Home - Australian Pharmacist

A long-term on-site aged care pharmacist

Jennifer Cooke - 1 August 2023

People

Egyptian-trained Kirolos Wasef MPS began his aged care specialty during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and loves his role.

Bringing pharmacists into the primary healthcare fold

Thea Cowie - 11 February 2019

Industry

As Australia gathers persuasive evidence from the Health Care Homes trial, it’s becoming clearer how to integrate pharmacists into primary healthcare. Doors are opening: there...

Choosing Wisely – a look at prescribing cascades

Chris Campbell, Amy Page, Sue Edwards, A/Prof Rebekah Moles, Dr Kenneth Lee, Alyssa Pisano, Dr Shane Jackson & Dr Chris Freeman - 25 March 2019

Clinical

In the first of a six-part series, we expand on the PSA Choosing Wisely recommendations. This month: beware the prescribing cascade. The decision to initiate...

Preventing harm: medicine safety in children

Dr Simone Henriksen PhD - 25 July 2025

CPD

Medicine safety in children requires vigilance, clear communication and proactive intervention by pharmacists to prevent accidental poisonings.

Women and heart health

Ann Winkle MPS - 17 September 2019

Clinical

Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death in Australian women and pharmacists can help them check their heart health and manage their risk...

Is combined NRT therapy the best bet for smoking cessation?

Jennifer Cooke and Chloe Hava - 10 July 2019

Clinical

Groundbreaking new research has found that current smokers are three times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD), but these risks greatly decrease...

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8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

1. Intranasal influenza vaccine introduced

2. The end of quadrivalent vaccines

3. Expanded registration of Fluad

4. Timing and urgency after a severe season

5. Vaccination rates remain dangerously low

More information for pharmacists

Pharmacist of the Year – Bente Hart MPS

Lifetime Achievement Award – Kate Gray MPS

Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Mitchell Budden MPS

Intern of the Year – Karina Angelucci MPS

Knocking on doors

A workforce running on goodwill

The cost of saying no

Let pharmacists do what they are trained to do

Reform that matches need with value

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?

How do you help patients navigate their medicines regimen?

How do you manage medicines storage, cold-chain and supply?

How do you collaborate with fertility clinics, prescribers and nurses?

What advice do you have for ECPs keen on specialising in this area?

A Day in the life of Morag Horton, community pharmacy owner, Adelaide, South Australia

Compliance is key

Dispensing psychedelics safely

Managing patient enquiries

1. Intranasal influenza vaccine introduced

2. The end of quadrivalent vaccines

3. Expanded registration of Fluad

4. Timing and urgency after a severe season

5. Vaccination rates remain dangerously low

More information for pharmacists

Pharmacist of the Year – Bente Hart MPS

Lifetime Achievement Award – Kate Gray MPS

Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Mitchell Budden MPS

Intern of the Year – Karina Angelucci MPS

Knocking on doors

A workforce running on goodwill

The cost of saying no

Let pharmacists do what they are trained to do

Reform that matches need with value

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?

How do you help patients navigate their medicines regimen?

How do you manage medicines storage, cold-chain and supply?

How do you collaborate with fertility clinics, prescribers and nurses?

What advice do you have for ECPs keen on specialising in this area?

A Day in the life of Morag Horton, community pharmacy owner, Adelaide, South Australia

Compliance is key

Dispensing psychedelics safely

Managing patient enquiries

1. Intranasal influenza vaccine introduced

2. The end of quadrivalent vaccines

3. Expanded registration of Fluad

4. Timing and urgency after a severe season

5. Vaccination rates remain dangerously low

More information for pharmacists

Pharmacist of the Year – Bente Hart MPS

Lifetime Achievement Award – Kate Gray MPS

Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Mitchell Budden MPS

Intern of the Year – Karina Angelucci MPS

Knocking on doors

A workforce running on goodwill

The cost of saying no

Let pharmacists do what they are trained to do

Reform that matches need with value

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?

How do you help patients navigate their medicines regimen?

How do you manage medicines storage, cold-chain and supply?

How do you collaborate with fertility clinics, prescribers and nurses?

What advice do you have for ECPs keen on specialising in this area?

A Day in the life of Morag Horton, community pharmacy owner, Adelaide, South Australia

Compliance is key

Dispensing psychedelics safely

Managing patient enquiries

1. Intranasal influenza vaccine introduced

2. The end of quadrivalent vaccines

3. Expanded registration of Fluad

4. Timing and urgency after a severe season

5. Vaccination rates remain dangerously low