THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has launched a review of its Professional Guidelines for the revised pharmacy programs, including Dose Administration Aids, MedsCheck/Diabetes MedsCheck, Staged Supply and Home Medicines Review services as announced in the 2017/18 Federal Budget.
The best practice review is part of a regular cycle of analyses undertaken to ensure these documents reflect contemporary pharmacist practice, and support the Quality Use of Medicines and delivery of consistent, high-quality standards of pharmacist care to Australian health consumers, the PSA said.
A Project Advisory Group (PAG) of pharmacy, Government and consumer stakeholders has been established under the chairmanship of former PSA president Grant Kardachi.
Principles defining the content have been established by the PAG, with the new guidelines to reinforce focus on patient-centred, collaborative care, and outline the requirements of contemporary pharmacist practice as well as highlight new program requirements, and communicate the important role that data collection will play in future program evaluation.
In addition the review "should promote useability and consistency across the Guidelines and articulate the linkages between programs".
The focus needs to be on "supporting the implementation of the revised programs in practice through the development of practice support and education tools, and the identification of linkages to other key guidance documents (for example Professional Practice Standards, Competency Standards and Code of Ethics for Pharmacists)".
Funded by the Health Department, the revised guidelines across Dose Administration Aids, MedsCheck/Diabetes MedsCheck and Staged Supply services are scheduled for release in late Oct.
New guidelines for Home Medicines Review services are scheduled for later in the year and will be followed by the staged roll-out of an associated practice support and education program.
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