Pharmacy Daily | Specialty Practice thrives

MORE than 2,000 Australian pharmacists are now active across the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) Specialty Practice program proving its worth as a professional and career growth vehicle, the SHPA says.

SHPA CEO Kristin Michaels says as enrolment continues to flourish -- with more than 2,000 pharmacists active across the program's 24 specialty streams and an additional 140 applications flowing in each month.

"SHPA members have welcomed the centralised support for workforce development and recognition," Michaels said.

"As evident in our member-access one year report, feedback from our members has been strongly positive with broad recognition of the value of peer-to-peer engagement and access to field leaders.

Michaels further quantified the success of the program saying SHPA members have consistently and eagerly engaged with the new model, submitting and responding to over 120 posts per week across three levels of forums via Interest Groups, Practice Groups and Leadership Committees.

"Members have recognised the value of Specialty Practice as a crucial peer-learning conduit to share service expertise and reduce the sense of professional isolation -- particularly when working in rural areas or smaller hospitals with few or no onsite colleagues.

"The volunteer expertise of Specialty Practice members has facilitated the revision and creation of SHPA Standards of Practice and enabled work on materials supporting codeine up-scheduling, with other specialty projects in development."

Michaels added that next year and beyond, Specialty Practice will build on its strong foundations and continue to utilise hospital pharmacist expertise to deliver Standards of Practice and guidance publications, curriculum for Advanced Training Residencies and a library of evidence-based policy positions.

See more info at shpa.org.au.