Edition #33 Newsletter

Welcome to Edition #33 of Computachem E-Newsletter.
When I first started this newsletter, it was in the belief that there was a need to question the status qo and alert pharmacists to threats and opportunities as they emerged.
At the commencement, the stimulation was the Wilkinson Review, and what it may herald for the future, plus the realisation that a global threat needed to be factored in for ultimate survival.
In February 2000 (the date of the first edition), most people were blissfully unaware of what globalisation was, what the Wilkinson review meant to pharmacy at large, and what were the real plans of the Federal Government in respect of Pharmacy.
In a relatively short time, the newsletter has acquired a fairly large subscriber base, which is steadily growing at a rate of ten to fifteen percent each year.
It is also pleasing that the writers for the newsletter have steadily grown in number, all sharing their experiences and thoughts in a logical "out of the square" fashion.
They are very credible people.
My job is to be controversial, for it is only when a devil's advocate role is assumed that people begin to think, having been disturbed from their somnolence.
We all suffer from this problem and endeavour to avoid change, but it is always inevitable.
So, in his current article when Rollo Manning asks you "Are You Awake?", why not stir and let him know.
We also have a new writer making his debut, in the person of Terry Irvine. Terry owned one of the largest pharmacies in Australia (located in Darwin) and was certainly the first pharmacist to embrace computers in a big way in his daily pharmacy life.
He was a true pioneer in computer systems.
Terry,and his family, are still very active in this field, and he commences a series on IT "Future Shock", laced with some philosophical material to guide his thoughts.
Ken Stafford hits the nail on the head and describes an incident which happened to him in a community pharmacy.
See if you relate.
If you can post a solution to his problem on the forum, let him know about it.
Mark Coleman has presented a contribution entitled "The Big Red Dot" which profiles Mayne Nickless, the new owners of Fauldings.
Just one more level of competition to contend with.
Jon Aldous looks at student enrolments overseas and notes that we are heading in the opposite direction.
Is this a plus for us?
Roy Stevenson talks about pharmacy environments he locums in, and how he can discriminate by only working in Quality Care accredited pharmacies.
This is the market place giving way to high practice standards and leaving the less organised bereft of locums.
Do you need a vacation?
You may not get one unless you lift your game.
Peter Sayers is definitely getting into the "nitty-gritty" of marketing pharmacy consulting services in the private sector. He sees the importance of not being totally dominated by the medical profession and the federal government.
What do you think?
The debate literally relates to your future survival and your thoughts are important, so post them on the forum provided.
Simon Rudderham, our pre-registration student from Sydney University (of Tiwi Island fame) has agreed to become a permanent writer for the newsletter.
Simon has written about an issue that some pharmacy proprietors may not have given much thought to.
Bear in mind that experienced pharmacists are in short supply.
Perhaps the only way you may be able to anchor a pharmacist resource in your area, is to entice a pre-registration student, with a good in-house training program, and go out and recruit the best.
Simon's article is a clever approach to recruitment, and he followed it up by placing an advertisment on our employment site.
With such enterprise, how could you not consider him?
Finally Pat Gallagher is back with some IT infrastructure issues.
What he talks about may not appear to impact on you at the moment, but this time next year you may want to refer to this article.

Heather Pym is not with us this edition, having been to a conference in South-East Asia which involved medical/pharmacy issues. Heather will be back for the next edition, and I am sure she will have some interesting news to relate.

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