn to education, she is presenting as an invited speaker at Medicines Management 2018 with Dr Christy Noble. ‘Christy and I are really excited to share the details of our learning program at Gold Coast Health which focuses on equipping junior pharmacists with the skills to take on a greater supervisory role of junior doctors. This provides an opportunity to further empower young pharmacists and doctors in the early stages of their careers.’ With so many irons in the fire, Brooke says she makes sure she keeps a healthy work life balance: running a small home based plant & kokedama business, coordinating craft workshop and most importantly, being a new Mum to her 4 month old daughter Lulu. Make time to listen to Brooke and Dr Noble’s presentation at MM2018 and check out the full program for more details or register now. |
A minute with... Brian Dolan
Promising to be one of MM2018’s most dynamic keynote presenters, Professor Brian Dolan, knows a thing or two about getting people moving. Brian created a social movement encouraging health professionals to get patients up, dressed and moving while in hospital to maintain autonomy and dignity and reduce the risk of deconditioning. Having clocked up 350 million (and counting) Twitter impressions, Brian says at its heart #EndPJParalysis is about flipping the script on the final years of life.
‘If you are 80 years old or over, a week in bed in hospital can lead to 10 years of muscle ageing, 1.5 kg of muscle loss, and leave you five times more likely to end up in institutional care on discharge rather than going home. ‘The more time you spend in bed in your PJs, the more harmful it is. The goal of “End PJ Paralysis” is to minimise development of painful pressure ulcers, reduce risk of falls and reduce patients’ length of stay.’ Brian says #EndPJParalysis now belongs to everyone, and pharmacists in particular can help spread the word. ‘It’s reaching New Zealand and Canada and we’re keen to expand accessibility further through a dedicated app. ‘More importantly, and this is where pharmacists come to the fore, we want to change conversations around healthcare. ‘We used to say “come to hospital, it’s the best place to be” but now we’re saying “lying down is not really good for you”. Pharmacists can help patients understand the rationale and encourage them to stay mobile.’ Brian says he is looking forward to his keynote address at MM2018 in November and he connects strongly with the conference theme.
‘Time hold us all together – waiting lists and access targets are measured in time; time is dangerous for someone at risk of sepsis awaiting antibiotics; time can be wasted going to meetings or looking for equipment. ‘Seventy per cent of health service budgets in Australia are spent on time. It’s called “salary” and “wages” but this is the purchase of our time. So how do we make sure we don’t waste it?’ |
