Pharmacy Business & Career Network Podcast

Nutrition is important at every age. Your children need proper nutrients to stay healthy and strong, and to grow up to be healthy and strong. Nutrition for children can also help establish a foundation for healthy eating habits and nutritional knowledge that they can apply throughout life.

However, what if meal times are a battle and your child is reluctant to eat a variety of foods? Should you be concerned?

How can you ensure your child is getting enough nutrients?

How do you change habits and the relationship your child has with food?

In this episode, we speak with Karina Savage, leading Paediatric Gut Health Dietitian from Smartbite Nutrition, and mum of two young children.

Karina has been helping families, clinically, for 20 years and loves to take the stress out of feeding little ones. Karina is incredibly passionate about the gut, specialising in food intolerance, allergy, and helping babies with irritability and gut issues.

Karina also loves supporting parents who have fussy eaters, both through individual consultations and her feeding fussy eaters program.

You can find more information at www.smartbite.com.au as well as further nutrition education for, all stages of life, on the GuildEd website at www.guilded.guild.org.au

The Guild would like to thank Abbott Australasia for sponsoring today’s podcast and supporting community pharmacies.

Asking better questions creates stronger professional and personal relationships resulting in more empowerment, engagement, motivation, and better outcomes for everyone.

As such, Lindsay Tighe and Tina Dolphin, from the organisation Better Questions, join us to talk about transforming our communication. We discuss how to improve your communication skills including what makes a better question, how to avoid telling, and the importance of listening.

Many of the tips discussed in this podcast will be useful when speaking to those in your everyday life, whether you are speaking with your patients, business partners, teams, family or friends you can put what you have heard today into practice.

If you would like further information on the Better Question philosophy, services or workshops go to www.betterquestions.com.au GuildEd also has a range of courses that explore communication in the pharmacy setting, for more information go to www.guilded.guild.org.au

Today we speak with recently elected Guild National President, Trent Twomey and gain some insight into his first 100 days in the role. Trent discusses the highlights, challenges and opportunities facing the sector and the vision for community pharmacy as we work towards the Guild’s centenary in 2028. We also learn more about the man himself, his career pathway, the people who have supported his journey and his experiences as a regional community pharmacist.

If you would like more information about the Guild Centenary Framework for Change go to www.guild.org.au

Ian Shanks has been a pharmacist for over 40 years, is owner of the Fullife Pharmacies Group and CEO of the Fullife Foundation, an Australian charity focusing on the health of women and children in Ethiopia.

Ian has had a lifelong interest in philanthropy, and through his pharmacies has been able to raise awareness and to support many charities both locally and internationally over the years.

With the support of managing partners in his pharmacies now, Ian is able to focus on integrating his dual passions of continually developing the Fullife Pharmacies’ model as one of wellness and health management, with the complete integration of the Fullife Foundation, to help those he serves live a full life.

If you would like further information on the Fullife Foundation you can visit www.fullifefoundation.com.au and if you know of a community pharmacy that is doing exceptional work, whether that be through community engagement, services, education, support or empowerment, drop us a line at bus.support@guild.org.au and share their story today.

For those who work in the health care space, there are quite a few rules and regulations that apply to how you promote and communicate services and products. For services, the rules are set down by AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), but for products, particularly those deemed of a therapeutic nature, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has an Advertising Code.  The Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code ensures that the marketing and advertising of therapeutic goods is conducted in a manner that promotes the quality use of the product, is socially responsible, and does not mislead or deceive the consumer.

That Code has a legislative Act and in 2019 the penalties attached to that Act were significantly increased.  The penalties apply to the organisation that’s publishing the advertising material, so it’s particularly important that our community pharmacies are aware of the Code and how they can comply – and not incur penalties.

In this episode, we chat with Emi Gosling, Principal consultant from e-MAS about how advertising and marketing of therapeutic goods is regulated for health practitioners, and how community pharmacies can adapt their clever content for use on social media all the while ensuring materials sit on the right side of all the rules.

The words ‘unprecedented’ and ‘pivot’ have become the buzz words of the past year and for good reason. The world is still coming to terms with immense and rapid change and so too is community pharmacy. Community pharmacies stepped up to provide frontline healthcare and support to their patients and the wider community during the pandemic and they continue to be engaged, willing, and equipped to play an integral role in the response to Covid 19.

In this epsiode, we speak with Andrew Pattinson, Head of Strategy and Partnerships for Pharmacy Platform, a business that assists pharmacies to build customer engagement by improving their marketing, retail, professional services, and HR performance.   Andrew discusses the challenges, opportunities, and learnings of 2020 and how to manage change in order to ensure community pharmacies continue to evolve into health hub destinations. We chat about change management principles, how to put them into practice and how to empower teams to champion change.

The Guild is dedicated to supporting community pharmacies on their change journey. Guild members can access the CP2025 Framework for Change document at www.guild.org.au and for more information and support contact your local Guild branch.

We’re living in a digital world and this means that a website is crucial for all business. Community pharmacy is no exception. Consumers today are more likely to visit a website before they visit the shop, and they’re looking for all the information they can get to make an informed impression.

Businesses also need to engage their customers online and this is where social media comes in! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow community pharmacies to build relationships with customers, increase market reach, and develop their brand voice.

Today, we welcome back Aaron D’Souza, pharmacist and General Manager of Guild Digital, to run us through the importance of an online presence for community pharmacies. An expert in enabling pharmacies to realise their business goals through digital technologies, Aaron provides his best tips and tricks to make the most out of websites and social media.

This episode is brought to you with the help of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Small Business Digital Champions project. Further information can be found at https://www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Digital-Champions

International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world as a day to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It’s a great opportunity to help accelerate gender equality and raise awareness and visibility of this cause. This year’s International Women’s Day theme – Choose to Challenge – is one that resonates closely with community pharmacy; we saw time and again during 2020 the way our industry challenged itself to respond and lead, and it’s pharmacy’s opportunity again to step up and challenge for a more inclusive world.

In this episode, we welcome Kirsten O’Doherty to discuss some of the themes around International Women’s Day. Kirsten originally qualified as a hospital pharmacist before joining the pharmaceutical industry, moving from clinical research and medical roles into commercial and senior leadership positions. She has extensive board and committee experience and was appointed to the Australian government’s COVID-19 Vaccines Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group.

We also welcome Michelle Bou-Samra. Michelle is a practising pharmacist, management consultant and Strategic Director of Fullife Pharmacies, with 30 years experience in the industry. She currently holds the positions of President of the Australasian College of Pharmacy, PDL Queensland local advisory committee member, and is a Director of the Fullife Foundation.

Over the years, Michelle has had extensive experience with representation of the profession on a diverse range of committees, industry bodies and within organisations, culminating in her involvement in the preparation for the Fourth Agreement negotiations, and currently as a Guild Pharmacy of the Year Judge and AHPRA Mentor.

The National Student Business Plan competition is the perfect way for pharmacy students to develop their entrepreneurial spirit and bring innovative ideas to the forefront of community pharmacy. The competition contributes to the development of a dynamic and vibrant pharmacy industry and makes a genuine difference to the health and wellbeing of local communities.

However, what can it do for pharmacy students? There is no better way to answer this question than by checking in with two of our past competition winners in Jess Cahill and Wally Maguire. Jess and Wally have enjoyed fantastic career progression and networking opportunities since their involvement in the competition and, today, we chat about their experience as pharmacy owners and what it takes to succeed in community pharmacy.

The opportunity for the 2021 Student Business Plan competition is now underway. For more information on eligibility, how to enter, and other resources, visit https://www.guild.org.au/news-events/guild-awards/national-student-business-plan-competition

The Guild also acknowledges the competition’s primary sponsors Symbion, ProPharma, PDL and Gold Cross.

Benjamin King from Alice Springs Pharmacy in Northern Territory has won the Pharmacy Assistant of the Year for 2020! The Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic award win recognizes Benjamin’s outstanding contribution through his skills, knowledge, and leadership in community pharmacy across a 12-month period.

Benjamin was selected from over 460 nominated pharmacy assistants and eight state winners, who competed in a virtual national judging day during 2020. In this episode, we chat with Ben about his pharmacy career, journey to the Pharmacy Assistant 2020 competition, and what’s on the horizon for 2021 and beyond.

The Pharmacy Assistant of the Year competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the diversity and talent of pharmacy assistants across Australia.

Nominations for the 2021 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year award will be open 15^th March – now is the perfect time to start thinking about an outstanding pharmacy assistant who deserves some recognition! State winners enjoy exclusive training and development sessions, complimentary registration for Pharmacy Assistant National Conference 2021, and a chance to be the next national Pharmacy Assistant of the Year! For more information, visit pharmacyassistants.com/paty/.

Buying a pharmacy can be one of the biggest investments a pharmacist can make during their career. In our current economic climate, it’s never been more important for prospective buyers to take careful, considered steps when preparing to purchase.

Whilst we know that pharmacists are outstanding clinical professionals, this doesn’t always translate into business expertise, and the long road to pharmacy ownership can seem quite daunting for many prospective owners! Fortunately, the Guild is committed to supporting new owners of community pharmacy, and partners with the industry experts to deliver the latest information and advice.

Today we welcome back one of these experts, Natalie Sirianni, Director of Attain Pharmacy Brokerage, to help guide us on the pathway to community pharmacy ownership. A pharmacy business expert, Natalie provides aspiring owners with the highest level of service and support during the buying process.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is committed to ensuring that potential pharmacy owners are supported throughout their pharmacy ownership journey. The Buying and Selling Guide, available to both members and non-members, provides insightful advice on all aspects of establishing and running a pharmacy business. Developed in collaboration with industry experts and advisors, the guide outlines a seven-step process that includes valuable information on finding the right pharmacy, key financial decisions, management skills and more! Visit guild.org.au and search ‘buying and selling guide’.

GuildEd produces educational resources to assist current and prospective pharmacy owners buy, develop, and run their business. These include business planning modules, short courses on purchase processes and transition of ownership, and webinar presentations by industry experts outlining the pharmacy business landscape. Visit guilded.guild.org.au to find out more!

Attain Business Brokers are experts in pharmacy. Prospective pharmacy owners can access the ‘Pharmacy Ownership Ready Video Series’ which provides information on valuation, financing, legal, leasing and more – it’s the perfect resource for first-time pharmacy buyers! Find out more through www.iattain.com.au/events. Be sure to check out the Attain blog, which includes articles about buying a pharmacy, and the Sirianni Market Update video series, via Natalie Sirianni Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pg/nataliesiriannibroker/videos/?ref=page_internal

What a year! From bushfires to pandemics, 2020 was a trying time for community pharmacy. Our members, facing unprecedented challenges, were consistently on the front lines of response efforts, continuing to provide outstanding care for patients and communities. Throughout the year, we've had the pleasure of hosting some fantastic guests on the show who have shared amazing stories, experiences, insights and advice. In a year like no other, we were constantly amazed and truly grateful for the opportunity to engage with each and every one.

With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes. The first 'Best Bits' for 2020 covers episodes 51 to 63.

We also welcome Colm Maguire, Group Executive for Member Services & Innovation, Pharmacy Guild of Australia, to recap on the Guild's year and discuss what's on the horizon for 2021!

Enjoy!

What a year! From bushfires to pandemics, 2020 was a trying time for community pharmacy. Our members, facing unprecedented challenges, were consistently on the front lines of response efforts, continuing to provide outstanding care for patients and communities. Throughout the year, we've had the pleasure of hosting some fantastic guests on the show who have shared amazing stories, experiences, insights and advice. In a year like no other, we were constantly amazed and truly grateful for the opportunity to engage with each and every one.

With each show kicking off with a short snippet from a guest, an interesting part of the conversation to look forward to, we thought that it would be a good idea to go back through the episodes and pull out the question and full answer for you and pull them together into some more best of episodes. The first 'Best Bits' for 2020 covers episodes 38 to 50.

We also welcome back Suzanne Greenwood, Executive Director of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, to recap on the Guild's year and discuss what's on the horizon for 2021!

Enjoy!

As Community Pharmacy moves towards 2025, digital health remains a key priority for the industry. One of the more significant developments in this area is My Health Record.

My Health Record lets patients control their health information, securely and safely. This means important health information is available when and where it’s needed, including in an emergency. The platform is helping healthcare professionals to reduce administrative burden and avoid duplication of services. Most importantly, it’s enabling community pharmacies to deliver improved patient outcomes through better medication management and safety.

Our guests today, Jenny Snegovaya and April Burnett, have a wealth of experience in community pharmacy, public health, and digital health technology, and take us through some of the updates, training, and resources available on My Health Record.

The Guild is committed to supporting the industry’s transition to a digital environment. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has partnered with the Australian Digital Health Agency to support the clinical uptake and meaningful use of My Health Record in community pharmacy nationally. Members have access to information and advice including FAQ’s on community pharmacy, training modules, webinars and a Security and Access Policy template – visit guild.org.au

Warren Buffet famously remarked “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” – a quote that perfectly captures the concept of superannuation.

One of the most significant investments that you can make for your future, superannuation is important to understand whether you are at the beginning of your career or an established business owner.

Melinda Di Vita, Head of Market Growth at GuildSuper, joins us today to recap the 2020 year in superannuation, discuss some of the recent industry reforms and give us an insight into what’s on the horizon for GuildSuper.

As we’ve heard today, it’s never too late to start thinking about superannuation. As a business owner, it is important that you understand your obligations around superannuation payments.

The Guild provides members with up to date industry information to help you understand these obligations and how to implement them. Members can access this information and guidance through guild.org.au

Nutrition is an integral part of overall health and one that is often neglected. It is even more important as people get older or experience health challenges.

Pharmacists can play an important role in supporting their patients with their nutritional needs, as well as noticing when things aren’t quite right and referring them on to help.

Abbott Australasia has sponsored today's podcast to help pharmacists learn more about how nutrition influences health.

On this episode, Julie Meek talks about the role of nutrition in supporting health throughout life. Julie is a thought leader and keynote speaker in peak performance.  She is a coach, qualified Sports Dietitian and degree qualified in Health Promotion.

It’s clear that pharmacists can play a major role in supporting their patients to maintain their nutritional health.

As we heard in today’s show, nutrition supports overall health and learning more about how nutrition supports healthy ageing can assist pharmacists screen for malnutrition. The Guild would like to thank Abbott Australasia for their commitment to this topic with their sponsorship of today’s episode.

Guild Learning and Development has developed an education module to complement this podcast and enhance pharmacists’ knowledge of nutrition. If you would like more information or to complete further training, visit guilded.guild.org.au

The Guild Corporate Vaccination Program is a flexible, cost-effective solution that enables a range of employers to allow their staff to be vaccinated against influenza at a time, date, and place most convenient to them via the Guild member network.

This year the program helped 125 corporate clients and over 700 Guild member community pharmacies to provide an effective and efficient vaccination service to patients across Australia. 2020 has seen the program grow rapidly with over 27,000 vaccinations provided.

The increased demand from patients to receive their flu vaccinations this year bought a renewed energy to the program and the industry. Pharmacies enjoyed increased foot traffic and the program continued to raise awareness of what community pharmacies can offer not only to patients but to commercial sectors as well.

In this episode, we chat with Helen Blake, from Terry White Chemmart Lindisfarne and Rosny Park, in Tasmania, who provided a combined 265 vaccination services through the Guild Corporate Vaccination program, across 14 organisations, during the 2020 flu season.

We also welcome Sam Johnson, from Vantage Group, an organisation that operates significant hospitality and retail assets across Tasmania. Vantage Group has over 420 employees and is part of Federal Group which has over 2000 employees and who received vaccinations from 43 different pharmacies between April and July.

The Guild encourages organisations to start thinking about their opportunities to get involved in the Guild Corporate Health Vaccination program for 2021. For more information, visit www.guildcorporatehealth.com.au

Guild members interested in taking the next step can access the Guild Corporate Vaccination Program implementation module. The module is designed to help Guild members successfully implement the program into their pharmacy. Visit GuildEd and search ‘corporate vaccination’ for more information.

Pharmacists looking to upskill for the upcoming 2021 flu season can access a range of training resources to help them prepare for pharmacy vaccination services. Contact your state or territory branch to find out more about training opportunities.

There’s no question that digital technology is rapidly changing the business landscape. We’re seeing a massive increase in emerging digital technologies within the health sector, and there are exciting opportunities for enhanced patient care and professional collaboration through digital platforms. But as we move toward a digital environment, it’s vital for community pharmacy to be aware of cybersecurity.

What exactly is cybersecurity and why is it so important? As we move more of our services to the cloud and are increasingly dependent on the internet, the obligation to protect health data is critical. Unfortunately, that data has value to cybercriminals who are every second of every day looking for vulnerabilities to exploit.

Here today to discuss cybersecurity risks and issues, and some of the actions you can take to protect your business, are Andrew McManus from Fred IT Group, and Adam Smallhorn from Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Digital enablement for community pharmacy is all about integrating the knowledge and expertise of pharmacy into the wider health network.

Emerging technologies like electronic prescribing and TeleHealth represent an amazing opportunity for pharmacies to enhance patient service and professional collaboration. As our society continues to ‘digitize’, community pharmacy must keep up to continue offering personalised health solutions and move beyond medicine supply.

But where is the starting point for going digital? How can businesses begin laying the foundations that will help them adopt these technologies?

Today, we’re joined by Rob Vernon, CEO of TasmaNet, to discuss some of the strategies community pharmacies can use to prepare for the digital age. Rob discusses some of the emerging technologies in the health sector and what it takes to implement them at a store level.

The Guild is committed to supporting the industry’s transition to a digital environment. This episode commences a series on digital enablement in community pharmacy, focusing on digital foundations, cybersecurity and more! Members also have access to the Guild Digital Health Hub, designed to support members in accessing authoritative information and guidance on community pharmacy-related digital health initiatives and opportunities. Visit guild.org.au to find out more!

This episode is brought to you with the help of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Small Business Digital Champions project. Further information can be found at https://www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Digital-Champions

All over Australia, TasmaNet is proud to enable businesses to achieve better: better health, education and investment outcomes; better connected teams in cities and rural towns; better, faster cloud-based solutions; and better security to protect your network against unknown threats. We partner with nbn to deliver super high speed business nbn™ Enterprise Ethernet dedicated fibre and Business Internet. Whatever your business goals, TasmaNet can help—and at a better price. Why? We keep things simple. We’re a no-fuss, solutions-driven business nbn partner that knows how to advocate for you to get the best performing network. TasmaNet’s expert team provides unparalleled service and support, and a range of best in class technology solutions. TasmaNet is national, nimble and ready to enable your business. Visit tasmanet.com.au to find out more!

The Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP) is the quality assurance program in place for community pharmacies around Australia. Operating for more than 20 years, the QCPP ensures community pharmacies provide quality, safe, and consistent professional services and consumer care.

In October 2020, QCPP is introducing Quality Care 2020, the new accreditation framework for quality in community pharmacy. Quality Care 2020 is a contemporary program bringing together best-practice business operations with excellence in safe and quality care.

To learn more about the new program, in this episode, we are joined by Chloe Hennessy, QCPP National Manager, and Simon Blacker, Community Pharmacist and Chair of the QCPP Working Group, and a pharmacist who, back in 1999, was part of one of the first 200 pharmacies to be accredited under QCPP.

For more information and to prepare for Quality Care 2020, visit the Quality Care 2020 Knowledge Hub on the QCPP Customer Portal.

As always, the QCPP Support Team is available to assist you with any questions about your assessment. Email help@qcpp.com or phone 1300 363 340 for assistance.

With the economic impacts we’ve seen across 2020, it’s more important than ever that pharmacy owners have a keen understanding of business management, technology implementation, and accounting and tax frameworks that contribute to a successful, healthy business.

There’s been a huge increase in support and advice for small business owners in light of the pandemic, but it can be hard to understand the frameworks and opportunities that are now in place.

Our guest today breaks down the current business landscape, highlights how important it is to keep on top of business management, and provides some key strategies for pharmacy owners to steer their business through the next 12 months.

Peter Saccasan is a partner at RSM Australia and a Director in the Business Advisory division in Sydney. As National Director, Pharmacy Services, Peter is also responsible for managing nationally the pharmacy services of the firm, leading a team of pharmacy specialists who understand the retail pharmacy industry.

With a background in the SME market and with over 20 years of pharmacy experience, Peter seeks to provide a complete business service for pharmacy owners, with a focus on sustainability.

Are leaders born or are they made? Is there the capacity in all of us to lead?

Leadership can be a difficult concept for some people to embrace, even those who already act as leaders at work or in their everyday life. Embracing the fact that anyone can lead, and that leadership is an extension of effective communication, can help pharmacists uncover their leadership potential.

Julia van Graas and Steph Clarke, from Spiique, are here to talk about how communication and leadership are two sides of the same coin, and both are needed to deliver optimal patient outcomes.

Steph and Julia share their insights on how pharmacists can build on their existing communication skills to lead their teams and communicate more effectively with their patients.

Communication and leadership are an important part of pharmacy practice, and building on these soft skills helps pharmacists better serve their community. The Guild would like to thank Upjohn for their commitment to this topic with their sponsorship of the episode.

Guild Learning and Development has developed an education module to complement this podcast and enhance pharmacists’ communication skills. If you would like more information or to complete further training, visit guilded.org.au

The National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA) represents students from eighteen universities nationwide studying either an undergraduate or postgraduate program.

NAPSA is committed to advocating for Australian pharmacy students to ensure their future is prosperous and their status, rights, and privileges are protected. NAPSA facilitates relationships between student members and prominent industry organisations, ensuring students are well connected with their profession and are up-to-date with key issues and trends.

The continued operation of successful organisations like NAPSA rely on a committed and talented student leadership and we chat with both the outgoing and incoming NAPSA Presidents to discuss the challenges over the last 12 months and what’s in store for the future. Erin Cooper, from Charles Sturt University, is the outgoing president and Ethan Kreutzer, from Monash University, is the incoming president for the 2020/2021 term.

With the events transpiring throughout 2020, community pharmacies have certainly had their focus squarely fixed on maintaining exceptional patient care and community support. In light of this, it can be easy to forget about some of the vital components that underpin an effective retail business. A strong lease agreement can have an enormous impact on your business performance and it’s vital that pharmacy owners understand how to negotiate on, manage, and build a healthy lease portfolio.

Today, we are joined by Phil Chapman, a retail leasing expert, and a returning guest to the podcast, to discuss the importance of your lease contract, how to negotiate a better agreement with your landlord, the impacts of the pandemic on the leasing market, and some of the trends community pharmacy needs to be aware of moving forward.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia provides a number of resources available to member pharmacy owners to assist them in managing their lease arrangements. Visit guild.org.au for further information.

The Pharmacy Rental Report is a useful member tool and reference that supports pharmacy owners in their future rental negotiations. Visit guild.org.au and search ‘rental report’ for more information.

Keep on top of updates and information with the Workplace Relations blog, available through the Workplace Relations member resources area.

What does the retail store of the future look like? Are we returning to the norm anytime soon or is the new way here to stay?

2020 is certainly helping us to reconsider how we interact with our physical environment and, for community pharmacy, this represents a big challenge going forward.

However, it is also a great time to identify innovative opportunities to enhance the physical store area and improve patient experiences and outcomes. Getting on the front foot now will ensure community pharmacies remain accessible and valuable destinations for patients when we settle into the new norm.

In this episode,Gary McCartney, owner and creative director of McCartney Design, discusses how physical store environments can go a long way in shaping positive patient outcomes. Gary, has over twenty years of experience in retail design across a variety of industries, including community pharmacy.

While it’s clear the community pharmacy industry is set to transform over the next 5 years, there are opportunities for business owners to really elevate their customer’s experience when they pop on down to their local pharmacy.
For more information, visit https://www.mccartneydesign.com.au/

Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central has been on a journey of transformation in recent years. As well as a major store refit, Elise Wheadon and the team have keenly adopted emerging technologies and jumped at professional opportunities to ensure the pharmacy has thrived in an increasingly competitive and digitised environment.

Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central have been working tirelessly through the pandemic months and are even continuing their dedication to patient care through increased tele-health engagement, ensuring customers are supported throughout these difficult times. It is this commitment to innovation that has seen Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central take out the Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020 Professional Innovation category win.

In this episode, we chat with Elise Wheadon, from Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central, about her pharmacy’s journey toward Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020, some of the challenges facing the industry, and what lies ahead for the future.

The Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020 awards are proudly sponsored by Care Pharmaceuticals and the Quality Care Pharmacy Program.
A thank you to the proud sponsors of The Guild Pharmacy of the Year 2020 awards, Care Pharmaceuticals and the Quality Care Pharmacy Program.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced plans for the Guild Pharmacy of the Year Awards for 2021! For more information, visit guild.org.au and search “Pharmacy of the Year”.

Electronic prescribing has been on the horizon for some time now, but what exactly is it and how will it impact the community pharmacy industry?

Electronic prescribing is essentially an initiative that provides an option for prescribers and their patients to use an electronic, as opposed to paper, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription.

Electronic prescriptions form part of the broader digital health and medicines safety framework and the benefits will include a greater choice for patients, improved efficiency in prescribing, and reduced errors in dispensing.

To take us through exactly what’s going on in the world of ePrescribing, we’re joined by Jason Bratuskins, Product Manager at FRED IT Group, and a pharmacy owner, who is supporting the rollout of this new and exciting technology.

Today's podcast is brought to you with the help of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business', Small Business Digital Champions project.  Further information can be found at https://www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Digital-Champions