Mr Callum Campbell1, Ms Stacy Leavens1, Ms Kelsey Scarlett1
1Capital Health Network – ACT Primary Health Network, Deakin, Australia
Transition between providers, systems and sectors have been shown to be fragmented and difficult to navigate for consumers in the ACT Community. Through the Pharmacists in General Practice program, Capital Health Network, ACT PHN have provided financial support to eight general practices across the ACT to employ a part-time non-dispensing Pharmacist for a minimum of 15 hours per week over an eighteen-month period. The Pharmacist in General Practice Program is being evaluated by the University of Canberra Faculty of Health – Pharmacy.
The program aims to demonstrate the benefit of incorporating pharmacists into a general practice team to assist with medication management, patient health outcomes and ongoing medicines information and staff support.
Patient outcomes have focussed on ensuring cost-effective use of medicines and review for specified groups of patients, providing supports for patients who require assistance and improving patient medication literacy and the understanding of their medicines and concordance through a shared agreement between clinician and patient concerning the treatment regimen.
Medication management has covered a range of applications including the optimisation of prescribing; facilitation and coordination of quality use of medication activities in collaboration with community pharmacy; and the reduction of the burden associated with medication related administration in transitionary care.
Preliminary results of the project have identified pharmacists conducting a multitude of pharmaceutical interventions, clinical audits, and MBS Claims. There has also been an indication of time saving for general practitioners and positive interactions within the general practice team.
Biography:
Bio to come.