Pharmacy Business and Career Network Podcast: Recent Episodes
Pharmacy Business & Career Network Podcast
Welcome to the Pharmacy Business & Career Network Podcast, brought to you by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Focussing on pharmacy management and ownership, the PBCN podcast supports the improvement and growth of your business performance with insights and advice from a range of industry professionals.
The PBCN Podcast; supporting your journey every step of the way.
Clinical Governance – we all know about it, but what is it really, why does it matter, and how can we move beyond just ticking boxes to make it a practical, impactful part of our everyday work?
Chantelle Turner is a Pharmacist Leadership Coach at Turn Pharmacy Leadership, and joins the show to share her insights on making clinical governance practical and ensuring that everyone in your pharmacy understands why it’s important and how to implement it themselves.
We'll uncover the strategies and practices that can transform clinical governance from a bureaucratic chore into a dynamic framework for improving quality, safety, and accountability in pharmacy.
Enjoy
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Hear from Excellence in Professional Innovation winner at the Guild Pharmacy of the Year, Karen Carter from Narrabri Pharmacy.
Karen will delve into the pharmacy's journey from overcoming workforce challenges to improving and implementing new services.
You'll uncover the strategies driving positive change and enhancing well-being in their community, and we’ll see exactly what secured them the win.
Enjoy.
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This week is Heart Week! Heart Week provides an opportunity for health professionals and the Australian public to start a conversation about heart health and take positive steps to reduce their risk of heart disease.
One health professional contributing to better heart health is Grace Lee from Capital Chemist O’Connor who is providing a holter monitoring service through her pharmacy.
A holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records the heart's rhythm and is used to detect or determine the risk of irregular heartbeats.
In this episode, Grace explains what providing the service is like, from a pharmacy owner's perspective, including the concerns, how much it costs, and whether it is actually worth it.
Enjoy.
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The Guild Pharmacy of the Year Award recognises pharmacies that are leading the way in providing innovative and optimal healthcare for members of their community.
This year's winner is none other than Capital Chemist Southlands, who took home the 'Excellence in Business Management’ category as well as the overall ‘Pharmacy of the Year’ award!
Praised for their excellent business strategy, leadership, and understanding of their community, Capital Chemist Southlands is a worthy winner of the award.
In this episode, we speak to Louise McLean, one of the owners of Capital Chemist Southlands, and we’ll hear a little about her Pharmacy of the Year experience, as well as some of the things they’ve done throughout the years that have led to their success.
The Guild Pharmacy of the Year award is proudly sponsored by Care Pharmaceuticals.
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We all know the last few years have been tough on pharmacists. From COVID-19 to bushfires and floods and financial uncertainties, there seems to always be something going on.
In this episode we will hear an interview with Kay Dunkley, Executive Officer at Pharmacists’ Support Service, and Curtis Ruhnau, the Pharmacists' Support Service president, which took place at APP2024 with Australasian Pharmacy.
We’ll learn a little bit more about PSS, and why it is such a valuable service for pharmacists to have.
Enjoy.
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Close the Gap is an important awareness day that aims to close the health and life expectancy gap between the indigenous and non-indigenous.
As a pharmacist and pharmacy owner, what role can you play in helping close this gap?
Today we speak to Georgina Twomey, the Managing Director at Alive Pharmacy Group and chair of Rural Pharmacists Australia.
Together, we’ll explore some important questions such as why the gap exists in the first place and how to manage cultural barriers or misconceptions, as well as what’s happening in rural pharmacies on a national scale.
Enjoy.
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As a business owner, you know that renewing a lease can be a crucial decision. Rent is the biggest expense for most pharmacies, so you want to make sure you get it right.
But how do you ensure you're getting the best deal? What factors should you consider when negotiating a lease? And how can you navigate the complexities of the rental landscape to secure a favorable agreement?
In this episode, we’ll be speaking with two experts who have contributed to the Guild’s Pharmacy Rental Report and who can help shed some light on the intricacies of the rental report.
plus, we'll get an update on changes and impacts in regards to the Industrial Relations legislation.
Enjoy.
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In 2023, we once again welcomed lots of fantastic guests onto the show who shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we’ve once again gone back through the episodes and pulled out the question and full answer for you and created more ‘Best of’ episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our amazing guests, as we look back at 22 shows, those being episodes 116 to 136.
In this Best of episode, the second of the two, we cover episodes 127 to 136.
Enjoy.
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In 2023, we once again welcomed lots of fantastic guests onto the show who shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we’ve once again gone back through the episodes and pulled out the question and full answer for you and created more ‘Best of’ episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our amazing guests, as we look back at 22 shows, those being episodes 116 to 136.
In this Best of episode, we cover episodes 116 to 126.
Enjoy.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Having to deal with aggressive or stressed customers is an unfortunate reality when working in community pharmacy during the holiday seasons.
How do you help your staff manage hostile interactions while prioritising the safety of themselves and other patients? How can you, as a manager, create an environment where your staff feel supported and empowered to stand up for themselves?
This episode is a timely exploration of a topic that holds immense relevance during the holiday hustle. Joining the show is Mark Oostergo, a workplace psychologist from Australian Psychological Services, to shed light on navigating the complexities of occupational violence and aggression in the pharmacy realm.
A remember that your well-being matters, and creating a positive workplace culture is essential. If you require some extra support during the holidays, a reminder that the Guild offers an Employee Assistance Program via TELUS Health. You can find more information here.
Or, you can listen to our episode TELUS Health EAP – A Wellbeing Toolbox In Your Pocket - Kylie Hancock and Shayne Dearling - Ep 133
Enjoy
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As more services and procedures are introduced into pharmacy, so is the chance that something eventually goes wrong, and an incident report must be made.
Hayley Smilie, from PDL, is the person on the other side of the incident reports. As a professional officer and a pharmacist herself, Hayley has a lot of knowledge when it comes to handling incidents and other tricky situations that a pharmacist might eventually encounter.
For example, how do you decide which one of your patients receives a life-saving drug when it’s in shortage, but others need it too?
Or, how do you handle a situation where a key employee is caught participating in unethical behaviour?
Hayley has the answers to those questions and more.
Enjoy.
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Nowadays, most medication is mass produced. However, what if a patient has a condition where the stock-standard medicines aren't available?
That’s where our compounding pharmacists step in.
In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of compounding. How are customised medications made, how are complex compounding requests handled, and what actually goes into setting up a compounding pharmacy?
In this episode we hear from Jack Hammond, a compounding pharmacist with over 18 years of experience. With experience in manufacturing, cosmetics, veterinary, nutrients, childrens, and geriatric compounding, Jack can help with all compounding needs.
Enjoy.
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We’ve all had that moment of wanting to speak to someone about something that bothers us, but not knowing who to turn to, or if our issue is even big enough to be taken seriously.
In this episode, Kylie Hancock and Shayne Dearling, are here to shed light on an invaluable resource that's often underutilised but can make a world of difference in the lives of not only pharmacy staff but also their close family – the TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program.
The TELUS EAP is a fantastic tool for empowering you to take the steps needed to manage your well-being and provides a host of resources and clinicians to support you when you need it – no issue is ever too small to discuss.
So, if you have ever wondered how to tackle those moments when something is bothering you, or if you've questioned whether your concerns are worth addressing, this episode is for you.
Enjoy
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Colby Diek originally had no thoughts on working in pharmacy – yet here she is now, taking home the crown as the 2023 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year!
Stumbling into pharmacy by chance, 20 years ago, Colby has grown to love everything about it.
In this episode, we hear from Colby about her journey from being nominated for Pharmacy Assistant of the Year, to the months following, where she stood on the stage as her name was called out as the winner.
Her experience is filled with new skills, friendships, some borrowed clothes, and lots of wonderful support!
Enjoy
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We return to a panel of Australian and international pharmacists, some of whom are trained as prescribing pharmacists, who spoke at the APP conference in March 2023.
This panel session took a deep dive into the experiences of prescribing pharmacists in the UK, discussing how pharmacists need to prepare, how new programs will actually be rolled out, and how full scope will assist patients.
The conversation was facilitated by Kos Sclavos AM with panelists:
- Sara Kemp, Senior Manager – Full Scope Project (Qld), The Pharmacy Guild of Australia;
- Johnson Lee, Chief Pharmacist (NSW), The Pharmacy Guild of Australia;
- Zoe Girdis Practice, Policy and Regulations Director, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia;
- Mark Burdon, UK Pharmacist & Secretary General, World Pharmacy Council; and
- Oliver Williams, UK Pharmacist.
Enjoy.
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Ultan is the General Manager at Arthritis Queensland, an organization committed to improving the lives of those suffering from arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions.
In his role at Arthritis Queensland, Ultan has been instrumental in driving forward initiatives aimed at education, policy development, and quality of life improvement for arthritis patients. With a passion deeply rooted in helping those living with this often misunderstood condition, his contributions have significantly influenced our understanding and management of arthritis.
Enjoy.
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Simon Fletcher is a true guru when it comes to managing underperformance in teams and, in this episode, will focus on just one tool of many - the Situational Leadership Model.
Simon has a ton of experience in leadership and knows the ins and outs of teamwork and motivation.
Level up your leadership skills as Simon shares practical strategies to tackle underperformance head-on and empower your pharmacy for success.
Enjoy.
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Can having a robust social media presence actually contribute to a better pharmacy patient experience? The answer is yes!
By engaging and interacting with patients online, pharmacies can foster a sense of trust, care, and accessibility. After all, in today's digital age, a thriving social media presence is more than just likes and follows; it's an avenue for nurturing a strong patient-pharmacy relationship.
In this episode, Sarah Rendell from Peak Strategies delves into the 'whys' of why pharmacies should establish a strong social media presence. She shares her expertise on the power of connecting with your audience in the digital realm and why understanding your audience is the cornerstone of social media success.
We explore the dos and don'ts of social media for pharmacies and the significance of striking the right balance in your posts. We’ll discover how to present your pharmacy as an indispensable resource while building genuine connections with your community – all through social media.
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Learn what patients think of Australian healthcare.
Our guest, Stephen Mason, Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Patients Association, takes us through the results of the recent Australian Healthcare Index.
The Australian Healthcare Index provides a pulse check on healthcare in Australia from its patients’ perspectives and experiences. More than 10,000 adults across Australia participated in supporting the survey and provided their personal points of view and experiences of the public and private healthcare ecosystem.
Stephen explains the report’s key findings and trends, helping us understand what Australians think of our healthcare system, and what it all means for healthcare professionals.
To learn more about the Australian healthcare Index and to read the report, visit the link in the show notes at guild.org.au.
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Every pharmacist knows the importance of excellent patient care in pharmacy and the vital role pharmacists play in ensuring patient safety. However, something that is just as important is prioritising the well-being and professional growth of your pharmacy staff.
Joining us in this episode is Lucinda Marks, managing partner at Capital Chemist Calwell and one of the finalists for the Guild Pharmacy of the Year Award in 2023. When it comes to staff, Lucinda and her co-partners know that actions speak louder than words.
Capital Chemist Calwell has implemented various measures to enhance the work-life of their employees, including unlimited annual leave, work-from-home trials, and regular one-on-one meetings.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Capital Chemist Calwell, you will see firsthand what a difference it makes to have empowered and happy staff.
By investing in the well-being and growth of their employees, they have created a workplace where everyone can thrive – patients and staff alike.
Enjoy.
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We’re bringing you a helpful and timely session that was presented at a recent PBCN webinar about making sure your pharmacy is prepared for tax season.
Emma Brown, Principle at RSM, helps simplify and demystify tax processes to help you maximise returns.
Among a myriad of helpful tips and tricks for tax time, Emma covers areas of focus for the Tax Office so you can maintain compliance and take advantage of available concessions. Emma also covers some of the implications of 60-day dispensing.
The pharmacy team at RSM understand pharmacy business, having worked with hundreds of pharmacy owners to ensure they achieve industry benchmarks. In this episode, let Emma’s expertise guide your efforts as you prepare for June 30.
To hear the full PBCN webinar recording and view the slide presentation to go with it, visit the Guild’s website. The full presentation includes sessions from Sharlene Wellard, from Meridian Lawyers, and Belinda Hegarty and Ben Massey, from Commbank Health. There’s a link for that in the show notes at https://www.guild.org.au/news-events/events/2023/pbcn-webinar-preparing-your-pharmacy-for-eofy
Enjoy
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When it comes to people management, there might be nothing worse than turning a blind eye and hoping the problem will ‘just go away.’
Our guest today, James Judge, provides practical tools, advice and solutions to address the more ‘curly’ challenges that can arise with staff, in the workplace.
James is an experienced people manager, and director of a consultancy aimed at helping businesses and organisations build stronger teams. He’s very well placed to share some of the tools from his toolkit, to help you, listeners, gain a little more confidence when it comes to doing just that.
In today’s episode, we look at some of the most common workplace issues, emerging trends and most importantly, how to nip the most common workplace issues in the bud, so you can keep yourself – and your staff – in the best shape possible for your business to thrive.
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Taking over a small, old pharmacy in a town of just 1,000 people might seem like a challenge, but it’s a challenge that Alexander and Nicholas, at Ouyen Pharmacy, decided to take on.
Together, these two early career pharmacists managed to completely turn the pharmacy around, turning it from a business focused on giftware to a flourishing healthcare hub greatly benefiting the community.
As a finalist for ‘Pharmacy of the Year’, Ouyen Pharmacy took home a special award for the significant work they had done to reinvigorate their pharmacy within only two years of ownership.
Enjoy.
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Community Pharmacy faces significant workforce challenges, with no quick fix in sight.
How can Community Pharmacy adapt to deal with these challenges?
For this PBCN podcast episode, we’re bringing you a session that was held at the Australian Pharmacy Professionals’ conference at the Gold Coast from the 23rd to the 26th of March, 2023.
In this session, Helen O’Byrne, Pharmacy Guild National Councillor, looked at some of the key issues that are likely to shape the future workforce of pharmacy.
Key influences in the future workforce include our university sector and the structure of the pharmacy degree, remuneration levels for pharmacists, pharmacy viability via Community Pharmacy Agreement remuneration, the capacity that pharmacists practice at full scope and its associated remuneration, and the degree to which enablers – like IT service provides, for example - assist pharmacy operations.
Enjoy
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Going from being a pharmacy struggling to stay afloat and at risk of shutting down, to turning everything around and becoming a pharmacy recognised for its excellence, Pharmacy 777, in Shoalwater, took home the title of Pharmacy of the Year at this year’s APP conference.
Pharmacy 777 also became the category winner for ‘Excellence in Community Engagement’. From Christmas parties, naming competitions, easter egg hunts, casual chats, and even birthday visits - the team at Pharmacy 777 has consistently shown that community comes first.
Hear firsthand from Sam Afsar, one of the proprietors of Pharmacy 777. Sam talks about the strategies and practices that helped turn the tide, create meaningful relationships with their patients and fellow healthcare practitioners, and become an integral part of the community it serves.
Enjoy.
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This episode comes to you from the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference, which was held on the Gold Coast from the 23rd to the 26th of March 2023. APP is the largest pharmacy conference in the southern hemisphere with – well normally - up to 6000 delegates attending. But this year a new record was set, with 7471 registered attendees!
Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Honourable Mark Butler, and Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator the Honourable Anne Ruston, our representatives in Parliament, attended APP to speak with the pharmacy workforce.
We took the opportunity for our National President, Professor Trent Twomey, to sit down with them and find out more about what they think needs to happen as we move into the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement. And, of course, we are so glad to have made the time to get to know them a bit better.
Enjoy.
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When you hear the word ‘dietitian’, the first thing you might think about is weight loss management. What dietitians actually do, however, and the role they play in the healthcare sector, might surprise you!
This week is Dietitians Week, a week where we spread awareness about what it is dietitians do and how they improve our lives.
In this episode, Tara Diversi, President of Dieticians Australia, explains the work of dieticians. From supporting mental health, minimising side effects from medications, and managing disease, dietitians play an important role in Australian healthcare.
After this episode, you might see dietitians through a new lens.
Enjoy.
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The Guild Digest is one of the Guild’s priority deliverables for the year, and as this episode goes live, so does the 2023 Guild Digest survey.
In 2022, a very special edition of the Digest was published to celebrate 50 years of data-driven insights. This special edition saw the biggest sample size yet.
For this episode, we speak with Anthony Tassone, the National Vice President – Health Economics and Policy. Anthony is also the Victorian Branch President.
With Anthony, we get into some detail about the Digest, looking at what’s in it, how to use it, and perhaps most importantly, why it’s so important to participate.
Enjoy.
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This is a recording of a session that was hosted at the 2022 Tasmanian Pharmacy Conference. This conference focused on the potential for community pharmacists to work to their full professional scope in our current rapidly changing environment.
When owning a business, unexpected events may throw you for a loop and have devastating impacts. But what if you expect the unexpected?
In this episode, Sarah Stoddart, Founder and Director of Vitality Law Australia, talks about how to mitigate the impacts of unexpected events by encouraging you to think ahead and explore what you can do right now to minimize risk to your business in the future.
Enjoy
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This episode is an important one for anyone undergoing a significant life change or managing those who are. Whether it’s yourself, your colleagues, or your employees, this episode will provide valuable information to help you navigate the change, and all that comes with it.
Vanessa Miles, a psychologist and senior consultant at Transitioning Well, and Georgie Chapman, employment lawyer and partner at HR Legal, join us to venture into the frameworks and requirements that need to be in place to support employees during one of life’s major transitions, parenthood, as well as what you can do to make sure you and your employees are prepared.
Transitioning Well is a national team of psychologists working with Australian companies to help employees manage the messy intersections between life and work. Transitioning Well supports those experiencing any kind of significant life change, however that might look.
Enjoy
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In 2022, we once again welcomed lots of fantastic guests onto the show who shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we’ve once again gone back through the episodes and pulled out the question and full answer for you and created more ‘Best of’ episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our amazing guests, as we look back at 23 shows, those being episodes 90 to 112.
In this Best of episode, we cover episodes 101 to 112.
Enjoy.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 2022, we once again welcomed lots of fantastic guests onto the show who shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we’ve once again gone back through the episodes and pulled out the question and full answer for you and created more ‘Best of’ episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our amazing guests, as we look back at 23 shows, those being episodes 90 to 112.
In this Best of episode, we cover episodes 90 to 100.
Enjoy.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There was a pupil-free day in Canberra recently and the Guild invited all the employees’ kids to come and hang out at the office.
We let Chloe, the host's daughter, chat to the kids and ask them what they think their parents did at work all day. Then, Chloe when and spoke to the parent to get the actual story.
Chloe found that some people like watching magpies, that there seems to be a lot of coffee, emails, and meetings, and even something about air traffic control. She even found one person on their first day on the job.
And, of course, jellybeans were an important topic!
We thought this was a lot of fun and a nice way to learn a little bit more about some of the Guild staff.
Enjoy.
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There’s a lot of information out there about how to support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, but today’s episode offers something a bit different.
Our guest, Minky van der Walt, from Tempo Therapy, works with health and education professionals to shift their experience, particularly during times of high stress. Minky is a qualified music therapist and guided imagery therapist with a special interest in working with helping professionals.
This episode looks at how the brain works to try and protect us during high stress times, but how that can backfire when stress is maintained over long periods, like the last two years! We get to hear how music and art therapy works and even experience a little bit of it through the course of the episode.
Enjoy.
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The Christmas season is well and truly upon us!
Pre-Christmas sales are forecast to hit $60 billion in the six weeks leading up to Christmas – a staggering figure. But, as the silly season approaches, have you considered how you will activate a retail strategy to keep more margin in your pocket this sales period?
Our guest today is the CEO and Founder of Retail Doctor Group, the Retail Doctor himself, Brian Walker.
Established in 2005, Retail Doctor Group is a leading firm working with businesses to take insights-driven strategy into award-winning implementation, helping them grow their business.
In this episode, we examine what it means to be ‘Fit for Business' and why it is an important consideration for all businesses with a retail component – which includes pharmacies. We look at how to complement your health and wellness services, medicines advice, your focus on medication management, and safety with products that build your brand as trusted medicines experts.
Enjoy.
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The Framework for Change is a key strategic document for the Guild, but more importantly, it’s a guide for pharmacies.
In 2018, The Guild embarked on the most significant strategic research project in its history. What was then called CP2025, aimed to forge change and growth pathways for pharmacy businesses in manageable, bite-sized increments.
The Framework has an explanation of nine growth pathways, and an outline of practical actions to enable community pharmacies to achieve longer-term success by delivering health outcomes for patients and consumers.
The objective is to help community pharmacies understand and be in a position to respond to the trends impacting their businesses in a way that makes the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.
The Guild is committed to working with our members and the broader pharmacy sector on this future journey while continuing to advocate on the issues that will enable community pharmacy to build on its vital role as a trusted custodian of the National Medicines Policy.
The Guild has worked with ORIMA, and David Bruce since the Framework’s inception to monitor the progress of Pharmacies on this change journey, and has recently completed another wave of both patient and Guild member research to check how we are going.
For more information on the Framework for Change visit the Guild website. The Framework is publicly available, but Guild members can download the reports and research, via the Guild website https://www.guild.org.au/resources/business-operations/insights
Enjoy.
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It's Cyber Security Awareness Month and we’re taking the opportunity to provide an important refresher about the dangers lurking in the digital world and what we all need to do to protect ourselves, our businesses, and our patients.
This year’s theme was “Have you been hacked?” and to wrap up the month, we are bringing you this special deep dive episode where we look at the latest threats, what to look out for and how to know if you have been hacked.
I’m speaking with Andrew McManus from FRED IT Group, an expert in the field who deals specifically with pharmacy IT on a daily basis. Because he’s in the field, he can provide great insight into the range of issues affecting pharmacists and how they can best position themselves to make sure they keep their systems safe.
I hope you enjoy this episode and take away some tips and directions that help you run your business better.
Enjoy.
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Unless you’ve had your head in the sand for the past two years, you will be keenly aware of the challenges around recruiting and retaining good staff. You may, or may not, be as attuned with the actual costs involved, financial and otherwise, when staff turnover is high.
This episode is full of practical, sage advice and tips for pharmacy managers struggling with recruitment. We discuss the current state of play in the market, what you need to do to stand out as an employer of choice, salary trends, and we even try to predict what might happen next.
Joining us are Heidi Dariz and Debbie Capuano. Heidi is General Manager at Raven’s Recruitment and has amassed 20 years in recruitment in the pharmacy sector. Debbie, with 23 years experience recruiting in the field, works on the ground with pharmacists and pharmacy managers to match candidates with employers.
Enjoy.
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We’re sharing a session hosted at the Australian Pharmacy Professional conference, earlier this year.
During the session, titled “Are You The Future of Pharmacy?”, we heard from three inspirational business leaders about the stepping stones that led them to this point in their respective careers.
Our panelists were:
- Lucas Patchett is one of two founders of the Orange Sky Laundry. Orange Sky came to life when two best mates had a crazy idea to put two washing machines and two dryers in the back of a van, and wash and dry clothes for free. Lucas and his best mate, Nick, embarked on a journey to build and grow the world’s first free mobile laundry service for people experiencing homelessness.
- Melanie Moses, a pharmacist and owner of Blooms the Chemist in Orange. Melanie is passionate about providing healthcare and services in rural areas, particularly for health outcomes for the local Indigenous community and the disadvantaged and disabled.
- Brad Butt, Managing Partner of Cooleman Court Pharmacy in the ACT and Founder of Men’s Health Downunder; a pharmacist-led men’s health clinic. Brad’s been awarded a host of awards including the category and overall winner of this year’s Guild Pharmacy of the Year award.
Enjoy.
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Each year, in September, we celebrate World Pharmacists Day.
This year’s theme, United in Action for a Healthier World, showcases pharmacy’s positive impact on health around the world.
Here in Australia, we saw this play out with the incredible contribution pharmacists made to the COVID-19 vaccination rollout; millions of vaccines in arms when we needed them most. The fact that Australians are now one of the most highly vaccinated populations in the world owes a lot to pharmacists and, for that, we say 'Thank you'.
Today, we are speaking with John Jones, a dietician come pharmacist who has grown his practice administering opioid substitutions including depot buprenorphine injections.
The legislation on pharmacists providing injections isn’t entirely clear, however, John’s story shows us what can be possible with the right training, systems, facilities, and quality assurance processes.
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Dr. Hester Wilson discusses painful conversations; those tricky topics around pain medications.
Dr. Wilson is a GP in Sydney, an addiction medicine specialist, and chair of the special interest group in Addiction with the RACGP.
When it comes to pain, there is often more to the story than meets the eye. Dr. Wilson says it’s important to take a compassionate stance and apply that same compassion in conversations with patients about their medications.
Dr. Wilson has a wealth of knowledge and experience working collaboratively with colleagues, including local pharmacists, to help her patients manage their pain effectively. She has some great ideas and insights into how to help start the right conversations with patients and with their doctors.
Enjoy.
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Terri Bakker, Retail Manager at TerryWhite Chemmart in Rosny Park,Tasmania, manages much more than you might think. Terri is passionate about delivering very important, and perhaps not so well understood, services for NDIS patients.
For those who need it, however, it makes a world of difference. This episode is an important window into the NDIS services Terri manages and she provides insights, lessons, and confidence for your NDIS services journey, wherever you might be at.
Terri has also been nominated for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Pharmacy Assistant of the Year award. Once you’ve heard from Terri, you won’t be surprised, as she is doing an amazing job and going above and beyond in her role.
We wish Terri all the best in the Pharmacy Assistant of the Year award, which will be announced at the Pharmacy Assistant National Conference in Brisbane this October. To find out more about the awards, or the conference, visit pharmacyassistants.com.
Enjoy.
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The National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) represents students from 17 universities nationwide studying either an undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy program. NAPSA is committed to advocating for Australian pharmacy students to ensure their future is prosperous and their status, rights, and privileges are protected.
Today we’re speaking with Flynn Swift, newly elected president of NAPSA’s board who is currently in his third year of a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.
In today’s episode, we chat about the year ahead and what’s changed in the world of student and intern pharmacists.
This year’s Virtual Student Summit provided students of all year levels with greater insight into community pharmacy; the ability to practice to full scope, to lead innovation, and be an integral part of the community and patient health outcomes.
If you missed the summit, here is a link to the recorded sessions.
Enjoy.
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It’s National Pain Week and for this episode we are speaking with Giulia Jones, CEO at Pain Australia.
Giulia talks to us about what pain is, how it affects people living with chronic pain, and the role pharmacists working in the community can play to help them live better, fuller lives.
You might find these links useful: National Pain Week 2022 runs from 25 to 31 July 2022 Pain Australia resources for professionals
Enjoy
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National Diabetes Week runs from the 10th – 16th July.
Said to be ‘the epidemic of the 21st century’, chances are you see patients in your pharmacy on a daily basis who make up the approximately 1.8 million Australians with diabetes.
However, have you considered a business model that offers one-on-one support, education, and care for diabetes from a credentialled diabetes educator?
In this episode, we hear from Rowan Lowe, owner proprietor of the Amcal Life Clinic located in Donnybrook in rural Western Australia.
Rowan’s pharmacy took out the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s 2022 category award for Excellence in Business Management and is a Pharmacy with a difference.
Their Diabetes clinic is just one of the myriad of services offered at the Donnybrook pharmacy, attracting patients who travel two hours to access health services at the clinic.
Today, you will hear more about the health hub model and what it takes to run a pharmacy business this way.
Enjoy.
Ready to nominate for 2023? Information and nominations for the Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2023.
Amcal Life Clinic Donnybrook Pharmacy.
Donnybrook's Facebook page.
Category winners in the Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2022.
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For our regular listeners, you will recall we recently spoke with John Briggs about how our community pharmacists can be leaders and connect with their local Indigenous communities and play a vital role in supporting indigenous communities.
We found this such an insightful conversation that we wanted to explore and share examples of pharmacies doing great work in this area.
Curtis Ruhnau, is a pharmacist and Proprietor of Emerton Amcal Pharmacy. After university, Curtis completed a Master of Management before becoming a partner in Emerton Pharmacy in 2000, where he still works regularly.
Curtis joined the PDL Local Advisory Committee for New South Wales in 2008 and is currently the PDL representative on the Pharmacists’ Support Service and has a keen interest in mental health and self-care for pharmacists. Curtis has also tutored medical students in Personal and Professional Development
Curtis has great experience implementing the profiling of the Emerton community to ensure the pharmacy is supporting their needs.
For more specific information on the diabetes program discussed, visit www.TooDeadlyForDiabetes.com.au
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Brad Butt, along-side his work as Managing Partner at Cooleman Court Pharmacy, established Men’s Health Down Under in 2013. Men’s Health Down Under has grown to be the largest men’s health pharmacy clinic in Australia, providing men with professional expertise for specific health issues, without any embarrassment or privacy concerns.
Brad is a pharmacist who is passionate about the health and wellbeing of his local community and the broader Australian male population.
I spoke to Brad about his experience in specialising in Men’s health to understand the current challenges and to learn about the opportunities for Pharmacists.
Enjoy.
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This week is Reconciliation Week, an important time for Australians to continue to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The theme for reconciliation week, held May 27 – June 3 is, 'Be Brave. Make Change'. It is a challenge to us all to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can make change for all.
Our community pharmacists can be leaders and connect with their local Indigenous communities and play a vital role in supporting indigenous communities. There are fantastic opportunities to get outside of the pharmacies and build relationships, attend community meetings, discuss your role, develop a community profile, and learn about the community.
To help us discuss the ways this can be achieved, we welcome John Briggs, Cultural Advisor to The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and proud Yorta Yorta and Gunai/Kurnai man. With more than 25 years experience, John Briggs is passionate about Indigenous culture, inclusion, employment, and engagement; assisting organisations to be better equipped and confident in these areas.
Enjoy
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You have heard the term, 'clinical governance' before but not fully understood what it means. However, clinical governance is an increasing area of focus for pharmacies. Clinical governance is also a focus of the Guild. A key component of the Guild’s Centenary Strategic Plan is to prioritise and enhance the quality and safety of pharmacy services and clinical governance forms a key part of this. Clinical governance is highly important in every pharmacy, and our aim today is to understand a little more about what it is, why it’s important, and step through it in a simple way to help you ensure you have good governance in your pharmacy. Who better to take us through it all than Claire Bekema, and Chloe Hennessy from the Pharmacy Guild.
Claire Bekema is a Guild Senior Pharmacist with experience and expertise in quality improvement, accreditation, and clinical governance. Chloe Hennessy is the Guild Director, Clinical Governance & Quality, and has over 15 years experience in pharmacy accreditation, quality, and change management and has strong passion for continuous improvement.
If you would like more information about clinical governance, contact the Guild via guild.org.au or speak with your local Guild representative. There is also a range of QCPP resources and information available via qcpp.com.
Enjoy
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The statistics are alarming.
One Australian has a heart attack or stroke every 4 minutes.
Heart Week, from May 2nd to 8th, is a timely reminder to raise awareness about the importance of heart health and Heart Health Checks for more at-risk Australians.
If the heart attack isn’t to be prevented, then ensuring access to a defibrillator within 180 seconds is vital in saving a life.
With over 5,900 community pharmacies across Australia, it is our goal to ensure pharmacy’s across the nation help play a vital role in supporting the health of all Australians. This includes being a defibrillator access point should a member of the public nearby need it.
Joining us in this episode is Scott Carpenter, Business Manager for Heart 180, and Nick Salkeld from Community Care Chemist to share his experience.
Enjoy.
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Brendon Baker is converting others to a radical new idea … keep it simple.
Brendon is a leading expert in the field of change and has consulted on transformation projects across a range of industries. These have included public infrastructure, business/cultural transformations, shared service implementations, restructures, process overhauls, technology deployments, social policy, and more.
Brendon's mission is clear: Help Change Leaders Drive Real Value.
Change has been a hot topic in the Pharmacy industry, whether it be adapting to changing pharmacy workflows or being innovative and focused on how to best support your local community as a health destination.
We are all involved in changing our organisations, whether we know it or not. The issue is the industry has over-complicated it. From the obtuse jargon and untold reams of paperwork. It’s just too hard, too confusing, and too academic. You don’t have time for that. No one does.
But perhaps it can be simple?
Enjoy
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The team at Cooleman Court Pharmacy, Guild Pharmacy of the Year Winner 2022, are confident they have found the essence of community pharmacy. It’s been a challenging road which has seen the pharmacy redefine itself.
The vision was to create a health destination, and this was achieved as the pharmacy introduced new, or refined and updated existing professional services, and the pharmacy now boasts services including: a heart health rehabilitation program; doubling the number of ORT patients on its program; the launch of Men’s Health services; a Trial of Pharmibridge mental health services; a centre of excellence for incontinence care; specialised wound care services; sleep apnea services; and an expansion of vaccination and injection services.
It is a great win for the team at Cooleman Court Pharmacy and in this episode, we hear from the managing partners, Brad Butt and Brooke Veasey, about the transformation of their pharmacy, and the collaboration and innovation, to gain insight and share their journey with you.
Enjoy
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There comes a time when a landlord and owner of a pharmacy need to know the ins and outs of rents and leasing.
We all know how daunting it can be when it comes to navigating leases, but in this episode, we speak to Phil Chapman, Director and Founder of Lease 1, Australia’s only national Retail Shop Lease consultancy that provides a tenant-only representation service.
Phil shares tips and tricks, not just for established owners, but also for those new pharmacy owners, new to renting and leases, and also those who are thinking of selling their pharmacy.
Phil also shares some important resources for owners to be aware of and also talks about how COVID-19 has impacted landlords with rents and leasing.
The Pharmacy Rental Report and Guild Digest, which Phil mentions, are available at guild.org.au/about-us/guild-publications.
Enjoy
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International Women’s Day celebrates womanhood and breaking the bias in aiming for a gender-free equal world. This episode is a special one, not only to celebrate all achievements of women, but our guest is Adele Tahan who is a Community Pharmacy owner, a Guild National Councillor, and NSW Branch Committee Vice President.
In this special episode, we will be discussing the importance of International Women’s Day, being a woman in a leadership role in the pharmacy industry, female empowerment in the workplace, and just celebrating women all over the world.
Enjoy
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At this time of year, school leavers and university graduates are ready to take the next step in their careers and there are also others who are looking to make a change in their career.
We all know how daunting it can be when it comes to finding employment but, in this episode, we talk with Heidi Dariz, General Manager of Raven’s Recruitment, who will share some tips and tricks on being a successful candidate, how to best approach an interview, how to develop a resume worth reading, how to make yourself stand out from the crowd, and just what employers look for in a successful candidate.
You can visit Raven’s Recruitment website at www.ravensrecruitment.com.au. Job seekers can also register and search for Community Pharmacy positions vacant on the My Pharmacy Career website at www.mypharmacycareer.com.au
Enjoy.
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All too often, business owners get so busy in the day-to-day adrenaline of running their business, especially during the pandemic, that they forget to take the time to step back and take stock.
The Covid response has significantly impacted pharmacy operations and often owners and their teams having to scramble to make changes to procedures and processes daily.
Today we talk with Krysti-Lee Rigby, Pharmacy Programs & Services Manager with Pharmacy Platform, about how pharmacies can take steps to plan and prepare their businesses for the year ahead. We explore ways in which pharmacies can prepare for an expansion of scope and implement structure to their business operations to capitalise on future opportunities.
In this epsiode, Krysti-Lee discusses undertaking an Opportunity Analysis. If you are looking for some insight into the opportunities available to your business, Guild members can take advantage of a free Opportunity Analysis by visiting www.guilld.org.au. For non-Guild members, please reach out to your local Guild state/territory branch to discuss the benefits of Guild membership.
Enjoy.
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In 2021, we had some fantastic guests on the show who have shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice with us and I know we are all truly grateful that they found some time in their busy schedules to come on the show.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our guests, as we look back at 22 shows, those being episodes 66 to 87, and we do that in two lots of 11.
In this episode, we cover episodes 77 to 87.
Enjoy.
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In 2021, we had some fantastic guests on the show who have shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice with us and I know we are all truly grateful that they found some time in their busy schedules to come on the show.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our guests, as we look back at 22 shows, those being episodes 66 to 87, and we do that in two lots of 11.
In this episode, we cover episodes 66 to 76.
Enjoy.
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2021 has been a big year for all of us and, although we are probably hoping to forget many of the challenges faced this year, it is also important to reflect on the positives and celebrate our achievements.
This year has shown that community pharmacies are accessible, adaptable, and most importantly, willing health destinations staffed by passionate and highly trained health professionals.
The Pharmacy Guild has continued to support and advocate for members throughout 2021 and has adapted the organisational structure to best enable community pharmacy.
In this episode, we speak with Guild National President, Trent Twomey, Executive Director, Suzanne Greenwood, and Chief Operating Officer, Colm Maguire. They'll reflect on the challenges and opportunities of 2021, the Guild’s organisational change journey, and discuss the Guild’s priorities for 2022.
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Pharmaceutical Defence Limited, or PDL, is Australia’s first national pharmacy body, established in 1912 by a group of Australian pharmacists to support and protect other pharmacists. They continue to provide support to the Australian pharmacy profession over 100 years later through professional indemnity insurance and risk management advice to over 29,000 national PDL members.
They operate a one-to-one, confidential member care and support service which is provided by their Professional Officers who are themselves, experienced pharmacists. It’s an Australia-wide, 24/7 incident and claims support and advice service to protect their members and minimise patient harm.
In this episode, we speak with two of their Professional Officers, Georgina Woods and John Guy. We discuss some of the most common incidents and questions by PDL members as well as how to handle difficult situations that pharmacists encounter.
For ongoing support and protection throughout your pharmacy career, become a PDL member by visiting their website https://pdl.org.au/ or calling them on 1300 854 838.
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The COVID-19 vaccine rollout, approaching its fifth month in community pharmacy, has presented challenges and great opportunities for community pharmacy.
Natalie Willis, WA Pharmacy owner and Guild National Councillor spends some time with us discussing her experience being involved in the vaccine rollout and the impact on the scope of pharmacy practice.
We also hear from Gerard Benedet, Queensland Branch Director and Campaign Director for the national COVID PR campaign as he shares the key takeaways of consumer research conducted to inform the Guild’s campaign to achieve high numbers of Australians being vaccinated against COVID-19 through participating pharmacies, and his insights into what is planned next for the rollout.
The Pharmacy Guild’s work in relation to pharmacy’s role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout exemplifies their mission - to serve the needs and preferences of patients and health consumers across Australia using pharmacy’s unique role in medication management and safety. A vibrant, dynamic and commercial community pharmacy network is essential for the health and well-being of all Australians.
If you would like to learn more, simply visit the PGA website to view all the latest COVID-19 vaccination resources at guild.org.au
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We know the role pharmacies play in our community but there are a lot of other local organisations that also play important roles in our communities; whether those be schools, sporting clubs, or other community activity or support groups.
These groups are often running engaging programs in our communities and, as such, attract strong memberships and loyal audiences. They are also often looking for funding to help support their endeavours.
This provides a great opportunity for community pharmacies to sponsor these organisations which provide wins for all involved.
However, if you are considering sponsorship, or maybe you already use sponsorship, a well-thought-out approach, aligned to what you are trying to achieve as a pharmacy business, is crucial to success.
Mark Thompson, from consultancy Sports Rights Tech, and someone with a long history of working in sponsorship, across organisations like Brumbies Rugby and St Vincent de Paul, as well as being a co-founder of the world’s first sponsorship management software company, SponServe, joins us to discuss how pharmacies can best utilise sponsorships as part of their marketing and business objectives.
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At times, owning and running a pharmacy business can be overwhelmingly challenging.
Seeking the assistance of a pharmacy lawyer is critical to your success as a pharmacy owner. Not only can a lawyer assist you to navigate through the complexities of business ownership; an experienced pharmacy lawyer can also support you through any conflicts or incidents that may arise. Consulting a suitably experienced pharmacy lawyer at an early stage can often prevent the kinds of issues and disputes which may adversely affect the value of your business later on.
Principal, Georgina Odell, from Meridian Lawyers spends some time with us discussing why, through the various stages of pharmacy ownership, it is useful to have a legal expert engaged to provide insights and support, help you to manage risks, and offer sound advice.
The Pharmacy Guild is dedicated to supporting your business and together with Meridian can provide legal support and advice regarding buying and selling a pharmacy, rent, partnerships, mediation and dispute resolution, ownership regulation, new pharmacy approvals, and other business operations. For more information go to www.guild.org.au/resources/business-operations and www.meridianlawyers.com.au/health-sector/pharmacy/
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The mission of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia is to enable community pharmacy to serve the needs and preferences of patients and health consumers across Australia using pharmacy’s unique role in medication management and safety.
The Guild’s focus areas, based on strategies, outcomes and measures are Member services and engagement, Advocacy, Community Pharmacy Sustainability, and Governance
There is a Guild branch in each state and territory to provide members with tailored support for business operations, workforce, training, and advocacy. The branch staff delivers Guild initiatives through member pharmacies, maximising member value, and strengthening community pharmacy as a pillar of health care across Australia.
Today we speak with Monique Mackrill, Tasmanian Branch Director, about the work that the Guild is doing at the coal face and what opportunities are available to community pharmacies
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The National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA) represents students from 18 universities nationwide studying either an undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy program.
NAPSA is committed to advocating for Australian pharmacy students to ensure their future is prosperous and their status, rights, and privileges are protected.
In this episode, we speak with Verity Boustead, newly elected president and 4th year Monash University student, about her experiences in the new role and life as a student during a global pandemic
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The Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA) is the country’s peak body exclusively representing the interests of small businesses.
In this episode, we speak with newly appointed COSBOA CEO, Alexi Boyd, about the important advocacy work of COSBOA, the impacts of COVID on small business, and the way forward to reopening and rebuilding the economy.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is a proud member of COSBOA and actively participates to ensure the voice of community pharmacy business is heard and counted.
To learn more about COSBOA, visit cosboa.org.au and for more information on how the Guild supports you and your business visit guild.org.au/membership
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Community pharmacies are the most accessible health destination in Australia and therefore are often the first place patients go when they need help to maintain their health, mental health, and wellbeing.
The Covid – 19 pandemic has highlighted just how important community pharmacies are in providing care, advice, and health services, however, frontline health provision can bring about heightened levels of pressure for pharmacy staff.
Today, we speak with Christine Morgan, CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Adviser to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
We discuss why it is vitally important that community pharmacies establish and sustain a mentally healthy workplace and ways in which pharmacists can manage their own mental health and support the mental health and wellbeing of colleagues.
There are some great resources available to help you establish and maintain a mentally healthy workplace. The National Mental Health Commission Mentally Healthy Workplace guides have been created by experts to provide practical tips and advice on helping employers and employees look out for the signs that someone may need support, and assist them to find help when they need it. The guides can be found at www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au
The Pharmacist Support Service (PSS) provides a listening ear over the telephone to pharmacists and pharmacy interns and students. In supporting pharmacists, PSS aims to benefit the public by ensuring that pharmacists maintain their health and well-being and so are able to provide an appropriate level of service to the Australian community. You can visit their website at www.supportforpharmacists.org.au
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The intern journey can be a daunting prospect but with the right attitude, preceptor and program, the intern year can be rewarding not only for the intern, but also the preceptor, patients, and the pharmacy business.
In this episode, we hear from Angus Koertz, MIMS/Guild 2020 Intern of the Year and his preceptor Tim Stewart, who was in fact the 2017 winner of the MIMS/Guild Intern of the Year, on their experiences through the intern journey.
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The rollout of electronic prescriptions is a once-in-a-generation change to community pharmacy and has changed the way we interact with our customers. The first electronic prescription token was dispensed just over a year ago, and there have now been over 7 million tokens transmitted.
The next phase in the rollout of electronic prescriptions is the ability for patients to have their electronic prescriptions dispensed at the pharmacy of their choice without having to present a token. This is known as the Active Script List and today, we welcome two guests to the show to discuss this new capability both from a rollout point of view and an implementation view, from within a pharmacy.
Andrew Robinson is a pharmacist and proprietor of two Melbourne pharmacies while Brad McCulloch is from the Australian Digital Health Agency, working in the Medicines Safety Program within the Digital Programs and Engagement Division.
For further information about electronic prescriptions, you can head to the Australian Digital Health Agency website at digitalhealth.gov.au, as well as the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Electronic Prescription Hub at guild.org.au/resources/automation/digital-health/digitalhealth.
There are also more training opportunities on GuildEd for both pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. Simply visit www.guilded.guild.org.au for more information.
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Asking better questions creates stronger professional and personal relationships resulting in more empowerment, engagement, motivation, and better outcomes for everyone.
As such, Lindsay Tighe and Tina Dolphin, from the organisation Better Questions, join us to talk about transforming our communication.
We discuss how to improve your communication skills including what makes a better question, how to avoid telling, and the importance of listening.
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We speak with recently elected Guild National President, Trent Twomey and gain some insight into his first 100 days in the role.
Trent discusses the highlights, challenges, and opportunities facing the sector and the vision for community pharmacy as we work towards the Guild’s centenary in 2028.
We also learn more about the man himself, his career pathway, the people who have supported his journey, and his experiences as a regional community pharmacist.
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Ian Shanks has been a pharmacist for over 40 years, is owner of the Fullife Pharmacies Group and CEO of the Fullife Foundation, an Australian charity focusing on the health of women and children in Ethiopia.
Ian has had a lifelong interest in philanthropy, and through his pharmacies has been able to raise awareness and to support many charities both locally and internationally over the years.
With the support of managing partners in his pharmacies now, Ian is able to focus on integrating his dual passions of continually developing the Fullife Pharmacies’ model as one of wellness and health management, with the complete integration of the Fullife Foundation, to help those he serves live a full life.
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For those who work in the health care space, there are quite a few rules and regulations that apply to how you promote and communicate services and products. For services, the rules are set down by Ahpra (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), but for products, particularly those deemed of a therapeutic nature, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has an Advertising Code. The Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code ensures that the marketing and advertising of therapeutic goods is conducted in a manner that promotes the quality use of the product, is socially responsible, and does not mislead or deceive the consumer.
That Code has a legislative Act and in 2019 the penalties attached to that Act were significantly increased. The penalties apply to the organisation that’s publishing the advertising material, so it’s particularly important that our community pharmacies are aware of the Code and how they can comply – and not incur penalties.
In this episode, we chat with Emi Gosling, Principal consultant from e-MAS about how advertising and marketing of therapeutic goods is regulated for health practitioners, and how community pharmacies can adapt their clever content for use on social media all the while ensuring materials sit on the right side of all the rules.
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The words ‘unprecedented’ and ‘pivot’ have become the buzz words of the past year and for good reason. The world is still coming to terms with immense and rapid change and so too is community pharmacy. Community pharmacies stepped up to provide frontline healthcare and support to their patients and the wider community during the pandemic and they continue to be engaged, willing, and equipped to play an integral role in the response to Covid 19.
In this epsiode, we speak with Andrew Pattinson, Head of Strategy and Partnerships for Pharmacy Platform, a business that assists pharmacies to build customer engagement by improving their marketing, retail, professional services, and HR performance. Andrew discusses the challenges, opportunities, and learnings of 2020 and how to manage change in order to ensure community pharmacies continue to evolve into health hub destinations. We chat about change management principles, how to put them into practice and how to empower teams to champion change.
The Guild is dedicated to supporting community pharmacies on their change journey. Guild members can access the CP2025 Framework for Change document at www.guild.org.au and for more information and support contact your local Guild branch.
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We’re living in a digital world and this means that a website is crucial for all business. Community pharmacy is no exception. Consumers today are more likely to visit a website before they visit the shop, and they’re looking for all the information they can get to make an informed impression.
Businesses also need to engage their customers online and this is where social media comes in! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow community pharmacies to build relationships with customers, increase market reach, and develop their brand voice.
Today, we welcome back Aaron D’Souza, pharmacist and General Manager of Guild Digital, to run us through the importance of an online presence for community pharmacies. An expert in enabling pharmacies to realise their business goals through digital technologies, Aaron provides his best tips and tricks to make the most out of websites and social media.
This episode is brought to you with the help of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Small Business Digital Champions project. Further information can be found at https://www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Digital-Champions
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International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world as a day to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It’s a great opportunity to help accelerate gender equality and raise awareness and visibility of this cause. This year’s International Women’s Day theme – Choose to Challenge – is one that resonates closely with community pharmacy; we saw time and again during 2020 the way our industry challenged itself to respond and lead, and it’s pharmacy’s opportunity again to step up and challenge for a more inclusive world.
In this episode, we welcome Kirsten O’Doherty to discuss some of the themes around International Women’s Day. Kirsten originally qualified as a hospital pharmacist before joining the pharmaceutical industry, moving from clinical research and medical roles into commercial and senior leadership positions. She has extensive board and committee experience and was appointed to the Australian government’s COVID-19 Vaccines Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group.
We also welcome Michelle Bou-Samra. Michelle is a practising pharmacist, management consultant and Strategic Director of Fullife Pharmacies, with 30 years experience in the industry. She currently holds the positions of President of the Australasian College of Pharmacy, PDL Queensland local advisory committee member, and is a Director of the Fullife Foundation.
Over the years, Michelle has had extensive experience with representation of the profession on a diverse range of committees, industry bodies and within organisations, culminating in her involvement in the preparation for the Fourth Agreement negotiations, and currently as a Guild Pharmacy of the Year Judge and AHPRA Mentor.
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The National Student Business Plan competition is the perfect way for pharmacy students to develop their entrepreneurial spirit and bring innovative ideas to the forefront of community pharmacy. The competition contributes to the development of a dynamic and vibrant pharmacy industry and makes a genuine difference to the health and wellbeing of local communities.
However, what can it do for pharmacy students? There is no better way to answer this question than by checking in with two of our past competition winners in Jess Cahill and Wally Maguire. Jess and Wally have enjoyed fantastic career progression and networking opportunities since their involvement in the competition and, today, we chat about their experience as pharmacy owners and what it takes to succeed in community pharmacy.
The opportunity for the 2021 Student Business Plan competition is now underway. For more information on eligibility, how to enter, and other resources, visit guild.org.au and search ‘student business plan competition’.
The Guild also acknowledges the competition’s primary sponsors Symbion, ProPharma, PDL and Gold Cross.
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Benjamin King, from Alice Springs Pharmacy in Northern Territory, has won the Pharmacy Assistant of the Year for 2020!
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic award win recognises Benjamin’s outstanding contribution through his skills, knowledge, and leadership in community pharmacy across a 12-month period.
Benjamin was selected from over 460 nominated pharmacy assistants, and eight state winners, who competed in a virtual national judging day during 2020.
In this episode, we chat with Benjamin about his pharmacy career, the journey to the Pharmacy Assistant 2020 competition, and what’s on the horizon for 2021 and beyond.
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Buying a pharmacy can be one of the biggest investments a pharmacist can make during their career. In our current economic climate, it’s never been more important for prospective buyers to take careful, considered steps when preparing to purchase. Whilst we know that pharmacists are outstanding clinical professionals, this doesn’t always translate into business expertise, and the long road to pharmacy ownership can seem quite daunting for many prospective owners! Fortunately, the Guild is committed to supporting new owners of community pharmacies, and partners with industry experts to deliver the latest information and advice.
Today we welcome back one of these experts, Natalie Sirianni, Director of Attain Pharmacy Brokers, to help guide us on the pathway to community pharmacy ownership. A pharmacy business expert, Natalie provides aspiring owners with the highest level of service and support during the buying process.
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In 2020, we had some fantastic guests on the show who have shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice with us and I know we are all truly grateful that they found some time in their busy schedules to come on the show.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our guests, as we look back at 26 shows, those being episodes 38 to 63, and we will do that in two lots of 13.
In this episode, we cover episodes 51 to 63.
Enjoy.
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In 2020, we had some fantastic guests on the show who have shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice with us and I know we are all truly grateful that they found some time in their busy schedules to come on the show.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes.
As such, you can expect two shows full of short and sharp advice from each of our guests, as we look back at 26 shows, those being episodes 38 to 63, and we will do that in two lots of 13.
In this episode, we cover episodes 38 to 50.
Enjoy.
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As Community Pharmacy moves towards 2025, digital health remains a key priority for the industry. One of the more significant developments in this area is My Health Record.
My Health Record lets patients control their health information, securely and safely. This means important health information is available when and where it’s needed, including in an emergency. The platform is helping healthcare professionals to reduce administrative burden and avoid duplication of services. Most importantly, it’s enabling community pharmacies to deliver improved patient outcomes through better medication management and safety.
Our guests today, Jenny Snegovaya and April Burnett, have a wealth of experience in community pharmacy, public health, and digital health technology, and take us through some of the updates, training, and resources available on My Health Record.
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Warren Buffet famously remarked “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” – a quote that perfectly captures the concept of superannuation.
One of the most significant investments that you can make for your future, superannuation is important to understand whether you are at the beginning of your career or an established business owner.
As this is a guest from a financial institution, and it is a heavily regulated industry, there is a disclaimer before we begin the show.
This podcast episode contains general advice only and doesn't take into account what you currently have, want, and need for your personal circumstances.
Melinda Di Vita, Head of Market Growth at GuildSuper, joins us today to recap the 2020 year in superannuation, discuss some of the recent industry reforms and give us an insight into what’s on the horizon for GuildSuper.
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Nutrition is an integral part of overall health and one that is often neglected. It is even more important as people get older or experience health challenges.
Pharmacists can play an important role in supporting their patients with their nutritional needs, as well as noticing when things aren’t quite right and referring them on to help.
Abbott Australasia has sponsored today's podcast to help pharmacists learn more about how nutrition influences health.
On this episode, Julie Meek talks about the role of nutrition in supporting health throughout life. Julie is a thought leader and keynote speaker in peak performance. She is a coach, qualified Sports Dietitian and degree qualified in Health Promotion.
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The Guild Corporate Vaccination Program is a flexible, cost-effective solution that enables a range of employers to allow their staff to be vaccinated against influenza at a time, date, and place most convenient to them via the Guild member network.
This year the program helped 125 corporate clients and over 700 Guild member community pharmacies to provide an effective and efficient vaccination service to patients across Australia. 2020 has seen the program grow rapidly with over 27,000 vaccinations provided.
The increased demand from patients to receive their flu vaccinations this year bought a renewed energy to the program and the industry. Pharmacies enjoyed increased foot traffic and the program continued to raise awareness of what community pharmacies can offer not only to patients but to commercial sectors as well.
In this episode, we chat with Helen Blake, from Terry White Chemmart Lindisfarne and Rosny Park, in Tasmania, who provided a combined 265 vaccination services through the Guild Corporate Vaccination program, across 14 organisations, during the 2020 flu season.
We also welcome Sam Johnson, from Vantage Group, an organisation that operates significant hospitality and retail assets across Tasmania. Vantage Group has over 420 employees and is part of Federal Group which has over 2000 employees and who received vaccinations from 43 different pharmacies between April and July.
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There’s no question that digital technology is rapidly changing the business landscape. We’re seeing a massive increase in emerging digital technologies within the health sector, and there are exciting opportunities for enhanced patient care and professional collaboration through digital platforms. But as we move toward a digital environment, it’s vital for community pharmacy to be aware of cybersecurity.
What exactly is cybersecurity and why is it so important? As we move more of our services to the cloud and are increasingly dependent on the internet, the obligation to protect health data is critical. Unfortunately, that data has value to cybercriminals who are every second of every day looking for vulnerabilities to exploit.
Here today to discuss cybersecurity risks and issues, and some of the actions you can take to protect your business, are Andrew McManus from Fred IT Group, and Adam Smallhorn from Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
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Digital enablement for community pharmacy is all about integrating the knowledge and expertise of pharmacy into the wider health network.
Emerging technologies like electronic prescribing and TeleHealth represent an amazing opportunity for pharmacies to enhance patient service and professional collaboration. As our society continues to ‘digitize’, community pharmacy must keep up to continue offering personalised health solutions and move beyond medicine supply.
But where is the starting point for going digital? How can businesses begin laying the foundations that will help them adopt these technologies?
Today, we’re joined by Rob Vernon, CEO of TasmaNet, to discuss some of the strategies community pharmacies can use to prepare for the digital age. Rob discusses some of the emerging technologies in the health sector and what it takes to implement them at a store level.
This episode is brought to you with the help of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Small Business Digital Champions project. Further information can be found at https://www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Digital-Champions
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As community pharmacy continues to evolve, it is important to recognise the need for a leadership that reflects and champions the diversity and inclusivity of our profession.
It’s well documented that by achieving diversity in the workplace, businesses and professional organisations stand to benefit greatly on many levels.
Workplace diversity is a key factor in breaking down the limiting factors of inequality that prevent employees from achieving their full professional potential. Whilst inequality in community pharmacy has lessened over time, there is still more we can do at both the service and leadership levels, representing an exciting time for the industry.
Our guests for this episode discuss their experiences and perspectives on diversity in community pharmacy, and unpack some of the key issues that permeate this area. Alicia Martin, a Canberra based pharmacist, who recently led a study through University of Canberra on female representation on professional committees, brings a fascinating perspective on historical and future prospects for diversity in pharmacy leadership.
We also welcome two Pharmacy Guild National Councillors, Helen O’Byrne and Grace Chong, who provide insight into the barriers facing women in leadership positions and discuss their own experiences in making the transition to leadership roles.
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The Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP) is the quality assurance program in place for community pharmacies around Australia. Operating for more than 20 years, the QCPP ensures community pharmacies provide quality, safe, and consistent professional services and consumer care.
In October 2020, QCPP is introducing Quality Care 2020, the new accreditation framework for quality in community pharmacy. Quality Care 2020 is a contemporary program bringing together best-practice business operations with excellence in safe and quality care.
To learn more about the new program, in this episode, we are joined by Chloe Hennessy, QCPP National Manager, and Simon Blacker, Community Pharmacist and Chair of the QCPP Working Group, and a pharmacist who, back in 1999, was part of one of the first 200 pharmacies to be accredited under QCPP.
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With the economic impacts we’ve seen across 2020, it’s more important than ever that pharmacy owners have a keen understanding of business management, technology implementation, and accounting and tax frameworks that contribute to a successful, healthy business.
There’s been a huge increase in support and advice for small business owners in light of the pandemic, but it can be hard to understand the frameworks and opportunities that are now in place.
Our guest today breaks down the current business landscape, highlights how important it is to keep on top of business management, and provides some key strategies for pharmacy owners to steer their business through the next 12 months.
Peter Saccasan is a partner at RSM Australia and a Director in the Business Advisory division in Sydney. As National Director, Pharmacy Services, Peter is also responsible for managing nationally the pharmacy services of the firm, leading a team of pharmacy specialists who understand the retail pharmacy industry.
With a background in the SME market and with over 20 years of pharmacy experience, Peter seeks to provide a complete business service for pharmacy owners, with a focus on sustainability.
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Are leaders born or are they made? Is there the capacity in all of us to lead?
Leadership can be a difficult concept for some people to embrace, even those who already act as leaders at work or in their everyday life. Embracing the fact that anyone can lead, and that leadership is an extension of effective communication, can help pharmacists uncover their leadership potential.
Julia van Graas and Steph Clarke, from Spiique, are here to talk about how communication and leadership are two sides of the same coin, and both are needed to deliver optimal patient outcomes.
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The National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA) represents students from eighteen universities nationwide studying either an undergraduate or postgraduate program.
NAPSA is committed to advocating for Australian pharmacy students to ensure their future is prosperous and their status, rights, and privileges are protected. NAPSA facilitates relationships between student members and prominent industry organisations, ensuring students are well connected with their profession and are up-to-date with key issues and trends.
The continued operation of successful organisations like NAPSA rely on a committed and talented student leadership and we chat with both the outgoing and incoming NAPSA Presidents to discuss the challenges over the last 12 months and what’s in store for the future. Erin Cooper, from Charles Sturt University, is the outgoing president and Ethan Kreutzer, from Monash University, is the incoming president for the 2020/2021 term.
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With the events transpiring throughout 2020, community pharmacies have certainly had their focus squarely fixed on maintaining exceptional patient care and community support. In light of this, it can be easy to forget about some of the vital components that underpin an effective retail business. A strong lease agreement can have an enormous impact on your business performance and it’s vital that pharmacy owners understand how to negotiate on, manage, and build a healthy lease portfolio.
Today, we are joined by Phil Chapman, a retail leasing expert, and a returning guest to the podcast, to discuss the importance of your lease contract, how to negotiate a better agreement with your landlord, the impacts of the pandemic on the leasing market, and some of the trends community pharmacy needs to be aware of moving forward.
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What does the retail store of the future look like? Are we returning to the norm anytime soon or is the new way here to stay?
2020 is certainly helping us to reconsider how we interact with our physical environment and, for community pharmacy, this represents a big challenge going forward.
However, it is also a great time to identify innovative opportunities to enhance the physical store area and improve patient experiences and outcomes. Getting on the front foot now will ensure community pharmacies remain accessible and valuable destinations for patients when we settle into the new norm. In this episode,Gary McCartney, owner and creative director of McCartney Design, discusses how physical store environments can go a long way in shaping positive patient outcomes. Gary, has over twenty years of experience in retail design across a variety of industries, including community pharmacy.
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Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central has been on a journey of transformation in recent years. As well as a major store refit, Elise Wheadon and the team have keenly adopted emerging technologies and jumped at professional opportunities to ensure the pharmacy has thrived in an increasingly competitive and digitised environment.
Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central have been working tirelessly through the pandemic months and are even continuing their dedication to patient care through increased tele-health engagement, ensuring customers are supported throughout these difficult times. It is this commitment to innovation that has seen Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central take out the Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020 Professional Innovation category win.
In this episode, we chat with Elise Wheadon, from Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central, about her pharmacy’s journey toward Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020, some of the challenges facing the industry, and what lies ahead for the future.
The Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020 awards are proudly sponsored by Care Pharmaceuticals and the Quality Care Pharmacy Program.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced plans for the Guild Pharmacy of the Year Awards for 2021! For more information, visit guild.org.au and search “Pharmacy of the Year”.
I’ve been your host, Daniel Oyston, and you’ve been listening to episode 50, of the PBCN podcast.
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Electronic prescribing has been on the horizon for some time now, but what exactly is it and how will it impact the community pharmacy industry?
Electronic prescribing is essentially an initiative that provides an option for prescribers and their patients to use an electronic, as opposed to paper, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription.
Electronic prescriptions form part of the broader digital health and medicines safety framework and the benefits will include a greater choice for patients, improved efficiency in prescribing, and reduced errors in dispensing.
To take us through exactly what’s going on in the world of ePrescribing, we’re joined by Jason Bratuskins, Product Manager at FRED IT Group, and a pharmacy owner, who is supporting the rollout of this new and exciting technology.
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Guy Leech is a former Australian Ironman champion. Retired from competition, Guy is now a community health advocate, helping Australia gain an awareness of the risk and prevalence of sudden cardiac arrest. In helping Australia become 'Heart Smart', Guy’s mission is to ensure Australian businesses and communities have access to life-saving defibrillators.
In this episode, Guy discusses his own experiences which led him to establish Heart180 – a group on a mission to give all Australians access to a lifesaving defibrillator within 180 seconds of an emergency occurring.
Through Heart180, Guy is driving awareness of just how common an emergency can be and helping businesses become equipped to deal with these life-changing events.
As professionals on the front-line of patient care, pharmacists and pharmacy staff stand to benefit greatly from the lessons and resources available in this episode.
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Community Pharmacy is an engaging and rewarding industry to be a part of. On the other hand, however, it can at times be challenging and overwhelming. Workplace stress is a common experience for pharmacists and pharmacy staff, and it can present in many ways and over different periods of time.
The industry has harboured a long-held notion that working long and stressful hours, under high prescription numbers, and constant patient queries are par for the course, and this can often lead to cultures of stress and burnout within the profession.
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 certainly hasn't made any improvements in this environment and many pharmacies are now coping with the stressors of customer abuse, business continuity plans, and keeping up with ever-changing guidelines. It is a timely opportunity to get the conversation rolling on workplace wellbeing and mental health in Community Pharmacy.
In this episode, we speak with Kay Dunkley, a registered pharmacist and current Executive Officer of Pharmacists Support Services. Kay has a wealth of experience in working to provide support services to the pharmacy profession, and, has worked on a number of medicines and therapeutic advisory committees.
We also chat with Helen Lowy, registered pharmacist and counsellor. Helen helps individuals and businesses understand the impacts associated with healthcare culture and move from "surviving to thriving". We discuss some of her areas of clinical interest including psychological safety, resilience, and connection through meaning and purpose.
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Capital Chemist Chisholm is a fantastic example of the qualities and attributes that will shape the development of community pharmacy moving into the future. Rebecca Young (pharmacy owner) and the team have driven their success through strong business management, capitalising on emerging technologies, and engaging the wider health community.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Capital Chemist Chisolm has displayed an unwavering commitment to community engagement and has continued to provide professional service and advice to patients and the public.
Capital Chemist Chisholm’s dedication to patient care and community service saw them win the Business Management category and then be named Overall Pharmacy of the year for 2020.
The GPY 2020 award are proudly sponsored by principal sponsor Care Pharmaceuticals and sponsor QCPP.
Today we talk with Rebecca Young about the pharmacy’s journey to GPY 2020, the challenges currently facing community pharmacy, and what is in store for the future.
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Digital enablement is a critical component of modern business and community pharmacy is no exception. It's clear that the impacts of technology are making a big impact on the profession, with many traditional roles and processes now streamlined through innovative digital products. With effective integration, this affords community pharmacy an opportunity to engage more productively with both patients and the wider health network.
The recent COVID-19 outbreak shines a spotlight on the need for digital capability in the industry. Under new guidelines, many traditional avenues of patient interaction will need to be digitalised. The pandemic has also accelerated a number of health projects including electronic prescribing. Community pharmacy must be equipped to hit the ground running in this new digital frontier.
In this episode, we speak with Chris Clark from du.today, a company specialising in helping businesses identify their digital selves. A co-founder of Australia's premier innovation and start-up festival, Spark Festival, Chris is also an expert in helping businesses identify digital opportunities and guiding them on their digital journey.
There are several resources available to help community pharmacies navigate the pathway to digital enablement. The Guild's CP2025 Framework for Change publication outlines nine growth pathways to help inform future business strategies, one of which is Digital Enablement.
Guild members can also access digital engagement blogs and videos written for Australian community pharmacies and the Australian Digital Engagement Guide via the Guild Digital website.
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Pharmacists and pharmacy staff have answered the “call to action” and are navigating the COVID-19 landscape with exceptional resolve. Whilst the community pharmacy industry has made considerable efforts to ensure critical services are maintained amidst the outbreak, frontline workers continue to encounter challenges underpinning their professional and moral duties to the response effort.
Today we speak with George Tambassis, National President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, to discuss some of these challenges facing community pharmacies as they continue to play a significant role in the healthcare response to COVID-19. We also chat about the achievements the industry has made so far and cover some of the initiatives the Guild is taking to support members and community pharmacy during the health crisis.
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The impact of COVID-19 has been felt on a global scale. The challenges facing healthcare providers are monumental. Once again, community pharmacy finds itself on the frontline of an unprecedented response effort.
Across Australia, pharmacists and pharmacy staff continue to engage with their communities, local health professionals and primary health networks, supporting patients and playing an active role in the continuously evolving healthcare response.
As COVID-19 spreads, community pharmacies remain one of the most accessible destinations for essential needs and health services. This accessibility of community pharmacy means people may present with indications they have the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. The novel coronavirus is a highly transmissible virus and those symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath.
Pharmacists can minimise the spread of the virus by undertaking a number of specific activities to ensure they support their staff and patients. In particular, ongoing care for vulnerable patients or those that are self-isolating will be important.
Today we chat with Claire Bekema, pharmacist and COVID-19 Response Coordinator for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, about preparing your pharmacy for COVID 19 and how to respond to a suspected case.
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The bushfire season of 2019-20 was the most sustained and confronting in Australia’s recent history with fires threatening communities in many states and territories across unprecedented areas of land.
In numerous Australian towns, community pharmacists were faced with distressed patients, both local and visiting, power failures, broken medicine supply lines, fuel shortages, acrid smoke, appalling air quality. Further, the pharmacies themselves and the homes of the staff were under direct threat, as were family members and friends.
The unprecedented social and financial impacts of the 2019-20 bushfire season have pushed community pharmacies into the front lines of response efforts; highlighting their versatility and value within affected communities and showcasing their resilience in adverse situations.
Today, we speak with Andrew Topp, Group Business Manager of Capital Chemist Group, about the broader impacts of the bushfire season on community pharmacy and what it may mean for the industry going forward. We also chat with Danielle Campbell, the owner of Narooma Pharmacy, about her own experiences on the front line of the bushfire response efforts and the challenges she and her team faced.
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The Guild has recently launched the My Pharmacy Career recruitment platform, a national jobs platform specific to community pharmacy. My Pharmacy Career is designed for pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy managers, dispensary technicians, and all the other workforce roles that help make community pharmacy one of the most trusted health destinations in Australia.
Many of our listeners have spoken about the challenges that come with recruiting quality staff or finding the perfect role. As such, we thought we would ask for some advice from a recruitment specialist.
Today, we speak with Merryn Hails from Recruit2Retail Australia who provides great insight into the recruitment process including; what candidates are looking for, tips and hints for writing the perfect advertisement, conducting a sound interview process, and avoiding the recruitment pitfalls.
Enjoy.
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Marketing is such an important part of a business yet, increasingly, marketing is becoming more and more fragmented, with so many different tactics to consider and, all the while, people’s attention is at more of a premium than ever.
A lot of people simplify marketing as the stuff we can see; the ads, the social media, the videos, etc. Others think it is so complex and scary that they just don’t know where to start.
Marketing at its core, however, is about finding people with a need and getting them to trust you. As such, your job is to get the right information, to the right people, at the right time.
If you a regular listener of the show, you’ll know that, normally, we would welcome a guest onto the show. However, this time around, Daniel Oyston, the show’s host, will provide some marketing advice for you.
Daniel is the owner of the marketing consultancy, Content Grasshopper, and teaches marketing units at university.
In this episode, Daniel will give you 11 pieces of marketing advice that he usually charges clients for.
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For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Australia’s colonial history is characterised by devastating land dispossession, violence, and racism. Over the last half-century, however, many significant steps towards reconciliation have been taken.
Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that reminds us that while generations of Australians have fought hard for meaningful change, future gains are likely to take just as much, if not more, effort.
At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians
Today we speak with John Briggs from John Briggs Consultancy who offers expertise in workshops, training, facilitation, and providing specialist guidance around Indigenous engagement and inclusion. They work with government, non-government, corporate, early years, and education sector organisations, Australia-wide, to provide high quality tailored services.
John Briggs has delivered over 1,100 cultural competency presentations, in the last 10 years, across the mining, banking, retail, early years, and education sectors. With more than 25 years of experience, John Briggs is passionate about Indigenous culture, inclusion, employment, and engagement; assisting organisations to be better equipped and confident in these areas.
Central to his style and service delivery, are the fundamental principles of creating culturally safe learning environments and establishing trust. John Briggs is a collaborative networker and genuine expert in his field of professional speaking and facilitation.
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Today, company leaders, managers, and key business influencers operate in interesting times; to say the least. Amid growth ambitions, and an uncertain future, we are facing one of our greatest front-line business challenges yet because 2020 is the year where over 50% of employees will be in their mid-30s or younger.
The complexities posed by the situation of having five generations within a team are already being felt across the board. For example, imagine having a tech savvy Gen Z team member with a curious and creative personality, wanting to push forward quickly with new ideas, working alongside a Baby Boomer who seeks clear direction and structure and moves forward only with surety.
How do you make sure everyone's needs are being met against the backdrop of what is right for your business?
Nicky Mackie is the leading authority on multi-generational workforces in Australia. Her book on the subject, Gennorm: Why Multi-Generational Workplace Management Is The New Norm For Succeeding In Business Today, was released in 2018.
In this episode, we speak with Nicky on ways in which business leaders can uncover each team member’s self-drivers and how to create opportunities for them so they can play to their strengths.
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In 2019, we had some fantastic guests on the show who have shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice with us and I know we are all truly grateful that they found some time in their busy schedules to come on the show.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes.
So, that’s what we’ve created for you and we've done it across two episodes full of short and sharp advice from each of our guests. Remember that at the end of 2018 we did a best of episode covering the first 10 episodes and the episode before this one covered off episodes 12-23.
As such, in this episode, we’ll cover off the best bits of episodes 24-35.
Enjoy.
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Welcome to the end of the year and the penultimate episode for 2019.
We’ve had such amazing engagement and feedback on the show, since it launched, and as it continues to grow with the last two episodes of the year, that will make 37 episodes in total.
We’ve had some fantastic guests on the show who have shared some amazing stories, experiences, insights, and advice with us and I know we are all truly grateful that they found some time in their busy schedules to come on the show.
With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes.
So, that’s what we’ve created for you to round the year out and we will do it across two episodes full of short and sharp advice from each of our guests. Remember that at the end of 2018 we did a best of episode covering the first 10 episodes. As such, in this first best of episode of 2019, we’ll cover off episodes 12-23 and in the next show, we’ll cover off episodes 24-35.
Enjoy.
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Purchasing a pharmacy is a huge investment of both time and money. That is why it is vital that you conduct the proper research before jumping into the world of pharmacy ownership.
In this episode, John Thornett, Director at Peak Strategies Chartered Accountants, joins us to discuss how to prepare yourself to buy your first pharmacy.
John will be share advice and tips from his firsthand experiences in dealing with first-time pharmacy buyers. The advice and tips include the power of having trusted advisors, what to do when presented with an opportunity to buy a pharmacy, and how important due diligence is when looking at a potential pharmacy.
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The changes of greater society; changes in generations, technology, and media are reshaping the business landscape as we once knew it. We are being challenged to rethink what we do, how we behave, how we communicate, how we relate to others, and how we will operate as leaders and businesses into the future.
Leadership styles are changing from ‘tell’ to ‘engage’, with leadership now about inspiring and becoming truly authentic and the importance of connectedness to ourselves and each other is a necessity and a key part of building high-performing teams.
In this episode, we talk about connectedness and the important role it plays in leadership with Mel Kettle, Communication Strategist. Mel helps leaders, teams, and organisations become more connectable. Recognised as a thought leader in her field, Mel provides tailored solutions through consulting, speaking, and mentoring so her clients improve how they connect, communicate, and collaborate.
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In 2019, there have been over 245,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza. This is not only a huge health concern but a massive impact on businesses with lost time. The best protection is immunisation.
The Guild Corporate Vaccination Program has been operating in Queensland since 2016. Since its humble beginnings, the Program has seen enormous growth in 2019.
The Program is an attractive alternative to the traditional workplace flu clinics as it removes the need for the employer to manage the logistics of onsite flu vaccinations. Employees simply book online and the Guild and the participating pharmacies manage the rest.
Member support for the Program continues to grow as it is a chance to bring new patients into the pharmacy, many of whom become loyal patients returning with scripts and for their annual flu vaccine.
Today we chat with Catherine Chiu, pharmacist and owner of Hooper Centre Pharmacy in Toowoomba, about the pharmacy’s experiences of the Corporate Vaccination Program. We also speak with Libby Whitehead, Health Opportunities Pharmacist, with the Guild QLD Branch, about the Program itself and why pharmacies should consider being involved.
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The Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Award is the premier award for Australian pharmacy assistants, recognising and celebrating the ‘best of the best’ in community pharmacy.
Each year, we search Australia-wide to find the most skilled and knowledgeable pharmacy assistants to share their experiences and passion for the industry.
This prestigious award recognises the important contribution pharmacy assistants make to the pharmacy industry and is a chance to celebrate the passion & commitment of pharmacy assistants.
The 2019 recipient of the PATY award was announced at the recent Pharmacy Assistant Conference in Brisbane. Brianne Lowe from HealthSave Pharmacy Charlestown NSW was awarded the accolade following the finals also held at the conference.
In this episode, we speak with Brianne about her pharmacy career, her competition journey, and her future. We also hear from Brianne’s employer, Luca Boffo, about the impact pharmacy assistants can have on your business as well as speaking to competition judge Colm Maguire about the PATY competition itself.
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We focus on building your career in community pharmacy and look at some of the lesser-known opportunities that are available within community pharmacy as we speak with the Roaming Pharmacist - Liam Murphy.
Liam will take us through how his career as a community pharmacist has not only provided him some amazing career growth experiences but also supported the Australian dream of absolute work-life balance.
Liam talks us through the opportunities, challenges and the benefits of working in community pharmacy, having worked in rural and remote areas in Australia, building collaborative relationships with other health professionals, and how to build a valued community pharmacy career using these experiences.
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The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has recently welcomed a new Executive Director, Suzanne Greenwood. Suzanne is a few weeks into the role but has definitely embraced the role head on and has hit the ground running. Suzanne attended Pharmacy Connect and presented the Judith Liauw address which focused on the importance of diversity, she has engaged with NAPSA and recognises the importance of focusing on the future workforce and owners of community pharmacy, participated in Council meetings, and attended the Guild’s annual dinner at Parliament House.
Suzanne shares with us, not only her background, that lead her to the role of Executive Director of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, but also her passion for community pharmacy and the opportunities for future growth within the industry.
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In this episode, we speak with Brian Walker, founder and CEO of Retail Doctor Group. Brian has steered his business to become a leading retail consulting firm, specialising in taking insights-driven strategy into award-winning implementation, working across omnichannel retail, franchise, and service sectors in every retail category.
Brian discusses his perspective on pharmacy retailing in Australia, the opportunities & challenges facing community pharmacies, and why it is important for pharmacy business owners to focus on driving efficient and effective retail operations, in-store experiences, culture & values, and sales benchmarks to drive business success.
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In this episode, we hear from the 2019 Australian Patients Association most outstanding Pharmacist of the Year, Brad Butt, from Coleman Court Pharmacy, in the ACT. Brad is an industry innovator especially within specialised professional services. Brad’s professional health programs are patient-centric and meet the health needs of the community. Brad discusses several of his programs including the development of his Men’s Health program.
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Technological advances, rising costs, and increasing patient expectations are set to transform the healthcare landscape. As such, community pharmacy has the ability to deliver a holistic health hub that provides excellent patient experiences.
Patients value cost and convenience the most when choosing a pharmacy and, although this sounds like cutting prices and longer opening hours, the reality is that many patients are looking for a community health hub; easily accessible health services that complement pharmacies’ core medicine roles and an enhanced in-store experience of a ‘one-stop-shop’.
Shelley Thomson, Founder of Experience 360, a consultancy that focuses on helping healthcare providers to deliver exceptional patient experiences, joins us to talk about why we should be striving for excellent customer experience, the opportunity for pharmacies, and what will happen if we don’t embrace the change.
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Whether you are at the start of your career, or a seasoned pharmacist or pharmacy owner, mentoring can play a significant role in both your career and business development and success.
On this episode, we speak to Guy Lambert, Head of Growth at Mentorloop, a company helping organisations to create a mentoring culture for their people, leading to better employee retention, diversity and talent development outcomes. Guy talks to us about mentoring programs and why it makes good personal and also business sense.
We also hear from early career pharmacists Elise Apolloni and Tash Jovanoska. Elise is the owner of four Capital Chemists while Tash Jovanoska recently became an owner of her first pharmacy in Braidwood rural NSW. Elise and Tash will provide us with some insights into their mentoring journeys.
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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ross Tsuyuki, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, at the University of Alberta. Dr. Tsuyuki’s main interest is improving public health through engaging community pharmacists as primary care providers.
Dr. Tsuyuki discusses the history and current situation of full scope of practice in Canada and discusses the benefits and challenges for the Australian sector.
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In recent years, digital engagement has become a critical ingredient for small to medium business success. Digital tools can help improve operational processes and assist the development and implementation of a business strategy and are strongly correlated with revenue growth, innovation, and expanded market reach. In the community pharmacy setting, integration of digital technologies and increased engagement with patients can help to improve medicine adherence, remote monitoring, clinical efficiencies, and collaboration with the wider health system.
By embracing digital health, community pharmacy can integrate with the wider health system, increasing the ability to move beyond medicine supply and offer personalised health solutions working with other health providers. If community pharmacies do not have a competitive online presence, the risk of online retailers providing direct-to-home prescriptions and targeting front-of-shop products is increased.
In this episode, we have two guests. The first is Aaron D’Souza, Pharmacist and General Manager of Guild Digital and Pharmacy Click and Collect, who explains the benefits of integrating digital health into community pharmacies. We also speak with Kate Knynenburg, pharmacist owner of a recently independent pharmacy in The Gap, Brisbane, about her experiences and why she is embracing digital change.
There are several resources available to help community pharmacies navigate the pathway to digital enablement. The Guild’s CP2025 Framework for Change publication outlines nine growth pathways to help inform future business strategies, one of which is Digital Enablement. If you would like more information about the Framework and the nine growth pathways, visit www.guild.org.au/cp2025
Guild members can also access digital engagement blogs and videos written for Australian community pharmacies and the “Australian Pharmacy Digital Engagement Guide” via the Guild Digital website at www.guilddigital.com.au
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In order to enhance service delivery, empower patients, break down health siloes, and enable partnership-based approaches that span primary care, allied health, community care, and aged care, community pharmacies are being encouraged to integrate digital health into their practices and businesses.
Integrating digital health into pharmacy practice enhances patient safety, enables more personalised care, creates clinical efficiencies, and drives collaboration. One way community pharmacies can start to see the benefits of the My Health Record System is to understand its clinical applications to patient care and when to utilise this additional source of patient health information.
My Health Record has the potential to provide a platform to support healthcare coordination in the goal of providing optimum health outcomes for patients especially those with chronic and complex conditions.
In this episode we take a deep dive into the My Health Record system in the community pharmacy context with Andrew Robinson, a community pharmacy owner and Pharmacist Digital Health Leader at the Australian Digital Health Agency and Vandana Chandnani, who is a pharmacist by trade and educator at the Agency.
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A major financial investment, with minimal immediate return, is the price that is often necessary to help future proof community pharmacy today.
This was the view taken by Harding’s 24-hour Pharmacy, in Annerley, Brisbane, when it made the decision to undergo a major revamp and open 24/7. This investment is clearly already helping Harding’s to make their mark as one of the leading community pharmacies in Australia.
Hear from Chetna Patel, pharmacist and co-manager of Harding’s 24-hour Pharmacy, and this year’s Guild Pharmacy of the Year category winner of Excellence in Professional Innovation (proudly sponsored by principal sponsor Care Pharmaceuticals and sponsor QCPP).
In the show, Chetna discusses the journey that Harding’s pharmacy has taken to future proof the business and strengthen the pharmacy’s commitment to providing innovative professional services to the community.
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Zamil Solanki is co-proprietor of TerryWhite Chemmart Mount Gravatt, finalist in the 2019 Guild Pharmacy of the Year awards which were proudly sponsored by principal sponsor, Care Pharmaceuticals, and sponsor, QCPP). The pharmacy is located in a highly competitive area, with 12 other pharmacies within a 3 km radius.
Zamil and his team have transformed the pharmacy to incorporate a true forward dispensing model; integrating robotics, two clinic rooms and additional allied health services including a larger medical centre and pathology, to ensure the pharmacy stands out from the crowd.
Zamil is extremely passionate and enthusiastic about the future of community pharmacy, which is evident in how he approaches the management of his business but also his involvement in the wider healthcare network.
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Sarah Hazell is co-owner of Flannery’s Pharmacy in Forbes, the 2019 Guild Pharmacy of the Year winner. Sarah provided a heartfelt and inspiring acceptance speech at the award ceremony in March at APP, where she spoke of the pharmacy's vision , saying,
“Our vision is to offer the highest level of pharmacy capable people in our community. This complements our mission which is to develop a knowledgeable, capable and caring team of experts to work with other healthcare professionals and community groups to provide improved health outcomes for our community,”
“Our motto is putting the community back into community pharmacy which reflects our focus on professional services and community involvement.”
Hear from Sarah about the pharmacy, the part it plays in the community, and what’s next for the team at Flannery’s.
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To a varying degree, community pharmacies already contract other health professionals such as maternal nurses and diabetes educators on a sessional basis. With physical retailing under pressure, and an increased focus on multidisciplinary care, pharmacy infrastructure can be utilised for broader health services without necessarily entering those markets directly or employing full-time staff. Other health professionals, working on a sessional basis, can complement pharmacists’ medicines role, enabling a holistic, health solutions-based approach.
Pharmacy 777 Glengarry has certainly embraced collaborating and partnering with other allied health professionals and has established themselves as a health hub for the community of Duncraig and the region.
As a testament to the pharmacy’s commitment to the community, both within and outside the pharmacy walls, the pharmacy was recently recognised as winner of the Community Engagement – Collaboration and Partnerships category of the Guild Pharmacy of the Year award (proudly sponsored by principal sponsor Care Pharmaceuticals and sponsor QCPP)
Today we speak with owner Tina Paysar on how the pharmacy has transformed into a health destination, dedicated to improving the health of their patients through building strong professional relationships and engaging with the wider community.
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Located on the north-west tip of Tasmania, Wilkinson’s Pharmacy Burnie have proactively transformed their health services to meet the needs of their patients and expanded the scope and role of the community pharmacy in the region.
The increased provision of specific health-related services at Wilkinson’s pharmacy demonstrates that the pharmacy is a health destination which enhances patient convenience and health outcomes.
Wilkinson’s Pharmacy Burnie was recognised in the category of Community Engagement – Health Services. Wilkinson’s demonstrated a commitment to developing and adopting an increased number of health services to meet the needs of their community. They have displayed a strong commitment to community engagement and a dedication to improving the delivery of professional services and medicines to their patients.
Today we chat with Jack Muir Wilson about the Wilkinson’s Pharmacy journey and what the future holds.
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Emerald is small town in the central highlands region of Queensland, approx. 870km from Brisbane. Emerald is a service town for a large number of industries including extensive coal mining operations and cotton farming. Emerald is also home to an outstanding community pharmacy, Emerald Plaza Pharmacy, and owner Jessica Burrey has a vision to create a health hub to service the community and collaborate with the wider health sector.
Jessica’s leadership, and her amazing team’s work so far, led to Emerald Pharmacy being awarded finalist status in the 2019 Guild Pharmacy of the Year award.
Jess and her team understand the challenges facing the industry and embrace the need to adapt and change to address the needs of their patients and community. Their willingness to adapt and change has resulted in a dynamic, viable, and sustainable business.
Today we speak with Jess about her journey to ownership, how she and her team have transformed the pharmacy, and what they have planned for the future.
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The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Pharmacy of the Year awards are the undisputed benchmark for recognising excellence in the community pharmacy industry.
The awards, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, aim to seek out highly motivated, innovative and adaptable pharmacy businesses that continuously strive to provide greater healthcare solutions in creative ways. The awards are supported by the primary sponsor, Care Pharmaceuticals as well the Quality Care Pharmacy Program.
The category winners, as well as the overall Pharmacy of the Year, were announced at the APP 2019 conference.
At the conference, we captured the introduction of each category winner, as well as the audio from their story video, which takes us inside their pharmacy and tells us more about their work, and then finally, we recorded their answers to some short questions on stage.
As such, in this episode we hear just a little bit about what makes these winners so successful. However, in the coming episodes, we’ll catch up with each of them in detail and learn much more about their journey and success.
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Company culture is not just about providing perks like ping pong tables and team happy hours.
Many businesses focus on their numbers, systems, processes, and KPIs to achieve success, however, focusing attention on the culture, relationships, and behaviours of your team will have a direct and positive impact on the results of your business as well.
When company cultures are particularly high-performing, they can impact all corners of your business. Increased engagement, productivity, and retention are all outcomes of a high-performance work culture.
Today we speak with Daniel Healy, Partner at Leading Teams, about what makes a good leader, why culture is important to a business, and how leaders can create and influence good culture.
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Every business has to change, update and innovate in order to survive and thrive. Your pharmacy is no exception.
Instituting change is difficult, especially when you get set in a routine. Whether it’s too expensive, you don’t have the time, or you like the way things have always been done, it’s not hard to find excuses to keep doing what you’re doing.
In order for your business to grow, you have to continue to change and develop. Implementing innovative ideas benefits everyone, including your patients, employees and your business.
Today we speak with Rod Hattch, CEO of Wisdom Learning about just what innovation is, the drivers and barriers to implementation and how to set the culture within your business to foster innovation
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The pace of change in health care is rapid, but perhaps no sector is experiencing evolution as quickly as the field of community pharmacy.
Community pharmacists are integral members of a patient’s healthcare team, focused on ensuring individualised health outcomes for patients through a combination of medicines supply, management, safety, support, and advice, working in collaboration with other health professionals.
Early career pharmacists play an integral role in the future direction of community pharmacy and today we speak to two young leaders of the industry about their experiences and aspirations for the future
First, we hear from Jess Hsiao, who is a 5th year pharmacy and pharmaceutical science student at the University of South Australia. Jess is the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA) President and in the role she strives to strengthen NAPSA’s relationship with industry bodies and build on the foundations paved by previous boards.
Also joining us is Lauren Haworth. Lauren is an Early Career Pharmacist with a demonstrated history of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, especially while leading the National Students Association. Lauren is skilled in Professional Pharmacy Services, Communication, Event Management, and Public Speaking and most of all, is passionate about equal healthcare for all.
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The intern journey can be a daunting prospect but with the right attitude, preceptor, and program, the intern year can be rewarding for the intern, preceptor, and pharmacy business. In this episode, we hear from Tim Stewart 2017 MIMS/Guild Intern of the Year, and his preceptor, Mark Leighton, on their experiences through the intern journey. Tim provides some great insights and reflections on his time as an intern and how it helped him transition from a student.
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As we wrap up 2018, and head into the new year, we thought we’d take stock of the first 10 episodes of the PBCN podcast. We’ve gone back and listened to each episode and picked out a few of our favourite parts, the gold nuggets, from the awesome guests we’ve had so far.
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The Pharmacy Guild of Australia held a competition at the 2018 Guild Pharmacy Assistants Conference for the next PBCN podcast topic. The winning topic was 'Pharmacy Assistants are a vital part of every pharmacy team – hear from the 2018 pharmacy assistant of the year'.
The Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Award is the premier award for Australian pharmacy assistants, recognising and celebrating the ‘best of the best’ in community pharmacy.
Each year, the Guild searches Australia-wide to find the most skilled and knowledgeable pharmacy assistants to share their experiences and passion for the industry.
This prestigious award recognises the important contribution pharmacy assistants make to the pharmacy industry and is a chance to celebrate the passion & commitment of pharmacy assistants.
The 2018 winner was Alice Vanderpool from Moama Village Pharmacy in NSW.
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Lucy Walker, owner of Terry White Chemart Goondiwindi was recognised as the 2017 winner of the community engagement category for the Pharamcay Guild of Australia Pharmacy of the Year and went on to also win the overall Pharmacy of the Year in 2017.
In thsi episode, Lucy discusses how community pharamcy, in rural communities is not just a job but, instead, a lifestyle.
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Gerald Byrnes Pharmacy, in Bicton W.A., was the 2018 Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Guild Pharmacy of the Year in the category of Professional Innovation.
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Working for yourself or owning your own successful business is something a lot of people dream about. A fair few people end up realising that dream.
The thought of owning your own pharmacy can be very attractive but, if you are going to make a success of it, you need to ensure that you purchase the right type of pharmacy business and that requires a lot of pre-sale ground work.
Conversely, if you already own your own pharmacy business, then the time will come when you will want to sell it. No doubt, you would have put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into building a successful business that you are rightly proud of. So, you’ll want a great price.
Whether you are looking to own your own pharmacy one day, or a sale is on the horizon, you’ll gain a lot from our guest on this episode, a Business Broker who specialises in pharmacy, Natalie Sirriani, from Attain. Natalie has over twelve years’ experience working in pharmacy valuation, research, management consulting and business broking.
Natalie aims to provide pharmacy owners, and aspiring owners, with the highest level of service during the process of buying and selling a pharmacy. Her knowledge, commitment and professionalism, combined with the experience of the Attain team, have led to many successful pharmacy business sales over the years.
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In past episodes, we’ve heard from pharmacies that have successfully diversified their offerings, and income, and we trust that has gotten a lot of you excited about how you can also grow your business.
We’ve heard lots of positive things and also how they’ve overcome some of the challenges they faced. They’ve made no secret of the fact that it is a challenge but one well worth taking on.
One thing that absolutely sets the foundation, and, in fact, would be almost impossible to see success without it, is the numbers. The financials.
As a partner at MSI Taylor Pharmacy Services, Matthew Harris is an expert in helping pharmacies get the financials right, especially when diversifying.
If you are thinking about diversifying your income, and adding professional services to your offerings, or maybe you are early on in the process, this podcast will help steady you with loads of great financial knowledge that is really easy to understand.
Or maybe you are a long way down the track, and it is time to review your journey so far, then you’ll also gain some really valuable insights.
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Friendlies Pharmacy, in Busselton, WA, provides every service that is available in the pharmacy industry, so you can imagine the complexity of the management systems that need to not only support the delivery and management of those services but do it the right way and efficiently.
Add to that, the complexity of integrating all those services to the customer and to each other. For example, flu vaccinations may flow into a health check which may flow into a weight loss program which may flow into sleep apnoea
Friendlies Pharmacy, Busleton, realised that not only are the management systems to support integrated services important but so is the space needed to deliver them effectively.
In this episode, you’ll hear from one of the owners of Friendlies Pharmacy, Busselton, WA. You’ll go behind the scenes and hear not just about their success but also some of the challenges. Ultimately though, after winning the 2018 Business Management award, that journey has been a huge success and real validation for the team for all their hard work and the changes they’ve implemented over the years.
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The Southcity Wagga Wagga team’s goal, each day, is to "... make a difference in our patient’s lives and do that by trying to become a premier health destination in the region”.
Luke van der Rijt and Michael O’Reilly, business partners at Southcity Wagga Wagga, decided that the best way to achieve that goal was to de-banner the pharmacy and expand the business into a professional services pharmacy.
Listen is as Luke and Michael speak about their success so far and learn about some of the services, specialist lines of products they offer, their contribution to the wider health community in their region, and, of course, some of the challenges they’ve overcome along the way.
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This podcast sheds some light on the rental/leasing landscape, helping you to achieve a broader understanding of the importance of the lease contract, what things to consider when negotiating your lease with the landlord, how to get a better deal, and how best to manage this contract to benefit your Pharmacy and ensure longevity and security of tenure.
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