Edition #30 Newsletter

Welcome to Edition #30 of Computachem E-Newsletter.
As the various editions roll by it is obvious that there is a growing concern for the future of all levels of pharmacy, but in particular, community pharmacy.
The various writers are reflecting comments sent to them by interested persons, discussions with their peer group and their view of events as they observe them.
Rollo Manning has added a new panel to his "Review of the Job of a Pharmacist", and while he has not taken a strong position one way or another, you can't help feeling that the image of pharmacists (or is it their image of themselves), seems to be slipping. Rollo has a few positive directions.
Ken Stafford has a few sharp observations on the health care team and how it is supposed to work, but somehow doesn't.
Why not?
And why are GP's not enamoured about pharmacists performing medication reviews?
All is revealed in Ken's current article.

We welcome a new writer to our ranks this month in the form of Pat Gallagher.
Pat is a well known pharmacy identity who cut his teeth as an executive of Soul Pattinson, and more latterly, has been involved in the direction of the Project Electronic Commerce and Communication for Health (PECC project). For those of you who are unaware of this project, you had better discover it fairly soon, because it will impact on your daily clinical and commercial practices with some force.
In his first article he gives an insight as to what "old economy" is and what the "new economy" represents.
The food industry has embraced all that Pat talks about, and is years ahead of pharmacy, both in its development of new economy processes involving the materials handling of goods, and the storage and retrieval of information.
This puts pharmacy at a cost disadvantage, and you should read Pat's article to understand why.
Our e-commerce article for this edition concerns a good news story about a British "bricks and mortar" bookstore that has risen from being a small town, small business, to the second largest bookstore in Britain and to being the largest online seller of books. This story is published to encourage pharmacists to examine the business strategy followed, and how, with scarce financial resources, and no external capital, this amazing growth was achieved. The model suits Australian pharmacy and you should find some good ideas to adapt for your own purpose.
Significantly, the meteoric rise only occurred after 1997, about nine years of the commencement of business, when an online business extension was started.

John Aldous follows on his theme of "Advertising the Learning" and exhorts official pharmacy and pharmacy groups to put a little of their budget into advertising and public relations.
Advertising is what "we" say about ourselves, public relations is what "they" say about us. The latter is often negative, yet we do not tell of our good news advances in clinical services.
Are they Australia's best kept secrets?
Perhaps we should get "Big Kev" to get us a bit more excited about ourselves.

Roy "Krusty" Stevenson is back with some vivid images of locumland and some good stories about Guild Quality Care pharmacies. Listen to him, because your next vacation may depend on you being able to attract a locum into your environment, provided you measure up.

Peter Sayers continues his series on an idealised practice model for a consultant pharmacist seeking a fee for service. He continues to build on the elements already within a community pharmacy, and talks about the most important link in the entire process...the "Primary Practice Assistant".
This is an absorbing step-by-step modeling process which can be applied right now. Read with interest.

Finally, our Roundup correspondent for this edition tells us a little about the intriguing story, of what should be the first Aboriginal pharmacy in Australia.
It is almost over the final hurdle, and will give indigenous people a direct say in the type of pharmaceutical care they will receive.
Let's hope they are successful.
STOP PRESS:
*The HIC decision relating to the Tiwi Community Pharmacy has been announced today.
* Fauldings have agreed to sell to Mayne Nickless Health organisation.
There are some major implications for community pharmacy, which we will cover in depth in the next edition.
Readers may recall that this newsletter was the first to flag that Fauldings was on the market, and had treceived a number of offers.
A major restructure is in the offing, with an emphasis towards hospital pharmacy.

Dear Neil,
I would like to receive this great publication as you write it. Perhaps to contribute - you seem to have the right idea.
One of the reasons why so many of my colleagues have lost interest in this 'profession' and are now working in a host of other occupations (much less responsibility and demand, more satisfaction and considerably better remunerated) are well summed up in your articles.
I believe this is greatly contributing to the shortage of pharmacists prepared to work in community pharmacy.
I have now moved on and am very content and fulfilled using my professional expertise working directly with GPs and finding a great respect for my professional contribution.

The newsletter archives are now fully searchable via the search engine on the left hand side of this page. If you would like to find similar articles to the above material, please enter the appropriate keyword(s). To retain context with multiple keywords or phrases, please enclose in inverted commas.

Back to Article Index Edition #30

* If you have found value in this newsletter, please share it with a friend, or alternatively, encourage a colleague to subscribe at neilj@computachem.com.au .
* Don't forget to advise of any change in your e-mail address so that your subscription may be continued without interruption.
* Letters to the editor are encouraged, or if you have material you would like published, please forward to the editor.
* You are invited to visit the Computachem web site at http://www.computachem.com.au .
* Any interested persons who would like to receive this free newsletter on their desktop each fortnight, please send a single word e-mail "Subscribe" to neilj@computachem.com.au .
* Looking for an organised reference site for medical or other references? Why not try (and bookmark) the Computachem Interweb Directory , for an easily accessed range of medical and pharmacy links, plus a host of pharmacy relevant links.
The directory also contains a very fast search engine for Internet enquiries