The Guild’s Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP) onsite assessments of community pharmacies is making a return after a four year pause.
In March 2020, the onsite assessments switched to remote assessments as part of the pandemic lockdowns.
The good news is that from October 1 this year the QCPP onsite assessments will resume at community pharmacies around the country.
QCPP is a great way to ensure all staff at community pharmacies, including pharmacy assistants are assessed to be able to deliver quality, safe and consistent professional services and consumer care.
The program has now been running for 25 years and 95% of our community pharmacies are accredited.
The return of onsite assessments doesn’t mean the immediate end to remote assessments.
They will continue until October 1. If a pharmacy has an assessment before that date, it will be done remotely.
It’s important that all staff members who are responsible for implementing QCPP are on hand during the assessment to help answer any questions.
In some pharmacies, this could be several staff members, such as a pharmacy assistant who might coordinate QCPP, the pharmacy owner, manager or pharmacist in charge who may hold confidential records, and/or a pharmacist who can demonstrate dispensing procedures.
There are many facets to QCPP to ensure that pharmacy assistants, pharmacists, and the community pharmacy provide the best business practices and excellence in safe and quality care.
These include:
Pharmacy Management and Governance
- Business strategy
- Risk Management
- Quality management systems
Consumer Centered Care
- Privacy, confidentiality and consumer rights
- Quality and safe consumer care
- Cultural safety
- Promoting use of quality medicines
- Advertising
Human Resources
- Recruitment
- Induction
- Staff management and development
- Termination of employment
Premises, Infrastructure and Stock
- Premises and infrastructure
- Stock management
- Safety and security
- Information Technology
Pharmacy Services
- Foundation pharmacy services
- Generic requirements for pharmacy services
- Specific requirements for pharmacy services
QCPP is a vital part community pharmacy operations.
