Pharmacy Business & Career Network Podcast

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!

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

Guy Leech is a former Australian Ironman champion. Retired from competition, Guy is now a community health advocate, helping Australia gain an awareness of the risk and prevalence of sudden cardiac arrest. In helping Australia become 'Heart Smart', Guy’s mission is to ensure Australian businesses and communities have access to life-saving defibrillators.

In this episode, Guy discusses his own experiences which led him to establish Heart180 – a group on a mission to give all Australians access to a lifesaving defibrillator within 180 seconds of an emergency occurring.

Through Heart180, Guy is driving awareness of just how common an emergency can be and helping businesses become equipped to deal with these life-changing events.

As professionals on the front-line of patient care, pharmacists and pharmacy staff stand to benefit greatly from the lessons and resources available in this episode.

Community Pharmacy is an engaging and rewarding industry to be a part of. On the other hand, however, it can at times be challenging and overwhelming. Workplace stress is a common experience for pharmacists and pharmacy staff, and it can present in many ways and over different periods of time.

The industry has harboured a long-held notion that working long and stressful hours, under high prescription numbers, and constant patient queries are par for the course, and this can often lead to cultures of stress and burnout within the profession.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 certainly hasn't made any improvements in this environment and many pharmacies are now coping with the stressors of customer abuse, business continuity plans, and keeping up with ever-changing guidelines. It is a timely opportunity to get the conversation rolling on workplace wellbeing and mental health in Community Pharmacy.

In this episode, we speak with Kay Dunkley, a registered pharmacist and current Executive Officer of Pharmacists Support Services. Kay has a wealth of experience in working to provide support services to the pharmacy profession, and, has worked on a number of medicines and therapeutic advisory committees.

We also chat with Helen Lowy, registered pharmacist and counsellor. Helen helps individuals and businesses understand the impacts associated with healthcare culture and move from "surviving to thriving". We discuss some of her areas of clinical interest including psychological safety, resilience, and connection through meaning and purpose.

Many pharmacists are finding the current COVID-19 crisis to be stressful or causing burnout. The Guild in collaboration with Pharmacists Support Services developed the Managing stress in pharmacy module, this module addresses key contributors to workplace stress in community pharmacy and strategies to minimise stress. To access the module go to https://guilded.guild.org.au/

To access the Managing Stress in Pharmacy publication developed by PSS in collaboration with industry stakeholders, go to https://www.supportforpharmacists.org.au/images/managing-stress-in-pharmacy-au-2018.pdf

Capital Chemist Chisholm is a fantastic example of the qualities and attributes that will shape the development of community pharmacy moving into the future. Rebecca Young (pharmacy owner) and the team have driven their success through strong business management, capitalising on emerging technologies, and engaging the wider health community.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Capital Chemist Chisolm has displayed an unwavering commitment to community engagement and has continued to provide professional service and advice to patients and the public.

Capital Chemist Chisholm’s dedication to patient care and community service saw them win the Business Management category and then be named Overall Pharmacy of the year for 2020.

The GPY 2020 award are proudly sponsored by principal sponsor Care Pharmaceuticals and sponsor QCPP.

Today we talk with Rebecca Young about the pharmacy’s journey to GPY 2020, the challenges currently facing community pharmacy, and what is in store for the future.

Digital enablement is a critical component of modern business and community pharmacy is no exception. It's clear that the impacts of technology are making a big impact on the profession, with many traditional roles and processes now streamlined through innovative digital products. With effective integration, this affords community pharmacy an opportunity to engage more productively with both patients and the wider health network.

The recent COVID-19 outbreak shines a spotlight on the need for digital capability in the industry. Under new guidelines, many traditional avenues of patient interaction will need to be digitalised. The pandemic has also accelerated a number of health projects including electronic prescribing. Community pharmacy must be equipped to hit the ground running in this new digital frontier.

In this episode, we speak with Chris Clark from du.today, a company specialising in helping businesses identify their digital selves. A co-founder of Australia's premier innovation and start-up festival, Spark Festival, Chris is also an expert in helping businesses identify digital opportunities and guiding them on their digital journey.

There are several resources available to help community pharmacies navigate the pathway to digital enablement. The Guild's CP2025 Framework for Change publication outlines nine growth pathways to help inform future business strategies, one of which is Digital Enablement.

Guild members can also access digital engagement blogs and videos written for Australian community pharmacies and the Australian Digital Engagement Guide via the Guild Digital website.

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

Pharmacists and pharmacy staff have answered the “call to action” and are navigating the COVID-19 landscape with exceptional resolve. Whilst the community pharmacy industry has made considerable efforts to ensure critical services are maintained amidst the outbreak, frontline workers continue to encounter challenges underpinning their professional and moral duties to the response effort.

Today we speak with George Tambassis, National President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, to discuss some of these challenges facing community pharmacies as they continue to play a significant role in the healthcare response to COVID-19. We also chat about the achievements the industry has made so far and cover some of the initiatives the Guild is taking to support members and community pharmacy during the health crisis.

Community pharmacy is obviously rising to the challenge in response to the COVID-19 crisis, as demonstrated by the resilience and commitment shown at the ground level by pharmacists and pharmacy staff. Its clear that the critical services offered by community pharmacy form a vital part of the overall response, and efforts must be made to ensure these continue effectively and safely for the benefit of both members and the general public.

The Guild is working tirelessly to ensure members have access to reliable, up-to-date information. There are resources available to assist you in preparing your pharmacy to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. These include checklists, procedures and signage to assist in the management of patient presentation to the pharmacy, business continuity plans, and information to ensure the health and safety of staff in the workplace.

The resources provided should be used in conjunction with normal pharmacy operating protocols. Members can access information and resources here:

https://www.guild.org.au/resources/business-operations/covid-19

https://www.guild.org.au/resources/business-operations/covid-19/covid-19-guide-for-community-pharmacy

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources

https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-employers

The situation is changing rapidly so it is important to stay up to date with the latest official information about the spread of COVID-19 an what step are being taken.

Most importantly, take care of yourself, your families, and your staff.

Community pharmacy will continue to play a critical role in supporting our community.