IN THE latest instalment of the Raven's Recruitment's Your Pharmacy Career Podcast out now, Vanessa Lontos (pictured) shared her journey from community pharmacist to a leadership role at Sigma Healthcare, culminating in her status as a thought leader in the sector.
The episode, titled 'Empowering Pharmacy Leadership and Patient Care: Vanessa Lontos on Transformation, Coaching, and Personal Growth', explored the critical roles of effective communication, patient engagement, and the lasting impact of ongoing personal and professional development on healthcare outcomes.
Listeners will gain insights into Lontos' methods for improving patient care, highlighting the importance of a cohesive pharmacy team, the value of presence in patient interactions, and the art of delivering concise counselling.
The episode also emphasised the necessity for pharmacy professionals to embrace continuous learning and adept change management, promoting an always-on learning culture, the benefits of peer mentorship, and the integration of personal growth and self-awareness into professional life.
Heidi Dariz, General Manager of Raven's Recruitment, commended the insightful episode, noting, "as the healthcare landscape evolves, Vanessa Lontos' expertise provides invaluable guidance for pharmacy professionals navigating these changes".
The episode is essential for anyone passionate about advancing pharmacy and enhancing patient care through leadership and personal development, she added.
"This episode invites listeners to engage in the transformative paths of pharmacy leadership and patient care, and Lontos' holistic approach to professional development."
Lontos emphasised the importance of pharmacy leaders intentionally setting aside brief, targeted periods, such as five to 10 minutes, for staff to take part in meaningful learning experiences.
She championed the concept of 'five-minute mentors' to foster informal learning opportunities and advocated for experiential learning through shadowing staff and having them listen in on patient conversations.
Lontos underscored the necessity of allowing time and space for planning when enacting changes in the pharmacy environment, alongside leveraging various communication channels to ensure clear and comprehensive dissemination of information regarding changes.
She encouraged empowering team members to engage in decision-making and problem-solving, cultivating a sense of psychological safety within the team to facilitate effective change management in pharmacy.
Recognising the need for a period of stabilisation after changes are implemented, she advised considering the human aspect foremost in change initiatives.
This involves assembling a diverse team, distributing the workload for managing significant changes, and building self-awareness through reflection on emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
By identifying areas for skill enhancement and setting developmental goals, Lontos suggested fostering a culture of open and honest dialogue within teams about areas for improvement.
To listen to this interesting podcast, CLICK HERE. JG
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