EDITORIAL

Welcome to i2P for November 2002.

There is a very interesting range of topics in this edition, and in particular I would point you to the article presented by Con Berbatis. Con is doing some very interesting research into new pharmacy revenue streams- the generation of new streams and the protection of potential streams.
If you are looking for some sort of direction, then you need to study the material that is being published by Con, because I am certain that you will find quite a few "gems" in idea terms.

There is a second article on Priceline and its primary marketing strategy. This innovative retailer has been placed on our "watch" list, and we are very impressed with its performance and presentation to date.

Peter Sayers has written up a novel idea utilised by US pharmacists, but which would have an application here in Australia. It relates to electronic records and privacy, and if you read his article, I am sure that you will recognise the innovation that surrounds it.

Karalyn Huxhagen has been away at the 2002 Pharmacy Austral Congress, and has written an article on the "fly" to make it in time for our deadline.

We are also pleased to be able to promote some Australian enterprise in the form of PurchasePlus, a "gateway" ordering system which was developed by Canberra-based pharmacist, Patrick Reid.
His system provides an efficient and innovative method of placing orders with suppliers, and represents one way of organising your business day to best effect.

We also have a new writer in the form of Peter Allen, who writes the "Postcards from the Coalface" column for this month. Peter is a Melbourne-based community pharmacists and if you follow AuspharmList, you will see that he posts regularly with very topical commentary. We are pleased to have him on board this month.

And the rest of the team is back (at least those who are not vacationing overseas)-Rollo Manning, Simon Rudderham, Andrew Snow and Jon Aldous, all with their unique perspective on pharmacy.
Rollo has some ideas about measuring outcomes on the PBS-see if you agree.
Until next month.....

Neil Johnston
November, 2002