Pharmacy Daily | New benchmarks start

THE Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) Clinical Pharmacy Standards are now released, offering a comprehensive update to practice in this area.

The 2024 edition introduces 22 new Quality Statements, emphasising person-centred care across the patient journey, and equitable access to quality pharmacy care for Australians in all care settings.

The release coincides with the start of the Medicines Management 2024 conference in Adelaide, where AdPha President Tom Simpson highlighted its relevance amid ongoing discussions about pharmacy practice scope.

"Collaboration is at the core of our Standards, with team-based care essential to advanced pharmacy," Simpson said.

"The expertise of pharmacists is maximised when the entire pharmacy workforce - including technicians and assistants - practice to the top of scope, as reflected in this document."

Simpson noted that while different hospitals and health services may implement varying aspects of the Standards, the central commitment to patient care remains consistent.

"The Standards establish evidence-based best practice across Australia's health system, which is not universally achieved today," he said, adding that they represent a 'goal state' that the healthcare system should aspire to.

The Standards cover all aspects of healthcare where pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and medicines intersect, focusing on continuous care in and beyond the hospital setting.

"We cannot focus solely on the few days a person might spend in the hospital while ignoring the rest of their year," Simpson remarked.

AdPha's Clinical Pharmacy Standards, updated for current practice, has been guided by extensive input from members and experts, and will serve as a blueprint for patient care.

Published in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, the clinical Standards are now accessible to AdPha members-only through its portal. JG