FROM THE EDITOR…. Welcome to the first edition of the SHPA NSW Newsletter for 2015. I will be taking over from Rayan Nahas who did a stellar job as Newsletter Editor in 2014. Thank you Rayan for your hard work and I look forward to working with you this year on committee. We welcome some new members to the committee: Sally Nicolson, Kristin Xenos, Wendy Huynh and myself. Please see our profiles later in the newsletter. The 2015 SHPA NSW Committee comprises: Chair: Russell Levy Vice-Chair: Peter Barclay Secretary: Fiona Doukas Treasurer: Zahid Ghous Education Coordinator: Wendy Huynh Minutes Secretary: Kristin Xenos Newsletter Editor: Claire FitzGerald Member: Rayan Nahas Directors of Pharmacy Liaison Officer: Sally Nicolson Federal Councillor: Karen Kaye Federal Councillor: Sasha Bennett Rural Observers: Ian Mawbey & Anna Barwick Technician Observers: Melanie Anderson & Fawn Birch Intern Observer: Bayan Hosseini (RPA) and Hannah Turton (Shoalhaven Hospital) We also want to say thank you and farewell to members of the committee from 2014: Jonathan Penm (ex-Chair), Lisa Pont (ex-Treasurer), Karim Ibrahim (ex-Minutes Secretary), Sami Awad (ex-member). Thank you to our Intern Observers: Jade Fox from Children's Hospital Westmead and Kathryn Filipczuk from Sutherland Hospital. Also to our student observers: Kate Jennar from University of Newcastle, Jessica Pace from USYD, Georgia Lloyd from UTS and Yazmin Crossingham from CSU. In this edition you will meet your new committee members, feedback on the SHPA Practice-Based Research Seminar , profile of a renal specialist pharmacist, tech talk, rural pharmacy news and information on new QUM indicators. I hope you enjoy the first edition of the newsletter and I look forward to bringing you news throughout the year. The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia bulletin NSW Branch issue 1 2015 NSW Branch Executive Chair Russell Levy Royal North Shore Hospital E [email protected]T 02 9463 1124 Vice-Chair Peter Barclay Children’s Hospital, Westmead E [email protected]T 02 9845 2700 F 02 9845 2709 Secretary Fiona Doukas Concord Repatriation General Hospital E [email protected]T 02 9767 6470 Treasurer Zahid Ghous Northern Sydney Local Health District E [email protected]T 02 9926 4669 F 02 9351 0779 For contributions to the Newsletter please contact Newsletter editor Claire FitzGerald Manly/Mona Vale Hospitals E [email protected]T 02 9976 9687 SHPA (NSW Branch) PO Box 766, Darlinghurst NSW 2050 FROM THE CHAIR Russell Levy Welcome to the first edition of the SHPA NSW newsletter for 2015. This year has seen a number of changes to Branch Committee and we congratulate and farewell our outgoing Chair, Jonathan Penm, who has taken up an exciting research opportunity in the USA. The Committee also thanks Lisa Pont for her dedication to the Committee in her role of Treasurer over the years. I am pleased to announce that along with myself as new Chair this year sees a great mix of new faces and existing committee members who will aim to provide high quality educational material for our NSW colleagues, promote the benefits of membership to our peers and advocate for hospital pharmacy as a profession. Full details of the new look Branch Committee are now available on the SHPA website. This year the planning of the education subcommittee monthly CE events are already well underway and the Committee as a whole is gearing up for this year’s symposium which will have a respiratory medicine theme. I look forward to chatting with many of you at these events and encourage our members to let everyone know about the good work you are doing by contributing to our bulletin.
Transcript
FROM THE EDITOR…. Welcome to the first edition of the SHPA NSW Newsletter for 2015. I will be taking over from Rayan Nahas who did a stellar job as Newsletter Editor in 2014. Thank you Rayan for your hard work and I look forward to working with you this year on committee. We welcome some new members to the committee: Sally Nicolson, Kristin Xenos, Wendy Huynh and myself. Please see our profiles later in the newsletter.
The 2015 SHPA NSW Committee comprises:
Chair: Russell Levy
Vice-Chair: Peter Barclay
Secretary: Fiona Doukas
Treasurer: Zahid Ghous
Education Coordinator: Wendy Huynh
Minutes Secretary: Kristin Xenos
Newsletter Editor: Claire FitzGerald
Member: Rayan Nahas
Directors of Pharmacy Liaison Officer: Sally Nicolson
Federal Councillor: Karen Kaye
Federal Councillor: Sasha Bennett
Rural Observers: Ian Mawbey & Anna Barwick
Technician Observers: Melanie Anderson & Fawn Birch
Intern Observer: Bayan Hosseini (RPA) and Hannah Turton (Shoalhaven Hospital)
We also want to say thank you and farewell to members of the committee from 2014: Jonathan Penm (ex-Chair), Lisa Pont (ex-Treasurer), Karim Ibrahim (ex-Minutes Secretary), Sami Awad (ex-member). Thank you to our Intern Observers: Jade Fox from Children's Hospital Westmead and Kathryn Filipczuk from Sutherland Hospital.
Also to our student observers: Kate Jennar from University of Newcastle, Jessica Pace from USYD, Georgia Lloyd from UTS and Yazmin Crossingham from CSU.
In this edition you will meet your new committee members, feedback on the SHPA Practice-Based Research Seminar , profile of a renal specialist pharmacist, tech talk, rural pharmacy news and information on new QUM indicators.
I hope you enjoy the first edition of the newsletter and I look forward to bringing you news throughout the year.
Welcome to the first edition of the SHPA NSW newsletter for 2015. This year has seen a number of changes to Branch Committee and we congratulate and farewell our outgoing Chair, Jonathan Penm, who has taken up an exciting research opportunity in the USA. The Committee also thanks Lisa Pont for her dedication to the Committee in her role of Treasurer over the years. I am pleased to announce that along with myself as new Chair this year sees a great mix of new faces and existing committee members who will aim to provide high quality educational material for our NSW colleagues, promote the benefits of membership to our peers and advocate for hospital pharmacy as a profession. Full details of the new look Branch Committee are now available on the SHPA website. This year the planning of the education subcommittee monthly CE events are already well underway and the Committee as a whole is gearing up for this year’s symposium which will have a respiratory medicine theme. I look forward to chatting with many of you at these events and encourage our members to let everyone know about the good work you are doing by contributing to our bulletin.
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
Please click on the following links to direct you to the relevant article.
ContentsFROM THE EDITOR 1
FROM THE CHAIR 1
Seminar in Practice-Based Research 3
Tech Talk! 3
Rural Pharmacy News 3
NSW needs assessment survey results 4
Grants 5
Provision of consumer medicine information 5
Welcome to the committee 6
Welcome to the committee 7
Clinical Pearl 8
Renal Specialist Pharmacist 8
UNIVERSITY PRIZES 9
SHPA NSW Branch Symposium 9
The National Quality Use of Medicines Indicators 10
for Australian Hospitals 2014 10
SHPA ACT Branch Symposium 11
'SHPA National Conference - Melbourne 11
Continuing Education in 2015 12
Latest from NPS MedicineWise 14
Latest from CIAP 15
The Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook (AIDH) 15
Australian Don’t Rush to Crush Handbook 16
Australian’s Medicines Information Training Workbook 17
Welcome New SHPA members 18
Directions to continuing education at Concord 19-20Conte
nts
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
Tech Talk!Melanie Anderson - (NSW SHPA Technician Observer) [email protected]
Welcome to the first Technician column for 2015.
This year NSW SHPA are planning to host some technician specific continuing education sessions. The first will be held at the end of March (date to be confirmed) with a presentation on Organ Donation/Transplant. Our speakers will be specialists in their fields, first discussing the topic as an overview, including ethics and selection criteria, with the addition of a senior ICU clinical pharmacist to speak on the key medications used and their indications - all aimed with a hospital pharmacy technician focus. Further details will be sent out when confirmed. You will be able to access this online and it also has the ability to be an interactive session so you can ask questions via your computer directly to the presenters. Please keep an eye out for the coming details and we hope you can all attend to help support this added benefit for your technician membership.
Calling all Technicians to get their thinking caps on and their keyboard at the ready.
The MM2015 conference committee is about to call for abstracts.
The theme for this year’s event is “Hidden Gems” to be held in Melbourne the 3rd to 6th December. If you would like the opportunity to showcase your work as a valuable technician within your department start thinking about your abstract submission now. Maybe highlighting a new expanded technician role you are involved with, the advances in supporting tasks that techs provide their departments, or the technician involvement in new and exciting medication safety initiatives for your site. As a technician your abstract options are endless. Check out the SHPA website for more details. If you are successful and have your abstract accepted a Poster or Oral Presentation is a wonderful platform to share your departments accomplishments. Don’t be afraid to have a go, it's lots of fun. Attending the conference is also a fantastic way to meet other technicians from across the country who love sharing ideas, their challenges and triumphs as experienced from their own sites.
Seminar in Practice-Based Research
Joanna Tsang
This was the first seminar SHPA has organised in the field of research. It was held in Mercure, Sydney 1-2 November, 2014. Over the two days we covered a range of topics including critical appraisal of an article, different approaches in carrying out research ideas, aspects of setting up a study: study design, sources of bias, power of the study (yes, statistics!!).... to getting ethics approval and publishing findings.
We had a great team of presenters who were passionate about their work, and were happy to share their experiences of what worked and what didn’t. Even the statistics was clear & understandable!
It was an excellent chance to meet those who already had a range
of experiences in research, and also those – like me – who are just starting. Part of the weekend involved developing a research plan where we worked as a group on a project of interest. This was an effective way of putting some of what we learnt into practice.
Being currently involved in looking at DUE reviews I feel this course may also be helpful to those involved in DUEs in their workplace.
Overall I felt encouraged to look at developing ideas into research plans & setting up a pharmacy research group at my hospital, looking to collaborate with other groups. With the National Translational Research Collaborative being one of SHPA’s priority initiatives looking at increasing research in the pharmacy profession, hopefully we will see more pharmacist-researchers out there innovating our practice!
The SHPA and PSA are working together to identify ways of ‘bridging the gap’ in the transition between care settings. Bridging the gap workshops are designed to put the patient at the centre of care and helps identify and address factors that are barriers to maintaining continuity of care. This is particularly important in rural and regional areas!
If you are interested in ‘bridging the gap’ between hospital and community pharmacy, please consider attending the upcoming PSA NSW Pharmacy in Focus session (free for SHPA members) in the following regional and rural centres:
Wagga 21-22 February 2015 (cancelled)
Dubbo 3 March 2015
Bathurst 2-3 May 2015
Port Macquarie 13-14 June 2014
You can also gain Group 2 CPD points by registering for the other PSA Pharmacy in Focus (cardiovascular update) sessions.
In early November, NSW branch members were invited to complete a survey exploring topics of interest for continuing education and symposia that they would like to see delivered. The results from this survey will be utilised to the planning and development of future CPD activities. We hope this will ensure that the NSW Branch continuing
education program continues to meet your CPD expectations. Please feel free to provide feedback regarding our continuing education program to Wendy Huynh Education coordinator via email at [email protected]
Selected suggestions from members:“CE to not always be held at Concord Hospital”
“Please put up the webinars after each CE session”
“The webinar reliability is very hit and miss with regard to sound, picture etc”
“It would be helpful if, when an online CE event is completed, this was automatically added to CE record.”
In response to the Needs Assessment Survey Results, the NSW Branch Committee and Education Sub-committee have investigated alternative venues for our annual symposia as well as monthly Continuing Education (CE) sessions. The committee evaluated three other venues across Sydney. However CE is established at Concord, is cost effective and it remains to be the most central location. For 2015, CEs will continue to be held at the Clinical School Lecture Theatre at Concord Hospital as speakers and catering are already confirmed. Our symposium this year will be trialled at a new site - RNSH Kolling Building.
This year SHPA will be changing webinar providers to Redback Conferencing, continuing to allow members to access CEs off-site. Since we are familiar with the facilities at Concord Hospital, this will hopefully allow a smooth transition to the new provider. The advantages of Redback Conferencing is that: it will eliminate current firewall issues; webinar access will be internet-based; participant capacity will be increased; recording of CEs will be easier and enable timely upload/access via eCPD for post-event viewing; and members will be able to log on to the webinar even after the presentation has commenced.
In regards to automatic recording of CPD points for CE participation, the SHPA Federal Council currently have a testing platform in progress but we would like to kindly remind members to continue to sign the attendance sheets at prior to attending the CE session.
Most Popular SHPA CPD Activities
1. SHPA Seminars
2. Branch CE and Symposia
3. JPPR
4. AJR
5. CE on Disk
6. CE on Demand
Level of Interest in Future Skill-Based Topics
1. Optimal use of medicines
2. Critical analysis, research and education
3. Communication and self-management
4. Primary and preventative healthcare
5. Review and supply of prescribed medicines
6. Professional and ethical practice
Level of Interest in Future Clinical Topics
1. Infectious Disease
2. Critical Care
3. General Medicine
4. Emergency Medicine
5. Endocrinology
6. Paediatric Medicine
7. Other, including:
• Renal medicine
• Haematology
• Neurology
8. Addiction Medicine
9. Geriatric Medicine
10. Mental Health
Selected results from the survey:
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is an important part of patient education and has been shown to influence patient medicine-taking behaviour through increased knowledge and understanding of medicines. Consumers increasingly want information about their medicines and pharmacists are an important and trusted source of medicine information for patients.
The Electronic Distribution Working Group (EDWG) is an independent industry working group consisting of representatives from the pharmaceutical industry and relevant interest groups (e.g. PSA, SHPA, Consumer Health Forum and the Guild) set up to promote and facilitate the distribution of electronic medicine information to health professionals, patients and other interested organisations.
EDWG is committed to ensuring the provision of timely, consistent and accurate medicine information to patients and healthcare professionals. Along with the CMIs available through your dispensing software, we would like to raise awareness and remind
pharmacists of the freely available CMIs and Product Information (PI) for patients and healthcare professionals through the TGA website https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au and the GuildLink sponsored website www.medicines.org.au and . These websites contain up-to-date, reliable, evidence-based resources for patients seeking written information about their medicines.
If you would like to contact the group, please email [email protected]
Pharmacists are also well placed to show their patients that CMIs are readily available for consumer access via the NPS website
http://www.nps.org.au/medicines
Thinking of doing a research project? Wanting to go to a conference? Like the idea of a clinical placement? Want to attend a conference? Why not apply for a grant?
Currently the Pharmacy Council of NSW has two types of grants available:
- Research and project grants (up to $10,000)
- Development and education grants (up to $2500)
Applications open 1st March and close 1st May 2015
SHPA also has many grants that will become available throughout the year.
Go to the R&D page on the SHPA website for more information - http://www.shpa.org.au/R-and-D-Grants
Provision of Consumer Medicine Information
Grants
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
Welcome to the committee
Kristin Xenos - Minutes SecretaryTell us a bit about yourself?I graduated from the University of Sydney in 2010 with a Bachelor of Pharmacy. I initially worked in community pharmacy before working at the Sydney and Sydney Eye Hospital, The Sutherland Hospital and now I work at Westmead Hospital. I am registered with the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy as a HMR provider and this year I
commence a Masters of Public Health at UNSW. In my spare time I love to read, explore Sydney’s cafes and festivals. I love to travel and I hope my next trip will be to South America.
What motivated you to get involved with SHPA?I wanted to interact with other pharmacists from different hospitals to learn about how they practice and what challenges they face. I also wanted to be a part of an organisation that advocates for our profession and supports us with education, particularly the monthly CEs and seminars.
Where do you see our professional in 10 years?With the rapid development of technology and the electronic era that we live I see the dissolution of paper based systems. Hopefully, this will improve efficiency, enable easy access to current and accurate patient medical histories and free up time for pharmacists to have a clinical focus and improve the transition of care for patients between the hospital and community setting. For both community and hospital pharmacy the key to our future is to become a service based industry. This paradigm shift will cement our position as an integral member of the health care team and facilitate the development of more specialised roles for pharmacists.
What was your first job?My first job was at the IGA supermarket in Oatley and I was the best change counter on Register 3 and never put heavy items on top of the tomatoes. Here I learned the fundamentals of customer service. I managed to impress one of my customers so much she asked me to come and work at her community pharmacy, the rest is history.
What are your professional interests?My professional interests include infectious diseases, improving the quality and consistency of patient education and the safe use of medicines. Currently I am on the cardiology ward which has been a very interesting time as well. I am also interested in the challenges that public health issues bring particularly for developing countries. I look forward to expanding my knowledge on this through my masters course.
If you could be a superhero, what would be your name and what would your superpower be?If I could be a superhero my name would be pause and I would be able to freeze time to catch up on sleep when I needed it. My superpower would be China because I love Chinese food.
Wendy Huynh - Education CoordinatorTell us a bit about yourself?
I am currently practising as a clinical pharmacist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and have been a registered pharmacist for over a year. I’m currently completing a Haematology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Intensive Care Services rotation. When I’m not walking, jogging, running or speeding around at work, I enjoy
reading popular fiction, horse riding, going for long runs, relaxing at the beach and travelling. My latest adventure involved snorkelling, swimming with turtles and shark diving in Hawaii.
What motivated you to get involved with SHPA?
I’ve always loved the services provided by SHPA – the CEs, symposiums and seminars. With all the jam-packed fun, I couldn’t help but be motivated to apply for the Branch and naturally, volunteered for the Education Coordinator position. I am very lucky that many of my work colleagues encouraged and supported me for the role, knowing that I’m passionate about learning and development, mentoring and the sharing of knowledge and expertise.
Where do you see our profession in 10 years?
I’ve been lucky to gain insight into a lot of work and research focusing on patient safety. I hope in 10 years time all that hard work would lead to pharmacists’ continued involvement in medication reconciliation, perhaps through a new eMM system, that would decrease medication errors and quality use of medicines.
What was your first job?
My parents have owned a bakery for over 20 years so my first job was serving customers and helping make pies, pastries and cakes. If you’re asking me about my first paid job, I worked part-time in a community pharmacy for 3 years before completing my internship at RPAH.
What are your professional interests?
I graduated from USYD with Honours in Cancer Cell research so I have an interest in Oncology but my biggest passion is continuing education and development. I’m a huge advocate for medication and patient safety.
If you could be a superhero, what would be your name and what would your superpowers be?
This question is too hard! I would love to be able to fly or apparate (like Harry Potter) because I hate being stuck in traffic and I like being half an hour early to work. Maybe a name like Wing Girl.
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
Welcome to the committee
Claire FitzGerald - Newsletter EditorTell us a bit about yourself?I've been an Emergency Pharmacist since 2009 and am currently working at Manly Hospital. I love working in Emergency because every day is different and it requires you to be knowledgeable in a very wide range of medical and surgical presentations. I've been working
as a clinical pharmacist for 10 years since registration (apart from a year in the UK working in community pharmacy).When I'm not at work I'm running after my 17 month old son Anderson and enjoying my time watching him grow up too quickly! I also love exercising (completing my first triathlon in Nov 2014), cooking, music and travelling overseas.What motivated you to get involved with SHPA?I've been a member since 2004 and felt it was time to give back. SHPA provides wonderful support and advocacy for clinical pharmacists and is working towards furthering our future in the ever changing world of health. SHPA also has a fantastic continuing education programme that is continually evolving to meet the changing needs of our pharmacists including myself.Where do you see our profession in 10 years?I'd like to see pharmacists prescribing! There has been some work on this over the last few years but I'd hope in 10 years we'll be there. The doctors can do the diagnostics and then we'll prescribe the appropriate medication. I'd also hope that the number of clinical pharmacists will have grown to ensure all areas of a hospital have clinical pharmacists to improve medication safety, quality use of medicines and support for patients and our fellow health professionals.What was your first job?My first job was pumping petrol and filling the soft drink fridges at our local service station on a Saturday morning. I don't think they allow 14 year olds to do this anymore! One advantage is that I've never minded filling up my car with petrol since getting my licence.What are your professional interests?I have a strong interest in medication safety, pharmacist prescribing, medication reconciliation and I would like to see widespread use of electronic prescribing and reconciliation in the near future. I also enjoy educating students and Intern Pharmacists and helping them grow into great clinical pharmacists.If you could be a superhero, what would be your name and what would your superpowers be?My superhero name would be Multiplicator. I have the power to make two or more copies of myself allowing me to be in many places at once! This would greatly help me see more patients in the Emergency and make life much easier at home - one version of me can cook and clean, another can be out exercising while another does puzzles and legos with Anderson.
Sally Nicolson - Directors of Pharmacy Liaison OfficerTell us a bit about yourself?I am currently the Education and Training Pharmacist at Northern Sydney Local Health District on Sydney's north shore. I started in this position in November last year after being the Deputy Director of Pharmacy at North Shore Hosptial for 5 years prior. I am working just 3 days per week as I have 2 small children and another bubba due in July. I have been a Pharmacist for 14 years and during that time I have worked in a range of settings both here and in the UK, but always in some form of
Hospital Pharmacy. I am passionate about the impact the clinical Pharmacists can make to the care of patients in hosptial as we bring unique skills and knowledge. I am pretty busy these days with my family and friends but when I have amoment I like to swim, cook, sew and where there is a dance floor you will find me on it!!What motivated you to get involved with SHPA?I have always been impressed with the professionalism of SHPA and think it represents our profession well at national level. I had the opportunity to present at last year's national conference which I throughly enjoyed and up until last year I worked with Russell Levy (current NSW branch chair) and he convinced me of the value in investing in the branch committee. I can see that our profession has so much to offer and we I feel that I need to do everything that I can to see the profession progress into advance practice roles, especially in NSW. Joining the branch committee connects me with people that believe in that same value of Pharmacists and an avenue to encourage those aspirations in other Pharmacists.Where do you see our profession in 10 years?I would love to see Pharmacists take a more active role in the management of patient's medicines, in the Hospital setting and also in community, through advanced practice roles. In order to achieve this the profession will need to clearly outline the training pathways and support career progression through providing education. I would like to see Pharmacists make a greater investment of time into research on the clinical impact of our services. In the community Pharmacists can and should provide much needed access to information about medications and support of chronic conditions. As privatisation of healthcare is quickly creeping into our system, Pharmacists will need to advocate and prove their value for our clinical roles to continue.What was your first job?My first job was a horse riding instructor from ages 13!!! Through my teenage years I was usually riding all and every weekend and loved it. Sadly I'm now quite allergic to horses.What are your professional interests?I am keenly interested in education and encouraging the progression of Pharmacist's roles through training. I am also interested in the seeing Pharmacy technician training progress to enable them to take on Pharmacists roles to release our time into clinical activities. Accompanied with that is research into the impact and value that Pharmacists have in medicines management. I am also interested in how we can collaborate more with our health care colleagues and have a role in education there too.If you could be a superhero, what would be your name and what would your superpowers beI don't need to make one up she exists already. If I could be anyone I would be Elastigirl from The Incredibles....she can stretch into any shape (parachute, swings, rubber boat), reach many things and is an accomplished jet pilot. With her powers you get everything done before mid-day and then be relaxing by the pool!!!!
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
SHPA NSW Branch would like to invite you to submit your clinical pearls for publication in the newsletter.
If you are interested in writing one please contact the newsletter editor Claire FitzGerald and she will email you a template.
What is a clinical pearl?
To convey one idea, concept, or fact that has been useful in day-to-day practice, and may not be widely known, understood, published, or taught. Keep in mind that these pearls are not intended to be a review of literature. While it is expected that the information be grounded in fact (and may be derived from research), pearl presentations should be based on acumen and practice, not a review of papers.
(Definition from American Society of Hospital Pharmacists)
Clinical Pearl
What is your role at your hospital?Renal patients have a tendency to require multiple hospital admissions so there are lots of opportunities for direct patient contact. Patient/carer education and counselling, completing medication lists are especially important in our transplant population, so teaching becomes a large part of my practice for patients with kidney disease. Other than the patient, the lists also help other health care professionals manage the
medications. Advice on dosage adjustments, compatibility, cost analysis with medication use and development of protocol and guidelines are also very large aspects of my practice. We hold regular community education on renal disease of which I would present on the medication aspects.
How did you come to work in this area?I have always had an interest in renal medicine so it was always my first preference for training. Not long after training, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to apply for a vacancy for the specialist position.
Key challenges in this area of practiceThe need to keep up with many other aspects of medicine is probably the biggest challenge. As renal patients often have multiple co-morbidities, including cardiac disease and diabetes, it is important to know the new practices and medications being developed in other areas. Other associated specialties such as infection and autoimmune aspects are also very broad disease states that require continual update.
Other than personal challenges, renal medicine is also challenged by an aging population where people are living longer with multiple diseases. Gone are the days when people die before they have renal failure, we are now faced with an ever growing population of renal patients in varying stages
of disease so there are huge challenges with resources and manpower to service them.
What is the most satisfying part of your work?My research, communication, analytical and troubleshooting skills are constantly being pushed to the limit so all aspects of my pharmacy degree is put into practice. The most satisfying part would have to be when patients return to tell me the suggestions that I give them based on these knowledge and skills have helped them resolve or improve their problems.
What resources do you find particularly useful?Other than the product information themselves, The Renal Drug Handbook by C. Ashley and A. Currie, The Renal Drug Reference Guide by Matthew Cervelli and the antibiotics adjustment tables in the Antibiotics Therapeutic Guidelines are my constant references.
Advice to anyone interested in working in this area of specialty practiceI think it is important to not limit renal medicine into a “specialty”. Renal patients are often being managed within other specialities (e.g. renal bone disease results in dialysis patients on the orthopaedics ward) so developing strategies to review patients for renal adjustments even when you are not doing the renal ward would give good practice. If you have a renal pharmacist in your hospital, ask them for advice. When opportunity comes for a speciality position, you’ll be half way there because practice makes perfect!
What do you see as the future of practice in this area?Renal is an ever expanding specialty so the developing education programs for patients and health care professionals are important in delaying disease progression. Face-to-face education, development of interactive computer programs or writing protocols and guidelines all require manpower and pharmacists are in a great position to be part of the development teams.
SHPA is committed to enhancing the skills and therapeutic knowledge of our future hospital pharmacists. In acknowledgement of extraordinary clinical ability at a student level, NSW SHPA Branch is proud to announce the following awards
SHPA NSW Branch Prize for Excellence in Clinical Practice Katherine Mary Borg - UTS Master of Pharmacy
Elizabeth Perks Prize in Excellence in TherapeuticsJaime Pisani - Charles Sturt University
Excellence in Pharmacotherapeutics in Bachelor of Pharmacy Chloe Ng & Rebecca Nga Chi Kwok
Excellence in Pharmacotherapeutics in Master of PharmacyCatherine Margaret Wood - University of Sydney
UNIVERSITY PRIZES
SHPA NSW Branch Symposium
25th July 2015
Kolling Building, RNSH
Further details will be provided soon
“Breathe Easy – An Update on Respiratory Medicine is coming your way”
Katherine Mary Borg Rebecca Nga Chi Kwok Catherine Margaret Wood
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
SThe National Indicators for Quality Use of Medicines in Australian Hospitals 2014, developed by NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group (NSW TAG) with funding support from the Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Health Care, were released in November 2014. The Clinical Excellence Commission is also a major stakeholder in the development of the QUM indicators. These indicators are now freely available for use by Australian hospitals.
These indicators will help pharmacists, as members of local multidisciplinary teams targeting quality improvement in medication management, measure hospital performance, identify areas for improvement, monitor the effect of implemented strategies and assist accreditation processes at the unit, department or facility level. There is also potential for benchmarking. Improved performance in the aspects of care targeted by the QUM indicators is expected to result in improved health outcomes. In the future it is hoped that these indicators will be incorporated into everyday clinical practice such that data collection and feedback become routine and frequent.
In addition to updated 2007 QUM indicators, new indicators in the areas of discharge medication management and acute mental health care have been developed and validated. The development of the National QUM indicators followed a rigorous and clinically meaningful process. Consultation with a broad range of clinicians and stakeholders and field testing in hospitals across Australia ensured that the indicators meet necessary and important criteria for validity, measurability and usefulness.
A number of new features accompany the National QUM Indicators to facilitate their uptake and use. Each indicator refers to applicable National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. A standardised data collection tool accompanies each indicator as well as a user guide for data collection tool use. Detailed sampling guidance is provided with additional scenarios illustrating potential approaches that can be undertaken when deciding on the audit methodology. There are also matrices mapping the indicators against the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
The Indicators and accompanying tools may be accessed via http://www.ciap.health.nsw.gov.au/nswtag/pages/indicators.html or the ACSQHC’s website
Please contact NSW TAG on 02 8382 2852 if you have any questions when using the National QUM indicators. Pharmacists in NSW hospitals who are conducting quality improvement projects using clinical audit might also consider joining the DUE Support Group co-ordinated by NSW TAG. Please also contact us if you are interested in multisite projects using a National QUM Indicator.
The National Quality Use of Medicines Indicatorsfor Australian Hospitals 2014
Anticoagulant Warfarin Dabigatran Apixaban Rivaroxaban Other OAC
Number of patients 1 1 0 0 0Percentage of total 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
SHPA ACT Symposium
2nd May 2015
Our neighbouring branch in the ACT will be holding a symposium on Renal disease in May. We know this is an area that many of our NSW members are interested in and we highly recommend making the trip down the Hume Highway to attend their symposium.
We would like to encourage all NSW SHPA members to attend and present abstracts at the 41st national SHPA conference that will be held from 3rd-6th of December 2015 in Melbourne, Victoria.
For further details visit the conference website http://mm2015shpa.com/
Call for abstracts opens 23rd March 2015. Submissions close 17th July 2015.
Renal Symposium
SHPA National Conference - Melbourne
The monthly continuing education sessions will continue to be held at Concord Hospital in 2015. Webinar this year will now be run via Redback Conferencing. This program will be more user friendly than Go-To-Webinar
We hope that it will make it even easier for members to listen to our fantastic CE presentations. The year was kicked off in Feb with a fantastic presentation from A/Prof Nicholas Shackel on pharmaceuticals and the liver.
2015 will also hopefully see more presentations in rural and regional sites with the first one on Microbiology at Gosford Hospital. This presentation will be available via webinar and it will be played at the Concord site.
Last year we had great attendance at Concord and via webinar...let's make it even higher in 2015!
Date Topic Speaker Venue
25th March 2015 Off-Label Use of Medicines A/Prof Madlan Gazarian Concord Hospital Consultant in Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacovigilance, Council of Australian Therapeutic Advisory Groups
22nd April 2015 Common Conditions in Rheumatology and A/Prof Leslie Schrieber Concord Hospital its Management Consultant Rheumatologist, Royal North Shore Hospital
Fourth Wednesday of each monthEmail alert with topic details sent to members prior to meeting
Time: 7.00 – 8.00pm (refreshments served from 6.30pm)
Venue: Auditorium, Medical Education Centre, Concord Hospital, Hospital Road, Concord NSW. Entry is direct from Hospital Rd – not through main hospital entrance. Please refer to the end of this newsletter for directions to Concord Hospital and a map of the hospital.
Cost: Free for all SHPA (please bring your membership card). Students please bring your student cards.
$40 for all non-members. Membership will be checked.
RSVP: Not required.
Contact: Wendy Huynh - [email protected] Suggestions for future topics and changes to format are welcome, please contact Wendy Huynh
Continuing Education in 2015
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
eMedication Management Conference 26-27 March 2015 Sydney, NSW http://www.informa.com.au/conferences/health-care-conference/electronic-medication-management
Connecting asthma care - 2015 Australasian Asthma Conference 4-5 May 2015 Brisbane, QLD http://www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/Conference.aspx
13th National Rural Health Conference 24-27 May 2015 Darwin, NT http://ruralhealth.org.au/13nrhc/
SHPA Future Summit 2015 27-28 July 2015 Melbourne, VIC
HIC 2015: Driving reform: digital health is everyone's business 3-5 August 2015 Brisbane, QLD https://hisa.site-ym.com/page/hic2015
Please visit the SHPA website for more information.
Primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease seminar 20 March 2015 Melbourne, VIC
Paediatric Clinical Pharmacy Practice Seminar 28-29 March 2015 Adelaide, SA
HIV Workshops 9 May 2015 Melbourne, VIC Date TBC Brisbane, QLD 30 May 2015 Sydney, NSW
Laboratory Tests Seminar 16-17 May 2015 Brisbane, QLD
Cardiology Seminar 13-14 June 2015 Brisbane, QLD
Critical Care Seminar (advanced) 7-8 August 2015 Sydney, NSW
Medication Review Skills in Primary Care 15-16 August 2015 Brisbane, QLD
Infectious Diseases 22-23 August 2015 Perth, WA
Seminar Date Location
Upcoming Seminars
Sterile compounding training for pharmacists and technicians 15-17 May 2015 Sydney, NSW http://www.medisca.net/pdf/Essential%20Elements%20of%20Compounded%20Sterile%20Preparations%20MAU.pdf
shpaclinCAT feedback master class 28 March 2015 Melbourne, VIC http://cpd.shpa.org.au/lib/pdf/sems/shpaclinCAT_masterclass_regform_mar2015.pdf
Conference Date Venue Link
Upcoming Cources
NPS RADAR – Evidenced based information on new therapies
Latest radar - February 2015
- Mifepristone and misoprostol (MS-2 Step) composite pack: use extended to 63 days’ gestation
Highlights from the December edition include:
- New respiratory medications inlcuding: Indacaterol with glycopyrronium (Ultibro Breezhaler), Fluticasone furoate with vilanterol (Breo Ellipta),Umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta)
- Black-box warning for strontium ranelate (Protos) added to Product Information
Medicinewise News provides health professionals with up-to-date, succinct and independent information on therapeutic topics and related issues. Latest issue from November 2014 looks at Antibiotic Resistance and UTI's.
New NPS Case Study- Asthma: optimising asthma control in children
Participants are presented with a clinical scenario that contains questions to help reflect on their clinical decision-making skills and improve patient care. In this case study you’ll meet Arya Saab, a 35-year-old sales representative. For the last two months she has been feeling tired and has asked for some tests to determine the cause of her fatigue. Receive instant feedback, compare your approach to that of your peers and read expert commentary by Dr Louise Stone, GP and Senior Medical Advisor to General Practice Education and Training Ltd.
Have you taken a look at the AMH Children's Dosing Companion yet?
The AMH Children’s Dosing Companion (CDC) provides dose information for the most commonly used medicines in children in both community and hospital practice in neonates born at term (>38 weeks) up to children aged 18 years. (The use of medicines in preterm neonates is outside the scope of the
Resource).
Have a look here for instructions on how to use and information on what is included in the monographs.
New version of Antibiotic Guideline - eTG Complete
The November 2014 release of eTG Complete includes a comprehensive revision of the Antibiotic guidelines. If you would like to access eTG Complete you will find it located on the front page of CIAP under ‘Medications’. To specifically look at the changes which are too numerous to include here go to http://etg.hcn.com.au/desktop/index.htm?acc=36422
Australian Medicines Handbook
The latest update of the AMH is now available on CIAP. This update includes numerous new drugs and other new features:
• new tables enable quick comparison of inhalers for asthma and COPD and succinctly summarise asthma treatment for adults and children
• therapeutics – topics updated using latest guidelines and evidence e.g. opioid and nicotine dependence, asthma
• updated and reviewed classes e.g. ACE inhibitors, sartans, inhaled corticosteroids, beta2 agonists
• lithium – revised information on nephrotoxicity
To access the AMH, select the Medications tab from the left menu on the CIAP homepage and then click on Australian Medicines Handbook..
Have you started using it on your smart phone or tablet yet?
If your hospital or university has an HCN (Health Communications Network) subscription and you can use the hospital or university’s Wi-Fi on your device, you can access the Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook?
Open your browser and go to aidh.hcn.com.au.
Refreshed new digital format
• All entries fully revised including 24 new monographs
• Optimised for web-browsers
• New interface and layout for monographs
• Browse all monographs alphabetically
• Improved searching by brand, ingredient or class
• Register for offsite access function available to validated institutional users. Click here to find out more
Therapeutic options for people unable to swallow solid oral medicinesThis reference is invaluable and all Pharmacy departments should have at least one physical copy so that pharmacists have it at their fingertips at all times. In an ideal scenario all clinical areas should have a copy of the handbook but this may be prevented by financial constraints.
Nursing staff can still readily use the information by using MIMS Online to access the individual monographs.
Are the nursing staff on your ward aware that this is available to them?
Do they know how to use the guide?
What about other health professionals? Do your doctors know about it? What about speech pathologists, dieticians, community and aged-care facilities?
Have you thought about doing an in-service?
For those that aren't familiar with how to access it via MIMS see below:
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
The monograph appears exactly as it does in the hard copy of the handbook. Continue to scroll down the page and it includes the quick guide definitions and Medicine preparation: instructions for methods. See below for an example.
Australian Don’t Rush to Crush Handbook
Check out the SHPA website to order your copy today! http://www.shpa.org.au/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=SHPA/ccms.r?PageId=10243
The Australian Medicines Information Training Workbook allows pharmacists to update their skills in the many practical and clinical areas where medicines information questions are asked. Users will be able to attain the skills and resource knowledge necessary for critical analysis and assessment of a medication issue. If you would like to learn about medicines information resources and how to answer enquiries in a more efficient manner, this Workbook will enable you to do that, plus gain up to 44 Group 2 CPD points! The workbook contains 22 tutorials that you can complete at your own pace. Topics covered include:
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
Australian’s Medicines Information Training Workbook
1. Administration of Medicines2. Pharmacokinetics3. Drug Interactions4. Adverse Drug Reactions5. Critical Evaluation6. Ethical Dilemmas7. Medicines in Renal Disease8. Medicines in Liver Disease9. Compatibility of Parenteral Medicines10. Hormonal Contraception11. Drugs in Pregnancy12. Drugs in Breastfeeding13. Paediatrics14. Psychiatry15. Palliative Care16. Complementary and Alternative Medicines17. Pharmaceutical Excipients18. Product availability and Identification19. Clinical Trials and Regulatory Processes20. Substance Abuse21. Immunisation22. Travel Medicine
An online version is available exclusively to SHPA members at no charge on the shpaeCPD website: https://shpa.moodle.com.au/course/index.php?categoryid=1
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
The NSW SHPA Branch welcomes the following new members. We look forward to working with you in the future.
First Name(s) Surname StatusSeung Pyung An PharmacistRooshanak Arasi PharmacistJulia Louise Ballam PharmacistChoi-Ling Batten PharmacistLouise Anne Bradbury PharmacistAlvin Chandra StudentJulianne Jun Tze Chong PharmacistJulia Anne Druery PharmacistStephanie Laura D'Souza PharmacistDoreen Atukunda Freeman PharmacistElham Hezari PharmacistTara Ismaeel Hasan StudentYeri Kang PharmacistCassandra Shai Koppen PharmacistRebekah Yeaun Lee PharmacistSamuel Ramiro Lopes Pre-RegJudith Anne Lund PharmacistLara Jane Mason PharmacistTegan Florence Millington PharmacistSally Elizabeth Monsted PharmacistAthanasiouss Nasralla PharmacistTanya Elizabeth Peck PharmacistPeter Frank Pirotta StudentMichael Quach StudentElle Roslyn Quach StudentAngelica Yvonne Tagaroulias PharmacistTheeba Thiruchelvam PharmacistJoanne Wendy Treasure PharmacistFiona Wing Nam Tse PharmacistThuy Ann Vuong PharmacistLiana Rosslyn Warne PharmacistGeoffrey Richard Wills Pre-RegMarian Youssef Pharmacist
Welcome New SHPA members
NSW Branch bulletin issue 1 2015
CRGH directions
How to Get to Concord Hospital By Bus
Two bus routes provide easy access to Concord Hospital from Strathfield Station at Everton Rd Stand D - North Side.
458 Ryde to Burwood via Rhodes, Concord Hospital, Concord West, North Strathfield and Strathfield Station. This bus stop is near Gate 3 on Hospital Rd.
459 Macquarie University to Strathfield via Concord. This bus stop is on Concord Rd a short walk from the Hospital.
By Train
From the City, trains run to Rhodes via the Northern Line. Concord Hospital is approximately 1 km walk from Rhodes Train Station.
Trains also run frequently to Burwood or Strathfield. As above, buses run from both stations.
By Car
The Hospital is located on Hospital Rd which is off Concord Rd.
The car park is located on Hospital Rd. Parking costs $5. Disabled parking is available.
By Foot
The hospital is surrounded by parkland and is a 15 minute walk from Rhodes Station.
Disabled Access Both bus routes provide wheelchair access. Contact 131500 for specific details.
Coming from Rozelle: -Bus 440 to City. Train from Central Station to Rhodes Station then walk to hospital. Bus L20 from Victoria Rd (nr Darling St) to West Ryde. West Ryde Train Station to Rhodes then walk to hospital. Bus 518 from Victoria Rd (nr Darling St) to Ryde. Bus 458 to Concord Hospital. Bus 507 from Victoria Rd (nr Darling St) to Putney, Morrison Rd (Nr Church St). Walk 168m to Church St (Nr Simpson St). Bus 459 to Concord Hospital. Coming from Leichhardt: Buses 436,437,438 to City from Leichhardt Town Hall to Central Railway or Town Hall Station. Train to Strathfield .Buses 458 or 459 to Concord Hospital. Coming from Ashfield: Train from Ashfield Station to Strathfield Station. Train from Strathfield to Rhodes then walk to hospital. Or Bus 458 or 459 to Concord Hospital. Coming from Glebe: Bus 433 from Glebe Point Rd (Nr St Johns Rd) to Sydney, George St (Nr Bathurst St). Walk to Town Hall Station. Train to Rhodes then walk to hospital. Coming from Camperdown: Bus 483 from Annandale, Parramatta Rd (Nr Mallett St) to Railway Square, George St. Walk to Central Station. Train to Rhodes Station then walk to hospital. Coming from Canterbury: Bus 471 from Canterbury, Jeffrey St (Nr Robert St) to Ashfield, Hercules St (Nr Ashfield Station). Walk to Ashfield Station. Train from Ashfield Station to Strathfield Station. Take bus 458 or 459 to Concord Hospital. Coming from Balmain: Bus 441 from Balmain, Montague St (Nr Darling) to QVB, York St Stand D. Walk to Town Hall Station. Train from Town Hall Station Rhodes Station then walk to hospital. Coming from Burwood: Bus 458 from Burwood, Burwood Rd (Nr Westfield Shopping Centre) to Concord West, Hospital Rd. Coming from Strathfield: Bus 458 or 459 to Concord. Or train to Rhodes then walk to hospital. Coming from Bankstown , Liverpool or Campbelltown -Train from Bankstown to Strathfield. Train from Strathfield to Rhodes then walk to Hospital. Or Bus 458 or 459 to Concord.
