SHPA urges funding innovation
July 2, 2015
The Society of Hospital
Pharmacists of Australia has
published a new position statement
on the role of pharmacists in
interdisciplinary teams.
The statement which was
approved by SHPA Federal Council
also urges the development of
“innovative funding models” -
potentially including Medicare
reimbursement - in order to enable
equitable access to pharmacist
services across the continuum of
care.
“The safe and effective use of
medicines is underpinned by a
patient-centred, collaborative and
interdisciplinary team approach,
where the right service is delivered
at the right time, in the right
location, by the right practitioner,
to the right patient,” SHPA said.
“SHPA believes that pharmacists
should be part of such teams in
all care settings across the health
system to optimise outcomes from
medicines for patients”.
Examples of services provided by team-based pharmacists could
include medication reconciliation,
medication management reviews,
identification of medication-related
problems and the development
and documentation of medication
management plans.
Pharmacists in such a setting
would also provide education to
individual patients as well as to
other members of the health care
team, the statement says.
Potential funding mechanisms are
cited such as contracted/employed
pharmacists in general practice,
residential care and Aboriginal
Health Services; pharmacists in
hospital and community pharmacy
settings; and “community
pharmacies and pharmacists
funded via the Community
Pharmacy Agreement or, preferably,
the Medicare Benefits Scheme”.
SHPA said it believes medication
management reviews should be
available to patients at the highest
risk of medication related problems
“irrespective of the care setting”.
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