Module four

• Standards, codes of practice

  The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is the national professional pharmacy organisation representing Australia’s pharmacists. This organisation provides guidance to pharmacists in the form of policies and standards.  
• Standard 4: Provision of Non-prescription Medicines and Therapeutic Devices


  The main points in this standard are:
• Therapeutic goods


  • Must be delivered to customers in a safe and consistent manner
• Information provided at the time of supply

  • Must support improved customer health outcomes and promote the health of the community
• Pharmacist


  • Must ensure that pharmacy staff have adequate training to enable the safe and effective provision of non-prescription medicines and therapeutic devices
• Medicines


  • Must be promoted in a responsible manner that is consistent with legal requirements and quality use of medicines (QUM) principles
• QUM principles relate to the wise, suitable, safe and effective use of medicines
• Code of conduct - the Pharmacy Board of Australia

  The Pharmacy Board of Australia is responsible for registering pharmacists, setting the standards

  that pharmacists must meet, and managing complaints about the conduct or performance of pharmacists. 
• Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP)

  •  QCPP is a quality assurance program for community pharmacy, and provides support and guidance on professional health services and pharmacy business operations.
  • The aims of QCPP are to ensure that community pharmacies consistently provide quality professional services and customer care. This helps to deliver improved health outcomes for the community.
• Standards in the pharmacy

  Your pharmacy will have developed its own policies and procedures based on the standards that guide its operations.
• Resources to help you ask, assess and advise in the pharmacy

  • Printed information and resources
  • Learn from the experience of people in your workplace
  • Training and development opportunities
• Printed information and resources:

  • Product labels and packaging information
  • Shelf talkers and signage: This is information about products that are attached to the shelf beneath or above the product.
  • Supplier documents e.g. product information leaflets, product brochures, supplier manuals.
  • Reference sources within the pharmacy library.
  • Information from support organisations e.g. Cancer Council, Asthma and Heart Foundation.
  • Industry publications. Examples include:
  • Journals.
  • Magazines.
  • Newsletters.
• Learn from the experience of people in your workplace-Learn by talking to people such as:

  • The pharmacist
  • Other more experienced staff members.
  • Customers in order to gain information and feedback.
• Training and development opportunities - You can learn about a range of topics by attending training and information sessions.  These could include:

  • Pharmacy staff meetings.
  • Training sessions offered by:
  • Banner group and pharmaceutical companies
  • Support organisations e.g. The Heart Foundation
  • Pharmacy Guild training
  • The Pharmacy Guild of Australia offers training courses which may be accessed online, via distance education or face-to-face.
• Other resources to help you ask, assess, advise – Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)


  CMI leaflets provide customers with information about their Prescription Medicines and specified over-the-counter medicines. 
• Information included in a CMI ( Consumer medicine information)

  • What the medicine is used for
  • When not to use the medicine
  • Directions for taking the medicine
  • Possible side effects
  • Medicine ingredients
  • Manufacturer’s details
  • How to store the medicine
  • What customers must/must not do when taking the medicine
  • What customers should tell their doctor
• Features of a CMI (consumer medicine Information)

  • Clear headings
  • Accurate and up - to - date information.
  • Information written in English
  • simple instructions to advise customers how to use their medicine.
• internet resources for health and medicines resources

  
• Internet resources for quality standards and codes of practice:

  
• Resources available to customers for medicines:

  • NPS medicine Wise
  • medicines Line
• Medicines Line


  Medicines Line is a telephone service that is jointly run by NPS and Health Direct. For the cost of a local call, customers are able to ask questions and receive information on prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and complementary medicines. This service can be accessed on Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST on 1300 633 424.
• NPS MedicineWise


  NPS MedicineWise is a not-for-profit independent organisation that provides evidence-based information on medicines, health conditions and medical tests for health professionals and the broader community. NPS provides practical tools such as medicines lists and the Diabetes Health Tracker.