Published by Computachem Services

P.O Box 297.
Alstonville. 2477
NSW Australia

Phone:
61 2 66285138

And, no. I am not joking!
In this edition I will explain my very extensive experience with locum pharmacists.
In August five years ago I was pressured by the Chief Executive Officer of the Health District to purchase the community pharmacy at Rainbow. The pharmacy was in a remote Mallee township of 600 residents, and serviced a pharmacy depot at Jeparit 30+ km away (with about 400 residents).
The total population serviced by the pharmacy would be around 2000 - 3000.
The pharmacy was to be closed. The residents were devastated.
The next step would be the loss of the doctor, followed by the two hospitals.
I was a locum/consultant hospital pharmacist.
I hadn't practised in community pharmacy since my apprenticeship years in the olden days!
I lived three hours away. The pharmacy would have to be totally manned with locum pharmacists.
Now, five years later those pharmacists who said that it couldn't possibly be done have been proved wrong.

In all more than 31 locum pharmacists have contributed to our Rainbow Community Pharmacy.
Of these just over half (17) have returned.
And of the 17 who have returned about eight are "hooked on Rainbow" and keep coming back.
One of these has just purchased a house in Rainbow, and plans to work in the pharmacy for 5 weeks, then have three weeks holiday on a regular basis from October this year.

The hard work of the first three years is reaping benefits; I now have pharmacists ringing me looking for a position.

Myths about locum pharmacists

1. There is a shortage of locum pharmacists

Pharmacy is like any other profession. Staff have to be recruited. Look at the professional positions vacant advertisements - the efforts undertaken to attract applicants.

So. What do you offer the locum?
My greatest assets are my pharmacy assistants, time to talk to the customers, the novelty of dispensing medicine for the depot customers (scripts faxed to the pharmacy, dispensed and the medications sent to the depot, original scripts then reconciled with the labels, tags and faxed copy), and now the fact that the dispensary can be locked up to enable the pharmacist to leave the pharmacy and visit the hospital or have a game of golf etc.
Even the fact that I was crazy enough to purchase an unsaleable pharmacy, and am determined to make it saleable creates interest.
The four-wall syndrome prevents some pharmacists from appreciating their assets in the pharmacy, but if you can "sell" the experience in YOUR pharmacy, the locum you recruit will be another asset.

2. Locum pharmacists won't work in rural pharmacies

The tyranny of distance, the lack of restaurants discos and other necessities of life, the TV reception is blocked by the wheat silo, long roads to another small dilapidated town.
What are the assets in the community - history, unique arts and crafts, sporting activities, national parks, secret places.
Has the locum been on a wheat property and seen the huge machinery?
The pharmacist is on holidays - the community assets have to be "sold" by the pharmacy assistants, letters in the local paper introducing the locum, invitations to town activities etc.
If we invite someone to dinner - there is a welcome, a drink or two for comfort, food and conversation, relaxation and contentment.
It's called hospitality.
Each locum needs to experience warm hospitality.

3. Locum pharmacists are an extremely expensive commodity

Locum pharmacists are a business expense. I believe a necessary expense to prevent attacks of four-wall syndrome.
Compare the expense, for example with superphosphate on the farm.
It costs, and there seems to be no immediate return.
My locums have been invaluable in widening the pharmacy assistants knowledge and confidence, especially in areas that I may have overlooked.
Locum pharmacists are a good investment, but even better if a hand-over period is arranged so that the locum knows what is expected.
I am now discovering the immense value in my sole pharmacist business of being there with the locum for a day or two.
It's good advertising to walk down the street, to visit the other businesses,to visit the local doctor, to see how the community functions outside the four walls of the pharmacy.

Advantages of working with the locum for a few days:

* peer review

* time to undertake the case studies to become accredited for medicines reviews

* time to plan a project for the locum to undertake on unbusy days

* less misunderstanding, and an easier return to work

4. The hard work to sort out problems after the holiday means that it really isn't worth going away

The problems probably would not even eventuate if a list of pharmacy procedures was available for the locum.
We have a "blue book" which has developed over the five years.
The pharmacy assistants are taking an increasing role in understanding and assisting the locums with procedures.

Recruitment plans

Most businesses have a plan for recruitment of staff. The locum is a member of the pharmacy staff - and needs all the same orientation, procedures explained etc as any other new staff member.
The locum placement does not end when the holiday is over.
A locum's report is invaluable for new ideas and peer review.
Follow-up can include a request for names of friends who might also enjoy the Rainbow experience.
The list of locums then snow-balls to the stage that if a locum is needed one can be chosen to best suit the project or activities happening in the pharmacy.

All sorts and conditions

The traditional use of a locum is a four-wall syndrome mind-set.
Not all pharmacists are as lucky as I was.
I had absolutely no idea of current community pharmacy practice.
Most of the locums in the first few years had previously owned pharmacies.
I needed their input, support and help to keep the business running (I live 3 hours away - and do not often get to Rainbow).
It was a very practical peer review system, and the locums were made to feel that they were a vital part of the team.

Another advantage is that most of the locums had just sold their pharmacy, or wanted a change from production line dispensing.
They had escaped the full ramifications of the four-wall syndrome, and were generally enjoying the experiences in different pharmacies as much as our staff enjoyed the variety of locums.

There are also professional locums.

These tend to do the job well, but remain detached from the community and from the mission of the Rainbow Community Pharmacy.
By far the best investment has been in locums who have enjoyed the challenge of practising pharmacy in such different circumstances.
Rainbow has become their working holiday home in the country!

Problem locums

Only once have we had a problem, and it was a short notice situation.
The locum was young, and very expensive - mostly because he didn't listen to the staff or read the "blue book".
However, I am sure that if we had time to communicate before the placement most of the problems would not have arisen.

So, there it is.
After five years of rather constant hard work I can confidently invite any pharmacist to Rainbow knowing that the pharmacy staff, the business and the community will ensure that their stay is rewarding, interesting and enjoyable.
And it doesn't end at Rainbow.
My locums have helped out in similar situations in the region when both the Dimboola and the Birchip pharmacies were threatened with closure.
Give those locums a taste of what is almost frontier or pioneering pharmacy - using the resources we have for the good of the community, and they will give you a worthwhile return on your investment in them.

I am sure that this process could be adapted for any sole pharmacy practice in the city.
Just think of all the interesting things you want to do, but never have time to.
A locum can be a real remedy for that "four-wall syndrome" suffered by so many pharmacists.