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We have set up a FORUM DISCUSSION GROUP at this link for you to comment on any of the material published in this newsletter.
It may also be used to highlight any non-related information that could be important to pharmacists.
Suggestions for future articles may also be posted.
This is your chance to have your say!

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to Edition #38 of Computachem E-Newsletter.
While this edition is the second last for 2001, we are already in a planning phase for 2002, and looking to make some significant improvements to our publication.
Sometime during 2001 we made the transition from an e-newsletter to a partial e-magazine. We hope to complete this transition by the first edition in 2002, which will be published on February 1st, and become the first Australian E-Magazine in pharmacy.

We are also requesting the readers of this publication to help us in our planning.
After all, you are the most important people to our publication, and we would naturally like to produce something that fits within your range of expectations.
We have designed an online survey where you can give us your preferences quite anonymously.
We know that you all have very busy existences, and that some people have difficulty accessing the Internet, but if you could spare just a few minutes of your time, this easy to complete survey could benefit us all.
You tell us what sort of design and content you want by answering a few questions, and we will do our very best to produce it.
The survey has a life of 10 days only, so it should be completed as soon as possible. Take the time now.

IT IS EASY TO COMPLETE, AND THE SURVEY CAN BE FOUND BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?9B0V7DDMS0LM6LHD5VQBK6BY

(N.B If the link fails to operate, please copy and paste the link to your browser URL address panel and press return. This will clear any faults.)

Rollo Manning has an interesting slant on the little things in life.
If they appear to be looming large, then there is a need to delegate the problem, rather than become bogged down with it. This point of view has a slight political tinge to it, but works in well with the comments from Peter Sayers and from Roy Stevenson in this edition. They do not collaborate with their material, so it is interesting to see that their thinking runs parallel

Ken Stafford has written about the subject of perception, and explains how major corporations win business on the basis of something totally irrelevent to the service advertised and eventually provided. Perceptions are very powerful marketing tools, and Ken tells it how it is.

Globalisation is begining to show some its darker influences, as its creeping effect on pharmacy is felt. In the article "Global Slave Trade...It Never Really Disappeared" a look is taken at the world's first fully global enterprise and what lessons can be drawn from history.
Words such as "civil conscription", "unsustainable workload", and now "economic slavery" are starting to find their way into pharmacy literature, and it does not take too much imagination to work out why.
For all small businesses and employees, this could be the most sinister battle of them all.

Jon Aldous has highlighted a deficiency in our current pharmacy courses at the various universities. He points out that as part of a management module, basic IT skills should be taught to empower pharmacists to develop their own systems, at a cost more befitting the average budget of a pharmacy.
Advanced skills can then be privately developed using university training as a basic springboard. I think he is right.

Health Communications Weekly, the bulletin produced for the GP desktop has a focus on pathology ordering by GP's, with data being collected anonymously through the Medical Director System. A follow up on allergic rhinitis statistics is also published, along with the top 20 prescribed medications for the week.
Consultant pharmacists may find some of this material of interest as they generate stronger alliances with GP's over their normal working day.

Roy Stevenson has written a little addendum to his series on the unsustainable workload, and describes a "sting" operation that is about to take place in your venue. You will have to read Roy's article to understand what is happening, but if it is implemented, it will simply add to the cumulative stress in the workplace.

Simon Rudderham has finished his final year examinations at Sydney University and is pondering on what lies ahead for a newly graduated student. He has succeeded in gaining a position, in a semi-rural area, on the mid north coast and I know his placement will be a stimulating and highly professional one.
Good luck, Simon.

Pat Gallagher, our resident b2b expert is back again, and if you read his article, you cannot help but pick up on his excitement and enthusiasm.
Basically, Pat has the opportunity to trial a b2b e-commerce platform for a number of pharmacies located between Sydney and Brisbane.
This is set to be one hell of an adventure, and for those putting up their hands to be part of it, well, get set for a breakthrough into the "new economy".
Pat has had extensive experience in the supply chain process of pharmacy and could be regarded as one of the few pharmacy experts in the field of b2b e-commerce.
Those of you who are interested, after reading his article, then please e-mail the editor of this newsletter, and further information will be made available.

Terry Irvine has undertaken an information project concerning the Internet.
He has discovered there is very little Australian content available for pharmacy web sites, unless you are prepared to write it yourself.
So, starting with what is available ( Self Care hard copy) and looking to see if any Australian pharmacy had made the transition from hard copy to the Internet, he made a surprise find. Look in on his project with interest.

Peter Sayers has written an excellent article on innovation, and it is recommended that you take time out to digest the message.
What he is proposing is an entirely different style of management and organisation to that of the traditional, and explains in detail why the transition should be made.
It is a thoughtful read.

Heather Pym weighs in this month with some strategies for handling negative comments from GP's. Many pharmacists are experiencing difficulties in gaining a dialogue with a GP and the reasons are various.
Heather's suggestions may just help.

Roundup enters into a discussion on the risks people take with their health, particularly in rural and remote areas of Australia. These risk areas represent an opportunity for pharmacists to move out from behind the bench to help provide some practical solutions.
Perhaps the concept can be modelled in remote areas and exported to urban situations.
It's worth a thought.

Neil Johnston
November 15th, 2001

PLEASE COMPLETE OUR SURVEY (WHICH HAS A LIFE OF 10 DAYS ONLY), AND WHICH CAN BE FOUND BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?9B0V7DDMS0LM6LHD5VQBK6BY

(N.B If the link fails to operate, please copy and paste the link to your browser URL address panel and press return. This will clear any faults.)

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