Quality Use of Medicines
Communication breakdowns and medication adherence
Breakdowns in communication can adversely affect a patient’s medication adherence. Fostering an open and continuous dialogue between patient and pharmacist will lead to improved medication adherence and better health outcomes. …
‘An obvious void’ left by NPS MedicineWise closure
No one single organisation or person owns QUM following the demise of NPS MedicineWise, say key stakeholders, with some programs still on hold or under review The Quality Use of …
‘I have concerns about this, as opposed to you… being the police.’
Scope expansion means community pharmacists can do more to promote optimal use of antibiotics, but should they “police” antibiotics scripts written by GPs? Community pharmacists often don’t feel comfortable raising …
Pharmacists key to boosting mental health care
PSA calls for funding to support pharmacists to play a greater role in mental health care, by improving quality use of medicines (QUM) Pharmacists have a vital role to play …
Aged care role may not be for new pharmacists
Pharmacists already embedded in residential aged care facilities are improving patient care, they feel it may not be a role for new graduates, study reveals Embedding pharmacists within interprofessional aged …
Health literacy and QUM boost
Peak health and consumer organisations, including the PSA, are set to work together to promote health literacy Two new grants have been awarded to support consumer health literacy and improve …
SHPA launches deprescribing campaign
Hospital pharmacists are looking to empower patients and their carers to engage with health professionals to optimise their medication regimens The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) in partnership with …
NPS demise makes pharmacists’ jobs more critical: leading pharmacist
Pharmacists will have to work harder to fill the gap left by NPS MedicineWise when it ceases to exist at the end of the year, stakeholders say The NPS MedicineWise …
A question of safety
Leading pharmacy groups are set to join in talks to formulate a joint safety policy, say Chris Freeman and Leanne Wells Next week will see the convening of a Strategic …
S8 use, incident reports on the rise
For safe dispensing, it’s important to be aware of the four key factors in S8 dispensing incidents, says indemnity body Most pharmacists will be aware of the ever-expanding range of …
10 key points: Deprescribing
An emerging health researcher and award-winning academic pharmacist speaks with AJP about the deprescribing process Dr Emily Reeve, from the Kolling Institute at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, is …
Meds mistakes “common” in nursing homes
What can be done to reduce medication errors and inappropriate prescriptions among residents? A systematic review conducted by Monash University researchers and published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics …