Purple Pen Podcast: Recent Episodes
Purple Pen Podcast
Education and news for pharmacists, with a focus on Australian clinical pharmacy practice. Hosted by Jane, Kristin and Dan, we provide CPD and news for pharmacists, especially those interested in Australian clinical practice.
PPP 194 – Sport and Exercise Pharmacy with Alison Hooper
In this episode, pharmacist and former physiotherapist Alison Hooper joins us to discuss the expanding role of pharmacists in sport, exercise, and active living
We cover:
- How pharmacists can support movement, exercise, and sport
- Injury management and common sports-related conditions
- Managing chronic conditions in active people
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
- WADA and anti-doping regulations
- Accidental doping risks from supplements
- RICER vs PEACE & LOVE for injury management
- The latest evidence on NSAIDs in sport
- Whether you're working with elite athletes or helping patients stay active, this episode highlights the important role pharmacists play in supporting safe participation in sport and exercise.
Further Reading and Resources Links
- Understanding pharmacists' engagement in sport and exercise medicine, including pharmacist-physiotherapist collaboration: A qualitative study and COM-B analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276625000344
- WADA website: Raising the game for clean sport | World Anti Doping Agency
- WADA Prohibited List:2025list_en_final_clean_12_september_2024.pdf
- Sport Integrity Australia: Protecting Sport Together | Sport Integrity Australia
- Sports Integrity Australia Sports Pharmacy eLearning Course:New Sports Pharmacy eLearning Course Launched
- Global Drug Reference Online: Global DRO - Home
- Sports Integrity Australia 'Check Your Substances' (links to Global DRO)Check Substances On Global DRO | Sport Integrity Australia
- Informed Sport (Supplement Batch Testing): Sports Supplements Certification | Informed Sport
- HASTA (Supplement Certification and Testing): Home - HASTA
- US Sports Pharmacy Group: U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group
- Sports Pharmacy Network: Sports Pharmacy Network
To align with NAIDOC week this year we have a special bonus episode.
In this episode, we speak with Dr Jessica Buck about childhood cancer in First Nations people, genomics, and the importance of cultural safety in healthcare and research. A proud Kamilaroi woman, she is the Team Leader of the First Nations Childhood Cancer Program at The Kids Research Institute Australia — a first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated to developing culturally safe, community-led research strategies to improve outcomes for First Nations children with cancer.
Together, we explore how a First Nations perspective can strengthen biomedical science and improve care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families affected by cancer.
We cover:
- What culturally safe healthcare and research look like in practice
- Applying a First Nations lens to genomics and biomedical science
- How historical harms in healthcare and research continue to influence trust today
- Childhood cancer outcomes for First Nations children
- The impact of geography, access to care, racism and broader inequities
- Why representation in genomic databases and clinical trials matters
- The clinical implications of underrepresentation for diagnosis and treatment
- The potential role of pharmacogenomics in cancer care
- Treatment-related adverse effects
- Opportunities to improve equity in childhood cancer care
Further reading and resources:
- Clark (Adnyamathanha), J.R., Buck (Kamilaroi), J., Richards-Satour (Adnyamathanha and Barngarla), A., Lyons (Jaadwa), L. and Brown (Yuin), A. (2024), Towards precision cancer medicine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer health equity. Med J Aust, 221: 68-73. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52346 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/mja2.52346
- Alexandra Truong, Kayla Williams‐Tucker (Ngarluma, Wongutha, Wudjari Noongar), Ahmi Narkle (Whadjuk Goreng Noongar), Eden Slicer (Gundungurra), Jessica‐Elise Chapman (Kamilaroi, Bundjalung), Jessica Lawler, Rishi S Kotecha, Hetal Dholaria, Justine R Clark (Adnyamathanha), Alex Brown (Yuin), Raelene Endersby, Nicholas G Gottardo and Jessica Buck (Kamilaroi) - Current gaps in knowledge and future research directions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with cancer - https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/222/10/current-gaps-knowledge-and-future-research-directions-aboriginal-and-torres
- The Kids Research Institute Australia https://www.thekids.org.au/our-research/chronic-diseases/first-nations-childhood-cancer/
- Zero Childhood Cancer https://www.zerochildhoodcancer.org.au/
- Henrietta Lacks: science must right a historical wrong - https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02494-z
A note on the artwork for this episode: "Cancer 2025"
Shaznaye Bin-Kali, is a Kija and Yawuru Jij from Broome, W.A. She is 15 years old. She was diagnosed with brain cancer at six months old and experienced her first seizure at the age of one, which led to her first operation. This painting represents the spread of her brain cancer. The lines surrounding it symbolise her very first seizure, an important moment in my journey. Through her art, she shares her story, resilience, and connection to her culture.
Note: NAIDOC stands for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It aims to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Gastroenterologist and three-time guest Dr Kostas Brooks returns for a discussion on colonoscopy, bowel cancer screening, and best practice care in Australia.
In this episode, we cover:
Home bowel cancer screening
- The role of home-based faecal occult blood tests in early detection
- How the program works in practice
- What best practice looks like in screening and surveillance
Bowel preparation for colonoscopy
- Why there is no single standard bowel preparation protocol
- Practical tips to support patients to achieve optimal preparation
- Key considerations for medicines before and after colonoscopy
What happens during a colonoscopy
- Step-by-step overview of the procedure
- Emerging role of artificial intelligence in detection and diagnosis
Colorectal cancer in Australia
- Prevalence and key risk factors
- Who is most at risk and why
- What happens next after a positive colonoscopy finding
Further reading
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care - Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard - https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/clinical-care-standards/colonoscopy
- National Bowel Cancer Screening Program - https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program?language=en
- Bowel Cancer Australia - Red Apple Day - https://redappleday.au/
In this episode of Myopia Progression and the Role of Atropine in Managing Myopia, we speak with Dr Loren Rose about one of the fastest growing challenges in children's eye health. We explore emmetropisation, the natural process by which a child's eyes develop towards clear vision, and what happens myopia. Dr Rose explains key concepts including hyperopic reserve, what a dioptre actually measures, and why both genetics and environment play important roles in myopia development. We discuss the influential Taiwan studies showing that spending around two hours outdoors each day can help reduce the risk of myopia, as well as the evidence linking prolonged near work and screen use with increasing rates of short-sightedness. We discuss the role of atropine drops and peripheral defocus lenses.
Further reading
- Rose LVT. The quest for safe and effective myopia control in children. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024 Jul;52(5):503-504. doi: 10.1111/ceo.14391. PMID: 38950909. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38950909/
- Optometry Australia Position Statement on Myopia Management - https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Professional_support/Guidelines/Myopia-Position-Statement-2024-v3.pdf
- https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/Documents/Myopia-management-resource-guide.pdf
In this episode, we're joined by Dr Mariya Farah Kitson, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Osteoporosis Refracture Prevention Clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital, for a deep dive into the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. We explore why osteoporosis remains significantly underdiagnosed, current recommendations for bone mineral density (BMD) screening, and the ongoing osteoporosis care gap that leaves many patients untreated after fragility fractures. Dr Kitson also explains the role of secondary fracture prevention services and why menopause represents a particularly high-risk period for accelerated bone loss and fracture risk in women.
The conversation also unpacks the evolving treatment landscape for osteoporosis, including discussions around denosumab, its PBS and other indications, and important considerations regarding duration of therapy and rebound vertebral fracture risk following discontinuation. Dr Kitson compares the mechanisms of action of denosumab and bisphosphonates, outlines current recommendations for safely stopping denosumab, and discusses where newer therapies such as romosozumab fit into contemporary osteoporosis care. We also touch on the emerging role of biomarkers in fracture risk assessment and treatment monitoring, offering listeners an up-to-date and clinically relevant overview of osteoporosis management.
Further Links
ASBMR - The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research - https://www.asbmr.org/Default.aspx
International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/
In this episode, dermatologist Dr Francis Lai joins us to unpack everything you need to know about scabies — what it is, how it spreads and why some communities are more at risk. We break down diagnosis, treatment options, common myths and what to expect during recovery. Practical, evidence‑based advice for clinicians, parents and anyone dealing with this incredibly itchy but entirely treatable condition.
Kristin speaks with two pharmacists working in menopause care:
- Bo Kim, clinical pharmacist and founder of EmpowHer Menopause in Perth
- Jarrah Anderson, Clinical Lead at MedCast and member of the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance
In this episode * Types of menopausal hormone treatment (MHT) When different MHT options are used in perimenopause and menopause. * Safety conversations Current thinking on precautions and contraindications, and how to explain risks and benefits clearly. * Access and cost in Australia PBS considerations, affordability and opportunities for pharmacist support. * Bio‑identical and body‑identical hormones Why it matters for patient communication. * Testosterone in menopause care What the evidence says about when it can be used and practical issues with prescribing and access. * Non‑hormonal therapies Options for symptom management, including the emerging medicine fezolinetant.
Links:
Medcast Qhub - quality use of medicines resources - https://medcast.com.au/qhub Australian Menopause Society Complementary medicines and therapies: options for menopausal symptoms - https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=3234710f-e5db-4aa1-bff8-ae98449fffad Guide to MHT/HRT Doses - https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=6ecead60-db26-4dfc-a662-794d7b39ef59 Jean Hailes Perimenopause and menopause symptom checklist https://jeanhailes.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Perimenopause-and-menopause-symptom-checklist_TGD.pdf
This International Women's Day (IWD) we a focused on women's health. In this episode, Kristin speaks with Professor Susan Davis, AO, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAHMS, Head Monash University Women's Health Research Program, Endocrinologist, leading menopause researcher. Prof Davis is Director of the Women's Health Research Program in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne. She is a consultant Endocrinologist at Cabrini Medical Centre and Head of the Women's Specialist Clinic, the Alfred Hospital Melbourne. She is also President of the International Menopause Society and Past-President of the Australasian Menopause Society.
They discuss the definitions of menopause, the menopause transition and perimenopause, along with factors that influence the timing of menopause and the wide range of symptoms women may experience.
Professor Davis explains the role of blood hormone testing in menopause care. The conversation also covers contraception in perimenopausal women. They also review the evidence for menopausal hormone therapy, including indications for treatment, the benefits and risks of different therapies, and duration of use.
Links:
https://www.menopause.org.au/
In this episode, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pharmacists Clarissa Rentsch and Sheridan Rodda break down the essentials of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, from diagnosis and treatment options to the expanding role of monoclonal therapies. We explore Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, therapeutic drug monitoring and how pharmacists can optimise care for people living with IBD. A clear, practical conversation for clinicians and anyone wanting to better understand this complex condition.
Purple Pen Podcast 2026 Listener Survey
https://tinyurl.com/PPPSurvey2026
In this episode, I'm coming to you live from NAPSA Congress, the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association's week-long flagship event that brings together pharmacy students from across Australia. The Congress is packed with education sessions, workshops, social events, networking opportunities, and a vibrant trade exhibition, and this episode captures the energy of being right in the middle of it all.
I spoke with Sebastian Harper from Griffith University, NAPSA's National President, Sebastian Schulke from the University of Queensland, and Mia Avram from Monash University and NAPSA's National Treasurer. We spoke about their favourite moments from Congress, what stood out most, and the key learnings they will be taking forward into their future pharmacy careers.
Our conversations explored a wide range of timely and important topics, including practical insights into probiotics, the expanding role of pharmacists in harm reduction and dependency services such as naloxone take-home programs, and the skills of full-scope physical assessment. We also discussed how pharmacists can better support patients using GLP-1 agonists, from counselling to ongoing care, and what it really means to serve your community as a healthcare professional.
We also touched on highlights from Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY), unpacking the qualities that set leaders apart, as well as a thoughtful conversation on authenticity in pharmacy. We discussed why being yourself matters, how to avoid the "pharmacist Barbie" stereotype, and the value of showing up as a real, relatable professional.
This episode was recorded live in the trade exhibition space at NAPSA Congress, so you may hear some background noise throughout. Every effort has been made to optimise the audio while keeping the authentic atmosphere of Congress intact.
Listen in to our latest episode as Kristin chats with Josh Schiller, a Accredited Practising Dietitian, about navigating the world of nutritional supplements and vitamins in pharmacy practice. Josh breaks down which products he would recommend, the key interactions between diet, vitamins, and prescription medicines that you need to know about and the age old question, do you really need that multi-vitamin.
From green leafy vegetables to food-drug interactions that can impact therapy outcomes, this episode will help you confidently guide your patients through the supplement aisle and beyond.
We talk to Gary Bain (AKA the wound guy) about the integumentary system, the stages of wound healing, the advantages of good old fashioned clean water for wound cleaning, guiding principles of dressing changes for inflammatory phase vs proliferation phase, when to use different types of dressings e.g hydrocolloid, the benefits of a wound selfie to check progress, advantages of compression bandages for accelerating wound repair, the importance of moisturising a closed wound and busting wound management myths.
We talked with, Dr Eleni Yiasemides (board-certified consultant Dermatologist specialist from Sydney) about
*Inappropriate indications for topical corticosteroids (cortisones) like perioral dermatitis when less is usually more
*The verdict on combination products corticosteroids + anti fungal creams and when to use them
*Busting myths on topical corticosteroids like "apply sparingly"
*The issue of tachyphylaxis
*Practice points about alcohol based treatments, preservatives and fragrance
*Alternative topical therapy other than corticosteroids
*Best practice for managing skin health (moisture, hydration and occlusion) alongside medicated treatment like corticosteroids
Read further
Perioral dermatitis
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/periorificial-dermatitis
RACGP
https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2021/september/selection-of-a-corticosteroid
The Australasian College of Dermatologists
https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ACD-Fact-Sheet-Topical-corticosteroids-and-eczema-April-2024.pdf
We're marking World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2025 with an episode dedicated entirely to antibiotics, the medicines we rely on every day and the ones we need to protect.
We're joined by Caroline Chen, a senior antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist and project officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, for a deep dive into all things antibiotics. Together, we walk through the ABCs of commonly used antibiotics, or more accurately the B through T, including beta-lactams, clindamycin, doxycycline, macrolides, metronidazole, nitrofurantoin, quinolones, rifampicin and trimethoprim.
This episode highlights how these medicines work and when we use them and key counselling points. Antibiotics are a finite resource, and understanding them is one of the most powerful tools we have to preserve their effectiveness for the future.
Listen in as Kristin chats with Dr Angela Kwong, a Sydney-based General Practitioner with a special interest in medically supervised weight management, about the use of GLP-1 agonists.
Dr Kwong serves as the NSW State Lead for the RACGP Specific Interests Group in Obesity Management and works closely with colleagues across disciplines to improve care for people living with obesity. She is also the founder of Enlighten Me, a multidisciplinary online program that provides evidence-based, GP-led support for patients seeking weight management. The program has been recognised for its contribution to patient education and its focus on accessible, stigma-free care.
Additional GLP-1 reading:
- GLP-1 agonist role in renal protection - FLOW Trial
1a. Digestible summary of the FLOW trial
-
Current ANZCA guidelines for anaesthesia / sedation in patients using GLP-1 agonists (May 2025)
-
Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity
We talk with Prof Pete Smith, an allergist from Queensland about
- Why rhinitis shouldn’t be sneezed at (sorry we had to), including the consequences of allergic rhinitis being un/undertreated
- The recommended method to use intranasal sprays - hint “if you can taste it, you’re wasting it”
- How to discuss concerns patients might have about intranasal corticosteroids
- The long list of potential triggers of nonallergic rhinitis
- What are the red flag symptoms of rhinitis?
Some further reading:
- Nonallergic Rhinopathy: A Comprehensive Review of Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, S2213-2198(24)00270-8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2024.03.009
- Itch Beyond the Skin-Mucosal Itch. Front Allergy. 2021;2:700368. Published 2021 Oct 28. https://doi.org/10.3389/falgy.2021.700368
- Characteristics of nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis. World Allergy Organ J. 2009 Jun 15;2(6):102-5. https://doi.org/10.1097/wox.0b013e3181a8e389
- Allergic and Mixed Rhinitis: Diagnosis and Natural Evolution. J Clin Med. 2019 Nov 19;8(11):2019. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8112019
Listen in to round out our conversation about anticoagulation, by hearing from two Anticoagulation Stewardship Pharmacists - Hadley Bortz from the Alfred in Melbourne and Julianne Chong from Concord Hospital.
Find out more about ACS programs in Australia and overseas and the benefits that these programs can bring to your health service.
Anticoagulant patient care plan
Anticoagulation Forum
Advancing Anticoagulation Stewardship: A Playbook
CATAG Medicines Stewardship Toolkit
Join us as we talk with Prof Prash Sanders about the role of anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), learn when patients should be screened for AF, how to perform a stroke risk assessment and strategies to reduce the risk of bleeding.
This podcast is in collaboration with Medcast and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, a provider of health professional education in Australia focused on the quality use of medicines. Check out their resources here.
Clinical guide: Anticoagulant management for AF
Anticoagulant patient care plan
Prof Prash Sanders is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist with a focus on heart rhythm disorders, particularly atrial fibrillation. He graduated with Honours from the University of Adelaide and completed advanced training in Melbourne and Bordeaux, France, earning national and international recognition for his research and clinical expertise.
He is the Clinical Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and holds the Knapman – National Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiology Research at the University of Adelaide. Dr Sanders has published over 600 papers and is a leader in advanced ablation techniques. He consults and performs procedures across multiple hospitals and regional clinics in South Australia.
Jarrah is a clinical pharmacist with a passion for education and quality use of data. He has led national health programs, including GP audit and feedback initiatives and Indigenous health nKPIs. He is currently clinical lead at MedCast, supporting best practice care through the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance.
Naloxone has been available in Australia without prescription since 2022 (after pilot programs through 2019-2021, analysis showed this trial saved 3 lives per day). Join us as Kristin and Nat talk naloxone with Pharmacist Emily Turkovic. Emily shares her personal story and why she is passionate about ensuring that naloxone is widely available in our community. Listen in for tips and tricks on how to broach the subject with patients and ways to de-stigmatise naloxone.
Resources:
Opioid Safety Toolkit
Free Take Home Naloxone training program
Find out more about the Take Home Naloxone program here.
Take Home Naloxone Program Resources
Listen in as Kristin chats with Dr Ian Heslop about the health care needs of travellers, covering topics such as traveller’s diarrhoea, altitude sickness and more. Listen until the end to find out what Ian brings in his travel medicine kit!
Ian is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle and has a strong background in Hospital Pharmacy and in academia. He was involved in the establishment of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at James Cook University in Townsville - and whilst teaching at JCU, he completed his doctorate in travel health.
Listen in to our latest episode as Kristin chats with Chelsea Felkai about being a healthcare provider for patients with intellectual disability. Chelsea is a community pharmacist who is completing her PhD at the University of Newcastle.
You can find resources relating to the provision of inclusive healthcare and the NSQHS Standards User Guide for the Health Care of People with Intellectual Disability that Chelsea refers to in the podcast here.
Other resources include:
- PSA Medicine safety: disability care report https://www.psa.org.au/advocacy/working-for-our-profession/medicine-safety/disability-care/
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care - https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/intellectual-disability-and-inclusive-health-care
- Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 - https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/ads/strategy
- NDIS - https://www.ndis.gov.au/
- NDIS – Consumables - https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/consumables
- Guardianship Division - https://ncat.nsw.gov.au/how-ncat-works/ncat-divisions-and-appeal-panel/guardianship-division.html
- Behaviour Support Plans - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/behaviour-support-and-restrictive-practices
- Easy Read - https://pwd.org.au/resources/easy-read-info/
- Ten Principles of Good Prescribing (British Pharmacological Society’s Principles for Good Prescribing 2010)
- Maudsley deprescribing guidelines for antidepressants, benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids, and Z-drugs.
- PHARMACISTS OPTIMISING MEDICINES IN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND AUTISM (POMPIDA) – Facebook group
- Public Hearing Report – Hearing 6 (Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability)
Join Natalie as she chats with Dermatologist A/Prof Deshan Sebaratnam about the management of acne. Listen in as they chat about over the counter treatment options, what may have changed in acne management and the effectiveness of isotretenoin.
A/Prof Sebaratnam, in addition to his private practice, as a specialist dermatologist at Liverpool and Dubbo Base Hospitals in NSW.
Tune in as Dr Sayontonee Ghosh gives an overview of TB including:
- Transmission
- Diagnosis
- Screening
- Symptoms
- Treatment options
Did you know that PPIs are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in Australia according to PBS data? Join Kristin for a deep dive into proton pump inhibitors as she chats with Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist and Gastrointestinal endoscopist, Dr Kostas Brooks.
What dose PPIs should patients actually be taking? How do you manage rebound symptoms? Listen in to find out.
Join Kristin as she chats with Dr Gaurav Sutrave to chat about emergening treatments for fungal infections. Gaurav is a Staff Specialist Haematologist and Transplant and Cell Therapies Physician at Westmead Hospital, as well as the Medical Director for the Westmead T cell Therapies Laboratory.
Join Kristin and Nat as they chat with Shaylee Mills, The Rural Pharmacist.
Shaylee works in the beautiful Pilbara region of WA - google it - the scenery is spectacular! Although it is at least 17 hours drive from the nearest capital city (Perth) - Karratha is far from a small town and is home to around 22000 people. Shaylee shares what her world as a pharmacist looks like and some of the benefits (and challenges) of working rurally.
You can find Shaylee here and don’t forget to give Purple Pen a follow too!
Check out our latest episode as Kristin and Nat chat with Dr Jeremy McAnulty about the work undertaken by Public Health Units.
If you are from NSW, you may remember Dr McAnulty from the daily televised COVID updates - Dr Jeremy McAnulty is a public health physician and Executive Director of Health Protection NSW at NSW Health, overseeing the statewide public health aspects of communicable disease control and environmental health. From 2020 to 2022 he headed NSW Health’s COVID Public Health Response Branch.
Join Kristin for a deep dive into meningococcal disease with Dr Anita Campbell. Learn more about the various strains of meningococcal and their prevalence patterns in Australia and how that might impact the way we think about vaccination for meningococcal, using Men B as an example.
Dr Anita Campbell is a clinician researcher working as a paediatric infectious disease specialist and medical lead of the Stan Perron Immunisation service at Perth Children’s Hospital.
Join us for a very special World Pharmacist Day edition of the Purple Pen Podcast. Recorded live during pharmacy wellbeing week at Monash Health, Nat & Kristin reconnect with Jane Booth and Karlee Johnston to talk about Pharmacist Wellbeing. We explore the concepts of empathy, vulnerability, burnout and restorative supervision.
Our guest, Dr Karlee Johnston, is a clinical pharmacist with extensive experience in critical care and winner of the SHPA - Australian Clinical Pharmacy award in 2023. Karlee’s PhD focused on the experiences of Australian pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific interest in burnout in this cohort. Following from this research Karlee has continued to research burnout and possible interventions to better support healthcare professionals in their work.
Join Kristin as she chats with Rebekah Moles about fever. Rebekah is an Associate Professor in Pharmacy Practice at the University of Sydney and she is passionate about quality use of medicines in paediatric patients. She has conducted research on the management of common ailments such as fever and cough/cold in young patients.
Join us as we talk with Dr David Liew about the underappreciated condition of gout, dispell some myths and talk about what's changed in recommendations.
This podcast is in collaboration with Medcast and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, a provider of health professional education in Australia focused on the quality use of medicines. Check out their resources here.
Arthritis Australia have further information on gout here.
The 2015 study by Philip C Robinson is here An Observational Study of Gout Prevalence and Quality of Care in a National Australian General Practice Population
Kristin is joined by Professor Sanjay Swaminathan to talk all things MABs or monoclonal antibodies.
Dr Sanjay Swaminathan is a Clinical Immunologist and Allergist, he is a Senior Staff Specialist and Head of the Department of Immunology and Allergy at Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals.
Prof Asha Bowen is back to discuss Impetigo (also known as school sores), an infection of the skin caused by bacteria. Observational studies over four decades in northern Australia have found that Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in remote communities have the highest burden of impetigo worldwide.
Prof Asha Bowen is a paediatric infectious disease specialist and clinician-researcher at Perth Children’s Hospital and Telethon Kids Institute. She is Head of Department of Infectious Diseases at Perth Children’s Hospital.
National Healthy Skin Guidelines can be found here
RSV season is upon us, and there are a number of new exciting developments in the prevention of RSV to discuss! Listen in, as Prof Asha Bowen chats to Kristin and Natalie about the newest innovations in RSV immunisation and vaccination.
Prof Asha Bowen is a paediatric infectious disease specialist and clinician-researcher at Perth Children’s Hospital and Telethon Kids Institute. She is Head of Department of Infectious Diseases at Perth Children’s Hospital.
ATAGI statement in the use of Arexvy in older Australians
NCIRS FAQs relating to RSV
Information relating to WA RSV Immunisation Program
Information relating to the QLD RSV Immunisation Program
Clinician Guide to the NSW RSV Immununisation Program
Join Kristin as she chats with A/Prof Esmita Charani, PhD, MSc, MPharm, MRPSGB, about the way clinicians think and feel about antibiotic use, and in particular how these beliefs can impact their response to various antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Esmita also shares her research journey into broader human rights issues including bias and imbalance in low and middle income countries.
Esmita is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town where she is undertaking a Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowship investigating intersectionality and AMR (2023-2027). In the UK, she is an Honorary Reader in Infectious Diseases, AMR and Global Health at the University of Liverpool. She is a visiting Researcher at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen Norway, and Adjunct Professor at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala India, where she is involved in helping implement and investigate national antibiotic stewardship programmes. Her work in AMR has been recognised through the Academy of Medical Sciences UK-India AMR Visiting Professor award. She is involved in mentoring and supporting clinical pharmacists across different healthcare settings and economies in implementing antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Join Kristin as she talks with Dr Mark Horowitz about how to deprescribe psychotropics like antidepressants, what is known about the causes of depression, what evidence is behind the antidepressants commonly used, what the symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal look like and the origins of the phrase "it's Bedlam here."
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs are available for purchase here:
https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Maudsley+Deprescribing+Guidelines%3A+Antidepressants%2C+Benzodiazepines%2C+Gabapentinoids+and+Z+drugs-p-9781119823025
This podcast has been released to co-incide with MedsAware which is SHPA’s Deprescribing Action Week, 18-24 March 2024 - find out more here:
https://www.shpa.org.au/news-advocacy/MedsAware
Have a listen as Kristin talks to Associate Professor Deshan Sebaratnam about psoriasis. Who does it typically affect, how is it managed and there can be a lot more to psoriasis than meets the eye.
Tune in as Kristin chats to Pia Nairn, Clinical Audiologist at Lions Hearing Clinic to discuss Tinnitus, general advice for looking after your hearing and what to expect in a hearing assessment
Check out a bumper episode of the Purple Pen Podcast with Specialist Cardiac Pharmacist and PhD candidate Adam Livori as well discuss what in, and definitely what’s out when it comes to cholesterol management.
Adam is the Lead Pharmacist - Medical Specialties and Ambulatory Care at Grampians Health Services in Victoria and is the current Chair of the SHPA Cardiology Specialty Practice Leadership Committee. His PhD through Monash University is looking for patterns and predictors of clinical outcomes in myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation.
Connect with Adam via LinkedIn
Join us as Kristin talks to Natalie Raffoul (a pharmacist who now works at the Heart Foundation) to discuss the new Aus CVD Risk calculator and associated guideline. They also talk about the highlights of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Amsterdam this year.
https://www.cvdcheck.org.au/overview
https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-age-calculator
Natalie is joined by Dr Ian Bilmon, a senior consultant Haematologist working at Westmead Hospital and Sydney Adventist Hospital to do a deep dive into haemochromatosis. They cover:
- What is heriditary haemochromatosis or iron overload?
- How is haemochromatosis managed?
- What other conditions are patients with haemochromatosis at risk of?
- Who else is at risk of iron overload and how is it managed?
Avid Purple Pen listeners may recognise Dr Bilmon who has been on our podcast previously. Check out episode 70 where Ian goes back to Haematology Basics.
Kristin spoke with Dr Terri Foran to discuss Human papillomavirus (HPV). We covered: * the HPV vaccine * genital warts * cervical cancer * changes to National Cervical Screening Program (pap smears)
Kristin and Nat were at the 81st FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences this week in Brisbane. They caught up with Professor Parisa Aslani, Paul Sinclair AM, Anna Packer, Dr Sami Isaac, Aagam Bordia, Dr Kaitlyn Watson, Dr Michael Stepanovic and Dr Stephen Eckel. Have a listen for a taste of what the congress had to offer.
Link to the Basel Statements - https://www.fip.org/basel-statements#:~:text=The%20Basel%20Statements%20cover%20all,practice%20through%20updating%20the%20statements.
Happy World Pharmacist Day 2023!
Kristin and Natalie are joined by Tom Simpson, Executive Director - Statewide Hospital Pharmacy, Tasmania and President of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) to discuss opportunities for Australian pharmacists in 2023 and beyond.
Celebrating our 150th episode with pharmacist Karl Winckel from Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, as Kristin and Nat ask Karl to dispel some myths about metformin.
Resources related to this episode:
Risk of fatal and nonfatal lactic acidosis with metformin use in type 2 diabetes mellitus (Review)
Hospitalization for Lactic Acidosis Among Patients With Reduced Kidney Function Treated With Metformin or Sulfonylureas
Risk of Fatal and Nonfatal Lactic Acidosis With Metformin Use in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Chapter 12: Assessing Drug Safety Assessment: Metformin Associated Lactic Acidosis
Check out our latest episode as Natalie speaks with Dr Kristin Graham and Saraid Martin, both endorsed prescribing podiatrists, practicing in South Australia.
Make sure you listen until the end to get some valuable tips about how to protect your feet at work!
Prof Stephen Davis and Professor Geoffrey Donnan AO chat about the different types of strokes and how they are managed; the practice points of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and secondary prevention stroke. We also discuss emerging technology with lightweight brain scanners and stroke smart ambulances.
Did you know people with constipation have a higher all cause mortality than those with normal bowel function?
Join Natalie and Kristin as they get bogged down in the details of how to treat and manage constipation with Sydney based Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist and Gastrointestinal endoscopist, Dr Kostas Brooks.
Kristin is joined by Dr Timothy Matthews, to discuss Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL).
Dr Matthews is an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon with additional fellowship training in Otology and Neurotology (ear surgery/diseases). He has a special interest in minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery and hearing implants (including cochlear implantation).
Join Kristin in a showcase of the Australian Pharmacy Students’ Journal, as they celebrate their first year in publication.
Speakers include:
Elissar Mansour, Co-editor in Chief of the Australian Pharmacy Students’ Journal (APSJ)
Elishka Juricka, Co-editor in Chief of the Australian Pharmacy Students’ Journal (APSJ)
Maria Siskamanis, Clinical Pharmacist at Royal Darwin Hospital
Alanah Wilson, Intern Pharmacist at John Flynn Private Hospital
https://apsj.com.au/index.php/journal
In a special International Women's Day episode Kristin spoke to A/Prof Monique Watts, a cardiologist with special interest in women and heart health. Heart disease kills more than two times as many Australian women than breast cancer.
Listen in as Kristin speaks to Dr Melanie Bissessor from the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre with an update on HSV.
Join Kristin as she speaks to Dr Colin Tuft, Advanced Trainee in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital about all things sleep apnoea.
Kristin is joined by Dr Emma Goeman and Dr Jean Li-Kim-Moy to discuss the ins and outs of herpes zoster (more commonly known as shingles).
Kristin is joined by Dr Jerry Abraham Alex - a medical registrar from Western Australia.
They take an indepth look at Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease.
Kristin is joined by Dr Jerry Abraham Alex - a medical registrar from Western Australia.
They take an indepth look at Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease.
Kristin is joined by Thuy Bui, Lead Pharmacist - Analgesic Stewardship (AGS) & Perioperative Services at Alfred Health in Victoria to discuss the role of analgesic stewardship. In their discussion they address the importance of appropriate acute pain management, some of the clinical considerations for analgesic choice and the role of the perioperative pharmacist.
Note: this episode discusses the use of real-time prescription monitoring. The monitoring system and requirements for monitoring vary from state to state. Please refer to information from the jurisdiction where you practice for guidance on when you are required to use real-time prescription monitoring.
Kristin catches up with Ivette Aguirre and Dr Melanie Bissessor from the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, to discuss monkeypox. We talk about vaccination, treatment as well as symptoms, screening and diagnosis.
Kristin is joined by Dr Priya Sumithran, Endocrinologist and Clinician Researcher, to talk about treatment options for the management of type II diabetes. Priya leads the Obesity Research Group at the University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine (St Vincent’s) and is Head of Obesity Medicine at Austin Health.
*Note Wegovy (semaglutide) was not registered in Australia at the time of recording but has since been registered with the TGA (1st September 2022).
PBAC Public Summary Document - Wegovy (semaglutide) - March 2022 consideration
We are joined by anaesthetist A/Prof Christine Ball to discuss her book, The Chloroformist, and more...
Kristin speaks to Bronwyn Clark and A/Prof Faye McMillan about how to practice pharmacy in a culturally safe way. We also hear about the Australian Pharmacy Council's Leaders in Indigenous Pharmacy Profession Education (LIPPE) Network.
Kristin and Dan are joined by Associate Professor Naren Gunja - a clinical and forensic toxicologist from Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney.
We discuss Naren’s “top 5 issues” in toxicology - covering a wide range of topics including paracetamol, methylene blue, benzodiazepines and more.
Kristin is joined by Associate Professor Nicole Goh to talk Interstitial Lung Disease. Nicole is a respiratory and sleep physician at the Alfred and Austin Hospitals in Melbourne.
We are joined by Professor Ian Hickie, a Professor of Psychiatry and Co-Director of Health and Policy at the Brain Mind Centre. He last spoke to the podcast on treatment resistance depression. This time we discuss the challenges of bipolar disorder diagnosis, risk factors and the therapeutics used in treatment, especially the Australian wonder drug Lithium.
We are joined by Professor Ian Hickie, a Professor of Psychiatry and Co-Director of Health and Policy at the Brain Mind Centre. He last spoke to the podcast on treatment resistance depression. This time we discuss the challenges of bipolar disorder diagnosis, risk factors and the therapeutics used in treatment, especially the Australian wonder drug Lithium.
Kristin chats to Dr Emma Gray, consultant respiratory physician and visiting medical officer at Royal Prince Alfred. She is also a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney.
There have been some big changes in asthma management in recent years, and Emma talks us through the key points.
Kristin caught up with Leanne Teoh, a pharmacist, dentist and research fellow from the University of Melbourne and Sophie Beaumont, head of Dental Oncology at the Peter Mac to discuss all things oral cancer.
We learn about diagnosis, presentation, vaccination and red flags - as well as the critical value of saliva!
Sophie recommends the Oral cancer hub as a great learning resource: https://www.oralcancerhub.org.au/
We’re back for 2022 and now that’s school is in session we spoke to Prof Brendan McMullan about COVID19 in children. We discussed what COVID19 is like for kids, vaccination, current treatments and transmission.
In our last episode for 2021, Kristin chats with Professor Ian Hickie, co-Director of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney. We chat about treatment-resistant depression and learn all about the “happy accident'“ of esketamine.
Dan is joined by Professor Robyn Guymer AM from the Centre for Eye Research in Australia to discuss Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
We’re back! And Dan is joined by Professor Dave Coghill, a Child Psychiatrist and Chair of Developmental Mental Health at the University of Melbourne.
We discuss ADHD - an overview of its epidemiology and diagnosis, as well as existing and emerging treatments.
Kristin caught up with Conjoint Professor Michael Bennett AM (Academic Head, Wales Anaesthesia and Dept. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Prince of Wales Clinical School) to discuss Hyperbaric Medicine. It is used to treat decompression illness, carbon monoxide poisoning, necrotising infections, soft tissue & bony radiation injury and chronic non healing wounds.
Dan and Jane caught up with our friend Dr Nisha Khot, who is the Clinical Director of Obstetrics at Djerriwarrh Health Service in Victoria. We discuss the screening, management and impact of a wide variety of infections in pregnancy, including CMV, syphilis, COVID-19 and GBA. We briefly discuss listeria, to Nisha’s chagrin.
You should definitely follow Nisha on twitter
In a bumper episode, Kristin talks with ID physician and clinical microbiologist with Westmead Hospital and the Institute Of Clinical Pathology And Medical Research (ICPMR) Dr Indy Sandaradura.
They discuss all things clinical microbiology, from how tests are run to how microbiologists decide what to report, in terms of sensitivities and positive results.
Indy helps us understand why we still do Gram staining, first developed by Danish scientist Hans Christian Gram in 1884.
Kristin caught up with Dr David Woo, an Ophthalmic and Oculoplastics surgeon from the Sight Foundation at the Sydney Eye Hospital and the Sydney CBD eye clinic. We chat about orbital and periorbital cellulitis and other serious eye infections - including the red flags that differentiate these from common eye infections.
To find out more about Dr David, visit his website
Kristin was joined by Prof Sam Berkovic, Laureate Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, and Director of the Epilepsy Research Centre at Austin Health.
They discuss the diagnosis, treatment and management of epilepsy, including emerging therapies.
Visit Prof Berkovic’s University profile or the Epilepsy Research Centre’s website for a list of his research.
Kristin chats to Professor David Kissane about psycho-existential symptoms in Palliative Care. David is a consultant psychiatrist in psycho-oncology and palliative care at Monash Health and the Department of Psychiatry at Monash University.
We talk about:
- the current state of palliative care in Australia
- why patients are are often scared of commencing palliative care
- Differences in palliative care patient experience in the context of oncology
- An exploration of the terms psycho-oncology and the existential approach
- the role of pharmacotherapy in psycho-oncology
Today we talk all things oral health with Mark Schifter with a particular focus on Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and antibiotic use in dentistry
We welcome back Simon Lewis, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, who talks to Kristin about dementia.
They discuss the multiple types of dementia, as well as established and new treatment options.
You can learn more about Prof Lewis and his research at his website
Jane talks to Karlee Johnston, a pharmacist and PhD candidate at the Australian National University in Canberra. We talk about Karlee’s recently published paper: Burnout and the challenges facing pharmacists during COVID‑19: results of a national survey (International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-021-01268-5)
Keep an eye out for the repeat survey through our social media channels and your professional organisation.
If this episode raises any issues for you or someone that you care about, contact:
- Pharmacists Support Services: https://www.supportforpharmacists.org.au/
- Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
- Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Kristin spoke with Dr Eli Dabscheck and Dr Johnson George about all things Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) including:
- Risk factors
- Management
- Exacerbations of COPD and the issues around the appropriate use of antimicrobials in this situation
- The Therapeutic Guidelines and COPD-X Guideline recommendations
- Asthma and COPD overlap
- The benefits of medication reviews and COPD action plans
Kristin and Dan caught up with Associate Professor Vincent Lee for a discussion on all things Chronic Kidney Disease.
You can visit Vincent’s Uni website here
Dan and Jane spoke to Dr Amy Bohren about recruitment for early career graduates. Amy is the Principal Consultant and Director of Red Careers Australia. We asked Amy for some tips to help interns and early career pharmacists navigate the recruitment process.
We discussed:
- Where to look for your dream job
- Whether you should directly call an employer about a job?
- How long an application letter and CV should be
- Tips for a successful interview
- Our favourite fonts (!)
If you’d like to contact Amy for some more advice or access the articles we discussed, you can contact her via https://redcareersaustralia.com/. You can mention the podcast for a special rate.
In our second episode for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020, Dan and Kristin spoke to Dr Brendan McMullan. Brendan is a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist and Microbiologist, working at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, and a Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Women’s and Children’s Health at UNSW.
We discuss:
- the reasons why choice of antimicrobial can be different for children
- special considerations for paediatric antimicrobial use
- why kids get more infections than adults
- strategies for explaining a decision not to prescribe an antimicrobial
- how Kristin ruined her kindergarten Christmas play
In a bumper episode for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020, Jane and Kristin spoke to Tony Lai. Tony is the Senior Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney.
Here’s a list of the medicines that Tony discussed (and Jane and Kristin struggled to pronounce):
- cefidericol
- eravacycline
- rezafungin
- ibrexafungerp
- MAT2203 (Oral Ambisome)
Kristin and Dan chat with Prof Pablo Fernandez-Peñas about all things Dermatology. Pablo is Head of the Department of Dermatology at Westmead Hospital in Sydney and Professor in Dermatology at Sydney Medical School (The University of Sydney).
We went back to basics in this episode to understand the basis for prescribing topical products in common dermatological conditions. We also discussed the old chestnut about using steroid creams “sparingly” and why an expensive product won’t necessarily give you a better outcome.
Kristin catches with up Prof Simon Finfer, intensive care clinician and researcher and professor at The George Institute. They discuss all things sepsis, from identifying sepsis, early management, complications and new research being undertaken.
It’s World Mental Health Day. Dan and Kristin caught up with Dr Mark Cross, Psychiatrist and author. They discuss a range of mental health topics:
- changes in mental health literacy at a population level
- the mental health of health professionals
- mental health and well being in challenging times
- best practice prescribing of psychotropic medicines
You can read more about Mark’s work and his new book on the SANE Australia website.
Kristin is joined by Simon Lewis, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney to discuss Parkinson’s Disease.
We find out about:
- The link between COVID-19, Parkinson’s disease and your sense of smell
- Risk factors and causes of Parkinson’s disease
- Non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease
- Therapeutic options for Parkinson’s disease
- Potential future therapies on their way
Kristin and Dan caught up with Alicia Martin, author of the recent paper Gender balance in pharmacy leadership: Are we making progress?. We discuss Alicia’s findings and how well Australian pharmacy organisations are doing at representing women in leadership positions.
Alicia’s paper on Science Direct
Follow Alicia on twitter
Kristin and Dan spoke to Professor Steve Vucic about Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Steve is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Director of Neurophysiology and Consultant Neurologist at Westmead Hospital in Sydney.
We spoke about the basics of MND, current treatments and what the future may hold.
You can learn more about Steve’s work here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/steve-vucic.html
Kristin spoke to Dr Natasha Andreadis AKA the “Fanny Mechanic” a Integrative Fertility Specialist Gynaecologist Health Coach about all things In vitro fertilisation
In another best-of collection to celebrate our 100th episode, here are Kristin's Top Five favourite episodes:
Episode 65 - Surgery in the Victorian Era with Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, Author of "The Butchering Art"
Episode 83 - The Unexpected when you're Expecting with Dr Nisha Khot
Episode 72 - Is your postcode making you sick? The Australian Atlas of Health Variation - with Professor Anne Duggan & Meredith Page
Episode 93 - Ophthalmic Emergencies with Dr Tanya Karaconji
Episode 73 - Faecal Microbiota Transplants with Dr Sam Costello
In another best-of collection to celebrate our 100th episode, here are Jane’s Top Five favourite episodes:
- Episode 64: Are We Wasting Our Patient’s Time? with Brian Dolan
- Episode 20: Heart Failure with Rochelle Gellatly
- Episode 59: Interventions to Improve Analgesic Prescribing with Jenny Stephens
- Episode 80: Peri-operative medicines management with Tanya Selak
- Episode 99: National Reconciliation Week with Chastina Heck and Aleena Williams
To celebrate our 100th episode, we’re bringing you some highlights packages. First up is a recap of our five most downloaded episodes:
- Episode 1: Antibiotic Allergies with Jason Trubiano (with an update for Episode 50)
- Episode 45: Why tramadol sucks with David Juurlink
- Episode 49: Cardiovascular Therapeutic Guidelines update with Jane O’Connor and Dan Scherer
- Episodes 55 and 56: Antibiotic pharmacokinetics with Jason Roberts
- Episode 70: Haematology Basics with Ian Bilmon
In an episode to mark National Reconciliation week, Dan and Kristin spoke to Chastina Heck and Aleena Williams. Chastina is a clinical pharmacist at Logan Hospital and an Associate Lecturer at the University of Queensland. Aleena is the Director of Immunisations at the Northern Territory Public Health Directorate.
Chas and Aleena are both proud Aboriginal women and pharmacists. In this episode, they share their personal and professional stories with us.
National Reconciliation Week is from May 27 to June 3 2020. You can learn more here.
Kristin flies solo this week to talk to Dr Lisa Kouladjian O'Donnell, a consultant pharmacist and postdoctoral research associate affiliated with the NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, The University of Sydney, and the Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW.
Kristin and Lisa discuss:
- definitions of polypharmacy and deprescribing
- drivers of polypharmacy
- at-risk populations
- a collaborative approach to deprescribing
- the Drug Burden Index (DBI) calculator
You can read more about Lisa’s work here.
The Goal-directed Medication review Electronic Decision Support System (G-MEDSS) is here.
Kristin & Dan spoke to Prof Ramon Shaban, Clinical Chair of Infection Prevention and Disease Control, University of Sydney and Western Sydney Local Health District
We covered
- Australia’s interventions to reduce the spread of COVID-19
- Testing of COVID-19, including the difference between antibodies, antigens & PCR testing. Are false negatives an issue? The challenges of doing a good swab
- Asymptomatic spread and how significant it is in Australia
- Face masks, how they should be used and the basics of transmission
- What we know so far about reinfection and vaccination for COVID-19
Dan caught up with Mel Ankravs, chair of the SHPA Critical Care Leadership Group and Senior Pharmacist at the Royal Melbourne for a brief chat about the basics to caring for COVID-19 patients in the ICU.
We couldn’t cover everything in this episode, but Mel recommends these resources for a deeper dive:
National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce - an Australian repository of evidence for the management of COVID-19
Introduction to Critical Care: A COVID-19 Rapid Response document - a bigger introduction from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Kristin and Dan spoke to Professor Mary-Louise McLaws from the University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine. Professor McLaws is a renowned infection control expert with extensive experience in novel viruses such as SARS. She is also an expert on pandemics and outbreak investigations.
We covered:
• Why do novel virus cause so much concern compared to known entities such as the flu?
• How does COVID-19 compare to influenza or SARS?
• The finer points of quarantine
• An overview of surgical vs N95 masks and what is appropriate for COVID-19
• The treatments (remdesivir, chloroquine & angiotensin II receptor antagonists) for COVID-19 and when we can expect a vaccine for prevention
Kristin and Jane spoke to Professor Alex Broom from the University of Sydney. Alex is Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology and Social Policy.
We asked Alex:
- What is sociology, and how does it apply to studies of healthcare and illness?
- How are principles of sociology particularly relevant to addressing rising antimicrobial resistance?
- What effect does organisational culture have on the use of antimicrobials?
- How can sociology principles be used as a stewardship tool?
You can read more about Alex’s work on his University of Sydney Researcher Page.
WE’RE BACK!
Happy 2020 to all our listeners! Today Kristin and Dan are joined by Dr Tanya Karaconji, Ophthalmologist at Sydney Eye Hospital, where we discuss a number of topics related to eye emergencies. We discuss:
- Red flags for selling chloramphenicol
- Eye drops made of swimming pool tablets
- How damaging one eye can make you lose both
- Intravitreal injections and culturing the eye jelly
- Hourly eye drops for keratitis
In the last of our episodes from MM2019, we spoke to the 2019 SHPA Medal of Merit winner, Tom Simpson.
Tom is the Executive Director for statewide hospital pharmacy in Tasmania. He gave us a recap of his excellent oration, based around five pieces of advice for his younger self.
You can read more about Tom and the SHPA Medal of Merit here
Jane and Kristin caught up with Sir Harry Burns at MM2019 to discuss what are some of the social causes of wellness. Sir Harry is Professor of Global Public Health at the University of Strathclyde, a surgeon and one of the world’s leaders in addressing global health inequality
Recorded live at MM2019, Dan, Kristin and special guest host Viv Banks chat to some more poster presenters about their work.
Visit purplepenpodcast.com for links to the poster abstracts.
In the first of our episodes live from the SHPA Medicines Management 2019 conference, Jane and Kristin asked some poster presenters to talk about their work.
Visit purplepenpodcast.com for links to the poster abstracts.
Dan and Kristin are joined by Dr Rose Cairns from the University of Sydney and the NSW Poison’s Information centre to discuss the latest trends in codeine usage.
Dr Cairns’ research shows us that since codeine up-scheduled, less codeine overall is being used, patients do not seem to be switching to higher strength codeine products and opioid poisonings are down.
We also discuss whether there has been a switch to other prescription opioids, illicit opioids and the public perceptions of over the counter codeine.
In this episode, Dan and Kristin are joined by Professor Andrew Wilson, chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
We discuss:
- What the PBAC does
- How it makes decisions on which drugs to recommend for subsidy
- How decisions are made in difficult situations, for example with new drugs with very little long term information, or where prices are exceptionally high
The PBAC is an independent expert body appointed by the Australian Government. Members include doctors, health professionals, health economists and consumer representatives. You can find out more about the work of the PBAC here
If you are interested in learning more about QALY’s, Alwyn Smith’s 1987 article “Qualms about QALYs” is an interesting place to start.
Jane and Kristin are joined by Nat Tasker and Duncan McKenzie from the SHPA’s Medicines Management 2019 conference committee. We discuss highlights, include key plenaries, highlights, workshops and the gala dinner theme!
SHPA Medicines Management 2019 will be held from 14-16 November on the Gold Coast.
Visit the MM2019 website to view the program and register now!
(Sorry for Duncan’s audio freaking out around 10 minutes in!)
Jane and Kristin spoke to Dr Bec Szabo, a gynaecologist at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Topics covered in this episode:
- the impact of screening and HPV vaccination on the rate of cervical cancer in Australia
- the complex factors that impact on willingness and comfort discussing women’s health
- common myths and misconceptions around women’s health
- what the future might hold for greater diversity in healthcare leadership
- whether discussion about Eurovision is a valid method of contraception
Kristin and Dan caught up with Lauren Cortis, pharmacist and PhD candidate to talk about generalism, specialisation and how these interact with patients needing better care.
We discuss:
- The risks of specialisation to patient care, and how patients need generalists as much as specialists
- Why pharmacists specialise and how we can think about the future of pharmacy
- Why all pharmacists should work towards being better generalists
- Why specialisation can cause problems for patients with cancer or chronic disease
- How generalist care isn’t just adding together different specialists
- How ‘generalist’ as a word has negative connotations and how generalism is undervalued
Visit Lauren’s Blog to read more of her insightful thoughts
In today's episode, Kristin and Dan are joined by Dr Nisha Khot, obstetrician, educator and RANZCOG counsellor to discuss these common and potentially serious conditions in pregnancy.
We discuss:
- How we define and diagnose gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and the newer category of HELLP syndrome
- How pregnant womens present with these conditions - typical diagnosis, and new biomarkers
- Risks factors for these conditions
- Treatment and prevention options, including the role of aspirin and calcium supplementation
- Our treatment choices for controlling hypertension in pregnancy
Links from this episode:
Nisha’s twitter profile
The Society of Obstetric Medicines of Australian and NZ’s Guideline for the Management of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
Other guidelines from SOMANZ
Summary and Full Text of the MAGPIE trial - demonstrating the benefit of magnesium sulphate in pre-eclampsia
And! Remember that Early Bird Registration for Medicines Management 2019 closes on the 16th of September - not long to go! Register now and save up to $500!
In a special episode of the Purple Pen Podcast, Jane shares the story of her career journey. Originally presented at the 2018 SHPA Medicines Management Conference, Jane was invited to share her story again at Monash University which is where this episode was recorded.
More information about the SHPA mentoring program is available here. Information about the Pharmacist Support Service is available here.
Kristin and Dan were joined by Toni Howell, Medication Safety pharmacist from St V’s in Melbourne, and Chair of the SHPA Specialty Practice Leadership Group in Med Safety.
We had a really enjoyable chat, covering lots of topics, including:
- A day in the life of a med safety pharmacist
- The benefits of joining your SHPA Specialty practice group
- Handling of medicines
- The importance of managing risk
- Pros and Cons of Electronic medication management
- How medication safety is everyone’s job and crowd-sourcing patient care
- Bad handwriting (Doctors AND pharmacists)
- Nudging people to identify more med safety
A reminder! If you are an SHPA member you can join a a Specialty Practice Interest Group. And practice group members are eligible to stand for election to the Leadership Committee.
Jane and Dan caught up with Dr Tanya Selak, anaesthetist, Tweeter and co-host of the MedEd StuffNNonsense podcast.
We chat about silos and building good relationships in hospitals, common issues managing medicines in the peri-operative period and shortages, ah shortages…
You can follow Tanya on Twitter here and check out the MedEd StuffNNonsense podcast here and here.
In a special episode of the podcast, Dan caught up with Sejla and Rustie from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) about strategies for preventing and reducing harm from prescription medicines. Sejla and Rustie have some great practical and personal insights to share.
The resources that we discussed are available here:
- SafeScript (Victoria) training and information
- ADF Drug Facts
Dan and Kristin welcomed Cia Connell back to the podcast to tell us about some recent publications to guide management of atrial fibrillation. Cia is a clinical manger with the Heart Foundation and a specialist cardiology pharmacist.
We cover a lot of ground in this episode, from the basics of rate vs rhythm control to the most recent international guidelines.
You can read more here:
- The AUGUSTUS trial
- The CABANA trial
- National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand: Australian Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation 2018
- The Apple Heart Study
If you’re a cardiology nerd like Cia and Dan, you should check out some of our other episodes:
- Episode 3: New anticoagulants with Cia Connell
- Episode 15: Controversies about lipid-lowering therapies with Dr Rochelle Gellatly
- Episode 20: Heart failure with Dr Rochelle Gellatly
- Episode 41: Hot topics in cardiology with Garth Birdsey
- Episode 49: Therapeutic Guidelines: Cardiovascular version 7
This episode we celebrate the release of the new Therapeutic Guidelines - Antibiotic! Jane and Kristin are joined by Senior Editor Jess Gibney and Dr Emily Tucker, ID Physician from Flinders Medical Centre to discuss what’s new and what’s changed.
Things we learnt include:
- How to say Happy Easter in Greek
- How Therapeutics Guidelines put its expert groups together
- The process of updating guidelines
- Why TG is no longer being published in hard copy
- Changes to surgical prophylaxis recommendations
- The new inclusion of intravenous Amoxicillin/Clavulanate as a treatment option, and the behind the scenes discussion around the use of this agent, including dosing controversies
- New advice for Ceftriaxone dosage
- The choice to expand advice around “watching and waiting” and when NOT to use antibiotics
- A new approach to the classification of community acquired pneumonia
- Significant changes to advice around antibiotic allergies (side chains!)
- Some challenges in updating the paediatric section of the Guidelines
Visit the Therapeutic Guidelines at http://www.tg.org.au
Kristin and Jane are joined by Professor Jonathan Iredell, ID and Microbiology Consultant at Westmead and Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Sydney Medical School.
We discuss:
- What is a bacteriophage?
- How can they help in a battle against antimicrobial resistance?
- How do we use them? What’s the dose and route of administration?
- Which infections can they be used for?
- How can they be regulated?
- What adverse effects can we expect from phage therapy?
Further reading:
The Perfect Predator: A Scientist's Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug : A Memoir by Stephanie Strathdee and Thomas Patterson, available at the Book Depository
Professor Iredell’s research page at Sydney Uni
A review of phage therapy published this year by Patey and colleagues (Full text available)
Jane and Kristin spoke to David Ellis, a senior specialist pharmacist and team leader for non-sterile production at the Women's and Children's hospital in Adelaide. He's also a contributor to the Australian Don't Rush to Crush Handbook.
We spoke to David about the newest edition of Don't Rush to Crush. Monographs now contain information on the best way to give a dose that is less than a whole tablet or capsule. David talks us through the development of the new information and common pitfalls in giving a partial oral dose.
This episode is brought to you by two upcoming conferences:
- The Alcohol and Drug Foundation 2019 National Prevention in Practice Conference (Melbourne, June 24th and 25th) https://adf.org.au/conference/
- The SHPA 2019 Electronic Medication Management Conference (Sydney, June 22nd and 23rd) https://shpa.eventsair.com/emm-conference/
Jane and Kristin spoke to Dr Sam Costello, a gastroenterologist from South Australia about Faecal Microbiota Transplants - more loosely known as "poo transplants".
It's a fascinating discussion about the practicalities around screening donors, administration of FMT and the emerging evidence for this treatment.
Kristin and Jane caught up with Professor Anne Duggan, a gastroenterologist, and Meredith Page, a pharmacist, who work at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
We spoke about:
- What is healthcare variation and why do we measure it?
- Is variation necessarily a bad thing?
- How does Australia compare internationally with what is measured in our Atlas, for example medication us or surgery?
- How measuring healthcare variation can be used to enact change
Find out more about the Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation
f you found any of the topics discussed in this episode distressing, you can reach out for confidential advice to Pharmacists Support Service at supportforpharmacists.org.au or on 1300 244 910. Our medical colleagues can visit the Australasian Doctors’ Health Network - adhn.org.au
Dan and Jane are joined by Dr Ash Witt, a Physician trainee to discuss the issue of wellbeing in the medical workforce.
We discuss:
- How the current system lets down junior doctors
- What a typical career path for a junior doctor looks like
- The brave and moving blog post by Dr Yumiko - “The Ugly Side of Becoming a Surgeon”
- Rostering, overtime and nightshifts
- How to choose a coffee!
We are indebted to Ash for her bravery in speaking out on these key issues. Follow her on twitter: @dr_ashwitt - please be sure to thank her if you enjoyed the episode.
Kristin and Dan get back to basics in Haematology from Dr Ian Bilmon, a Haematologist & BMT Physician at Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead and Sydney Adventist Hospital
We talk about:
- the most common haematological malignancies and how they differ
- How these conditions present, what initial treatment looks like and how the prognosis differs
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What's on the horizon for Haematology
Dan and Kristin spoke to Dr Juanita Westbury, Senior Lecturer with the Wicking Dementia Research & Education Centre at the University of Tasmania about the best practice use of antipsychotics in aged care.
We spoke to Juanita about:
- The roles for pharmacists in aged care facilities
- Common issues with medicines use in aged care facilities
- Complexities around the term “chemical restraint”
- Best practice for the management of behavioural symptoms of dementia
We caught up with Dr Simone Taylor from Austin Health and Amy McRae from Alfred Health about their work. Both Simone and Amy had projects featured in the “Time To Shine” session at last year’s SHPA Medicines Management Conference.
Amy’s paper is titled “Collaboration Between Healthcare and Industry to Improve the Safety of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents in Australia”. It describes an initiative to improve the packaging and labelling of these high-risk medicines.
Simone’s paper is titled “Emergency Department Screening Tools to Assist Pharmacists Targeting Patients at Risk For Medication Related Problems”. It describes the development of a tool to help pharmacists to identify patients who are at highest risk and would benefit most from pharmacist intervention.
Recorded live at MM2018 in Brisbane, Dan and Kristin sat down with Erica Tong, Deputy Director of Pharmacy and Chief Pharmacy Information Officer for Alfred Health about partnered pharmacist medication charting.
We spoke to Erica about her team’s work developing a model for partnered pharmacist medication charting on admission to hospital and the safety outcomes that have been achieved.
Happy holidays! The team is taking an episode off over Christmas, and in honour of Rohan’s Clinical Pharmacy award at 2018, we are re-broadcasting this “classic hit”. We will see you all in the new year with some great new episodes
Jane and Dan spoke to Dr Rohan Elliott, senior pharmacist in aged care at Austin Health, adjunct senior lecturer at Monash University, and a research consultant with the Royal District Nursing Service Institute.
We talk to Rohan about:
· The definition of geriatric medicine, and what it means to be frail
· How the geriatric medicine approach differs from other specialties
· Decision making in geriatric medicine
In this very special holiday episode, Dan and Kristin are joined by Dr Lindsey Fitzharris. Lindsey has a PhD in History from Oxford University and authored the wonderful book “The Butchering Art” which details the efforts of Joseph Lister to make surgery safer.
We discuss:
- What surgery was like before anaesthetics and antiseptics
- How these agents were introduced to Britain
- Why you didn’t want surgery in a hospital in the 1800s
- Two key surgeons in Victorian Britain: Liston and Lister
- Joseph Lister’s relentless drive to introduce antiseptics to surgical practice
- Lots of gory details about surgery 150 years ago!
Recorded live at MM2018, the 44th SHPA National Conference, Jane, Dan and Kristin caught up with keynote speaker Prof Brian Dolan. Brian is Director of Health Service 360 (UK) and Director of Service Improvement, Canterbury District Health Board, NZ where his role includes whole system culture engagement and change.
- why boredom could be worse than smoking for our patients
- the language that we use in healthcare that can be problematic for our patients
- what is meant by the term “PJ Paralysis” and how this became a movement
This is Part 2 of our episode recorded live at the Antibiotic Allergy in Practice Workshop at Austin Health. We spoke to Prof Elizabeth Phillips, Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University (USA); Prof Connie Katelaris, Allergist and Immunologist at the University of Western Sydney and Campbelltown Hospital; and Dr James Yun, Allergist and Immunologist and the University of Sydney.
We were really lucky to get to speak to this panel of experts. We asked them about:
- practical aspects of delabelling antibiotic allergies
- the emerging role of genetic testing
- why not all SCARs are created equal
- emerging treatment options for severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)
- the long-term sequelae of a severe adverse reaction
Jane and Dan attended the Antibiotic Allergy in Practice Workshop, held at Austin Health.
In this bumper episode we speak with a number of distinguished guests around the management of antibiotic allergy:
- Dr Ar Kar Aung, ID Physician from The Alfred discusses the classification and detection of antibiotic adverse reactions
- Dr MIchelle Goh, Dermatologist at Alfred Health, Austin Health and Peter MacCallum regarding characterising allergy phenotypes
- Dr Natasha Holmes, ID and Antibiotic Allergy Physician, on drug induced acute interstitial nephritis
- Karen Urbancic, ID Pharmacist at Austin Health and the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, on the practicalities of desensitisation protocols.
Back by popular demand, Prof Jason Roberts joins Dan to discuss ceftriaxone. They discuss situations where ceftriaxone is useful (spoiler: it's not "being an inpatient") and some pharmacokinetic quirks.
Jane caught up with A/Prof Ernie Butler, neurologist and head of the Monash MS Clinic at the SHPA Vic Branch symposium. We discuss:
- Why neurology is the most interesting specialty
- Background to MS - the link to the sun and its symptoms and progression
- Management of MS with traditional drugs, and how the monoclonal antibodies fit into practice
- Monitoring for side effects, including screening for JC virus
- Managing these side effects
Jane chats with Dr Jenny Stephens, pain specialist and anaesthetist at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.
Jane and Jenny discuss:
- The significance of Australia’s problem with prescription opioids
- How the risks of post-operative opioids may start before admission
- The problems, beyond dependance, caused by long term opioid use
- Risk factors for opioid dependance post-discharge
- How Australia compares to the rest of the world with regard to problems with prescription opioids
- The impact of a pharmacy-led intervention at St Vincent’s Sydney
- Empowering junior doctors to stand up for good opioid prescribing
- Simple interventions pharmacists can make to help
- Empowering patients and managing their expectations around analgesia
Jane and Dan caught up with Chris Braithwaite, a pharmacist with the Galambila Aboriginal Health Service in Northern NSW.
Chris spoke to us about:
- his journey to working with indigenous communities
- what an average day looks like
- the challenges posed by existing funding models for home medicines reviews
- cultural competence and institutional racism
Jane and Dan caught up with Chris Braithwaite, a pharmacist with the Galambila Aboriginal Health Service in Northern NSW.
Chris spoke to us about:
- his journey to working with indigenous communities
- what an average day looks like
- the challenges posed by existing funding models for home medicines reviews
- cultural competence and institutional racism
Dr Kimberley Haines, Vice Chair of ANZICS Victorian Branch and ICU Physio at Western Health joins Dan and Jane to discuss survival following ICU admissions.
Dr Kimberley discusses her journey to research, what happens to patients following ICU discharge and how we can improve the ICU journey for patients, staff and family.
Jane and Dan caught up with Professor Jason Roberts, NHMRC Practitioner Fellow at The University of Queensland and Consultant Clinical Pharmacist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Jason is a senior member of the Burns Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre within the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research and is Director of the Centre for Translational Anti-infective Pharmacodynamics in School of Pharmacy where he is also Chair of the research Strategies Committee.
We could have talked to Jason all day. In part two of our two-part discussion on pharmacokinetic modelling of antimicrobials we talk about:
- different pharmacodynamic models for antimicrobials: concentration, time and AUC dependant
- the clinical evidence for using pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling
- future directions for clinical pharmacokinetics
Jane and Dan caught up with Professor Jason Roberts, NHMRC Practitioner Fellow at The University of Queensland and Consultant Clinical Pharmacist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Jason is a senior member of the Burns Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre within the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research and is Director of the Centre for Translational Anti-infective Pharmacodynamics in School of Pharmacy where he is also Chair of the research Strategies Committee.
We could have talked to Jason all day. In part one of our two-part discussion on pharmacokinetic modelling of antimicrobials we talk about:
- Jason's pathway to a research career and the projects that his team are currently working on
- The patients and pathogens that benefit from individualised dosing of antimicrobials
- The narrowing therapeutic indices of some antimicrobials
- Some under-recognised adverse effects of beta-lactam antibiotics
- how to apply pharmacokinetics and individualised dosing in everyday practice
Dan caught up with NAPSA President Sandra Minas at the inaugural SHPA-NAPSA symposium in Melbourne on Friday. We discussed issues facing students, the results of the latest NAPSA survey and key programs being rolled out by NAPSA.
We learn that despite concerns about graduate numbers, the rise of discounters and low pay, almost all pharmacy students are dedicated to their profession, and are looking forward to their careers.
Jane and Dan spoke to Horst Thiele from the Primary Care and Transitions of Care specialty practice leadership group.
We asked Horst about the barriers and opportunities for pharmacists to assist patients at transitions of care and the evidence base for these services.
Dan and Jane are joined by Clarissa Rentsch to discuss updates on Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Clarissa Rentsch.
Clarissa is the Senior Pharmacist - Gastroenterology at Alfred Health, and discusses new therapy for IBD, the developing role for TDM in the management of this disease and her innovative clinic based role at The Alfred.
We discuss:
- Commencing therapy with and monitoring purine analogues
- Infliximab - its expanding role in therapy, and the emerging field of TDM for biologicals
- Clarissa's innovative role in the clinics, including dose adjustment and monitoring.
Jane and Dan spoke to Dr Manuel Serrano Santos, Lecturer of Pharmacy at QUT and member of the editorial committee for the third edition of Don't Rush to Crush.
We spoke to Manuel about:
- his role as a specialist dysphagia pharmacist
- what goes wrong when medicines are modified inappropriately
- common reasons for making mistakes when modifying medicines
This is a reboot of our first ever episode: Antibiotic Allergies with Dr Jason Trubiano
For our special 50th Episode we first discuss some things we've learned from making the podcast. Then Jane caught up with Dr Jason Trubiano, an Infectious Diseases Physician from Austin Health. Jason appeared on our first episode, and in Episode 50 we get an update on the world of antibiotic allergies and bust some more myths.
We're also re-releasing Episode One as a special 50th Episode treat.
Jane caught up with two members of the writing group for the recently updated Therapeutic Guidelines: Cardiovascular. Confusingly, they are also called Jane and Dan! Jane O'Connor is an Editor at Therapeutic Guidelines and Dr Daniel Scherer is a Cardiologist and PhD Candidate at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
Dan discusses PREPx with three experts: A/Prof Edwina Wright from The Alfred, Monash Uni and The Burnet Institute, Alison Duncan, Lead Pharmacist for HIV at The Alfred and Luxi Lal, Pharmacist and Scientist from the Burnet Institute.
We were so fortunate to have Edwina - who ran the pivotal Australian trials and was so kind in sharing her knowledge with us.
We learn about:
- How the key Australian studies were set up and run
- Novel dosing modalities
- Information for pharmacists and key counselling points for dispensing PREP
- Side effects and monitoring with PREP
- How PREP is changing the paradigm of HIV prevention
Jane and Dan talk Specialty Practice with Courtney Munro and Suzanne Newman from SHPA and Susie Welch from St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.
We talk about: * Development of standards of practice * How involvement in specialty practice can form part of your CPD plan * What can be gained from involvement in a Specialty Practice Stream * Hot topics in Emergency Medicine
Jane and Dan spoke to Bronwyn Clark, CEO of the Australian Pharmacy Council and Catriona Bradley, Executive Director of the Irish Institute of Pharmacy. Bronwyn is the Host Committee Convenor and Catriona is a keynote speaker at the upcoming Life Long Learning in Pharmacy Conference.
We discuss different models for assessing pharmacist competence, how to measure and develop competency in soft skills and what patients want pharmacists to be doing.
Dan is joined by eminent physician, pharmacologist and former pharmacist Prof Dave Juurlink from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
We talk about:
- Why Tramadol is a bad choice of analgesia
- Why Codeine upscheduling is a good idea for Canada and Australia
- How scheduling impacts medication choice
- How a 100-word "paper" in NEJM contributed to the opioid epidemic
In the lead up to International Women’s Day 2018, Jane sat down with three Pharmacy Leaders: Sue Kirsa (Director of Pharmacy, Monash Health), Nicole Dirnbauer (Assistant Deputy Director of Pharmacy, Monash Children’s Hospital) and Marisa Hodgkinson (SHPA Victorian Branch Committee Chair).
We talk about:
- Challenges and things that have helped build a career
- Whether a mentor is necessary for success
- Whether we still need to be talking about women in healthcare leadership
At the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA)’s International Women’s Day Breakfast Debate, members can make up their own minds as thought leaders from Australian clinical pharmacy debate: Priority or luxury? Flexible hours in clinical pharmacy practice.
Jane and Dan spoke to Janelle Penno, Perioperative Medicine Pharmacist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. Janelle's paper "Improving Medication Labelling - Patients Driving Their Information" was awarded best paper at the MM2017 conference in November.
We spoke to Janelle about:
Patients' preferences for medicine instructions
Principles of Plain English communication
Useful resources to help improve the way that health professionals communicate with their patients
ane talks to Benita Suckling, a clinical pharmacist with the Opioid Stewardship Service at Redcliffe Hospital in Queensland.
We spoke about:
A model for an opioid stewardship service, and why it is beneficial
Risk factors for inappropriate opioid use post discharge
Strategies to optimise pain management on discharge
SHPA members can join the Pain Management Specialty Practice stream to connect with other pharmacists working in this area
Jane and Dan spoke to Garth Birdsey, Senior clinician pharmacist at Barwon Health.
We asked Garth about:
Real world experience with DOACs in special patient groups
Concerns about under-dosing patients with DOACs
Optimal use of beta-blockers and why metoprolol 12.5 mg bd is often inappropriate in IHD
In our final MM2017 episode, we speak to Rahul Singal Associate Chief Pharmacist - Operational Productivity at Kings College Hospital in London. Rahul was a keynote speaker at SHPA MM2017.
We talk to Rahul about:
The future for pharmacists in the UK and Australia
How pharmacists can improve patient safety at transitions of care
Models for pharmacist prescribing
Professional responsibilities and expanded roles
Jane and Dan spoke to Dr James Edwards at MM2017. James is a Senior Staff Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, he is also the founder of www.onthewards.org which is designed to assist medical practitioners in their earliest days of postgraduate practice.
We spoke to James about: * FOAM (Free Open Access Medical Education) * Different models of education for health professionals * Dissemination of research and digital scholarship * Quality control issues for open access information
Jane and Dan caught up with Professor Zubin Austin at the recent MM2017 SHPA Conference where he was a keynote speaker. Professor Austin is the Murray Koffler Chair in Management at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the professional and personal development of the health human resources workforce. '
We spoke to Zubin about: * Culture shock * Defining a professional culture * How understanding the culture of different health craft groups can improve the relationships between them
Jane and Dan caught up with Natalie Tasker and Kristin Xenos, two members of the MM2017 Conference Scientific Program committee for a recap of the conference.
Live from Day 2 of the SHPA MM2017 conference, Jane and Dan caught up with some notable attendees:
- Amanda Horiniak, Resident Pharmacist at Alfred Health and newly awarded Resident of the Year
- Andrew Matthews, General Manager, Workforce Transformation at SHPA
- Stephen Bazire, author of the Psychotropic Drug Directory.
In the first of our special series of episodes live from MM2017, we are talking to A/Prof Thomas Gottlieb, Senior Staff Specialist in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Concord Hospital in NSW.
A/Prof Gottlieb's presentation at MM2017 is titled "Do More AMS, Pearls from Years in the Life of AMS". We spoke to A/Prof Gottlieb about challenges and wins in antimicrobial stewardship, engaging clinicians and patients and driving behavioural change.
In a preview of the upcoming SHPA Conference, we have two guests this week:
- Emeritus Professor Kim Oates, Director of Undergraduate Quality and Safety Education at the Clinical Excellence Commission in Sydney. Prof Oates is presenting a Plenary about patient safety.
- Fiona Doukas is an Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney. Fiona is on the conference organising committee.
Medicines Management 2017, the 43rd SHPA National Conference is in Sydney for 16-19th November full MM2017 program is here: https://mm2017shpa.com/
Jane spoke to Paul Tait, lead Palliative Care Pharmacist for the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
We spoke about: * The differing presentations of palliative care patients. * Interventions to improve access to end of life medicines for community palliative care patients. * Useful resources for health professionals.
Jane and Dan spoke to Kate O'Hara, Lead Pharmacist for Women, Youth and Children at The Canberra Hospital.
We talk about:
- The many ways that paediatric patients are different to adults
- Pharmacokinetic differences between adults and children
- Off-label use of medicines in paediatrics and the associated practicalities
At the recent 2017 SHPA Residency Symposium, Dan joined Beth Ward, Foundation Program Manager at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Ian Coombes, SHPA Vice President and Director of Pharmacy at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital to discuss plans and programs to support and develop our workforce.
Jane sat down with Dr Chris Leung from Austin Health. Chris is a gastroenterologist, medical lead for clinical education and local clinical lead for Choosing Wisely.
Jane and Chris talk about: * the reasons why proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are in the top 10 most commonly prescribed medicines in Australia * the problems associated with long-term PPIs * The general principles of the Choosing Wisely campaign in Australia