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Professional Support Specialist Megan Kazantzis said from her experience most pharmacists saw the value in providing professional services and wanted to do them but just were not sure exactly how to start.
‘By being out on the road and visiting stores I am able to encourage and motivate the pharmacists to get out from behind the counters and provide these services. I also help trouble-shoot and overcome any barriers they foresee by working with each store and tailoring the delivery of services to fit them,’ she said.
Professional Services Development Manager Sarah Gray said professional service programs were vital for the future of community pharmacy in Australia, and provided pharmacists with – often exclusive – opportunities to more widely engage with patients and guide them through the healthcare system. Sigma was well placed to fast-track this practice change and evolution. In addition, the link between the wholesale and retail business made it possible to easily create and implement programs.
‘Our programs are certainly preparing stores for the future of pharmacy where pharmacist-led health interventions will play a major role. Our past experience in implementing professional services means that we have the experience and skills to develop tailored programs for our stores, which results in programs that fit within their day to day process flow.’
Talking to these pharmacists it is clear they feel they are actively contributing to pharmacy practice change and find their work hugely rewarding.
Professional Services Operations Manager Adam McIntyre said that as a young motivated pharmacist he found the work incredibly satisfying.
‘Not only do I get to execute my clinical knowledge in the preparation of new services we develop but
I am lucky enough to be in a position where I am constantly learning new things about the pharmacy industry every day.
‘Being able to see a new service we have worked on be effectively executed in the pharmacy is incredibly rewarding. Especially when we hear
stories from our pharmacists about the impact these services have had on patients.’
Dispensary Services Project Manager David Preston said a big part of ‘where the rubber hits the road’ was how the services freed pharmacists’ time to better engage with their patients.
‘To this end we’re developing
a comprehensive program of pharmacist support systems and education, tailored to the needs of our network, to help our pharmacists deliver these services.
‘I’m lucky enough to be working
within the Sigma team to expand
upon and scale up some of the exciting initiatives we’ve introduced in my store
in Bairnsdale. Our real focus is to ensure patients across the country are getting
the benefit of more quality time and comprehensive health solutions from their local pharmacists.’
Ms Gray said having the chance to influence
the role of pharmacists in Australia was personally and professionally rewarding. The positive impact the programs had for patients was especially rewarding, ‘as it goes back to the main reason why most of us become pharmacists – to improve the health of the community.’
Mr Nevile said being a part of improving the way consumers are able to manage their own health was deeply rewarding.
‘Pharmacy is a vital part of any patient-centric model of care and is playing an increasingly important
role in empowering patients to better manage their health.’
Ms Kazantzis said: ‘I love helping pharmacists to be the best they can be. I love hearing the stories of the stores’ improvement since my involvement and how their job satisfaction has increased.‘
“Most
importantly I feel
professionally
satisfied as I can
see how my work
is important and
valued.”
– Megan Kazantzis,
Professional Support Specialist
Health Destination Pharmacy
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Australian Pharmacist January 2017 I ©Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd. 61
2016 Pharmacy Practice Improvement Award
2016 Golden Target Award
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