Older residents can now access a pharmacist at several general practices in Townsville and Charters Towers thanks to a new pilot project designed to help them better manage their medications.
Five pharmacists have joined seven general practices in Townsville and two Charters Towers practices as part of the Older Persons Medication Management Pilot Project, funded by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN).
NQPHN has partnered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) to deliver the pilot project, which aims to increase access to services delivered by non-dispensing pharmacists for people over 65 and First Nations peoples over 50.
The general practice pharmacists are non-dispensing pharmacists embedded within the practice as part of the multidisciplinary team who can provide independent advice, medication reviews, improved medication safety and education for patients to better manage their health.
NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth said the project connected older people to a pharmacist in a general practice who could help them manage their chronic conditions and medications at home.
"Many older people have complex medication regimens due to their chronic conditions, which some manage themselves," Mr Tooth said.
"Alongside a complex medication regime, many medications need to be taken at different times, which can also be hard to keep up with.
"Medication errors become much more common for people taking more than three medications.
"We are pleased to be able to support our local general practices in delivering multidisciplinary care to help overcome the challenges older people face with their medication management."
PSA Project Manager Brooke Snow said integrating pharmacists into a general practice's interdisciplinary team was a step forward in delivering exceptional primary healthcare and showed superior health outcomes for patients.
"We have had a smooth and effective commencement of service provision resulting in all pharmacists contributing to the interdisciplinary team far earlier than the prior expectation of a 12-week integration period," said Ms Snow.
"All of the practices and GPs are incredibly grateful to have the medication expertise of the pharmacist on site allowing for far greater collaboration and timely medication optimisation.
"We look forward to continuing to evaluate the outcomes of the Older Persons Medication Management Pilot Project and anticipate positive patient experiences and improved efficiencies for our GPs and practices."
Marissa Stelmaschuk, the pharmacist at North Shore General Practice in Burdell, said the formal mentoring process she had received to date from PSA for the Older Persons Medication Management project was invaluable.
"Every four weeks, experienced general practice pharmacists and those new to the field come together for face-to-face meetings here in Townsville," she said.
Amy McIntyre, who works across two practices, agrees that the role of a pharmacist in general practice is becoming more widely known.
"I haven't needed to explain what I do, and the principal GP had asked me to see three patients before 9am this morning," she said.
Recently, Ms Stelmaschuk completed the required approvals to obtain medications for a patient through the Special Access Scheme (SAS) that she could not access here in Australia, eliminating the need for many overseas trips to obtain her medication.
Working closely with the patient's community pharmacy, she has ensured the medication is available for the patient every month.
"It's because I'm in the clinic, working closely with the GPs, that we have the resources and ability to facilitate this high level of care for this patient," Ms Stelmaschuk said.
"The patient told me that my assistance has changed her life, and her family appreciates the improved access to these medications."
About the Older Persons Medication Management Pilot Project
Under the Older Persons Medication Management Pilot Project, the pharmacist and general practice work together to identify patients who are:
65 years and older or First Nations people 50 years and older
prescribed more than five medications
at high risk of falls (or have had a recent fall within three months).
Pharmacists embedded in general practice will collaborate with the practice team, including GPs, nurses, and allied health professionals to assess whether a patient's medications may increase the risk of falls.
They will also check for harmful interactions or unnecessary medications, and then adjust medications to improve safety and effectiveness.
Caption: The Older Persons Medication Management Pilot Project, at back from left, Dr Chris Stelmaschuk, with NQPHN representatives Bernie Triggs and Alisha Chand. In front from left, pharmacist Marissa Stelmaschuk, PSA Project Manager Brooke Snow, and PSA General Manager of Policy and Program Delivery Chris Campbell.
