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Messages from the Medicine Safety Forum

Ruth Cooper - 11 December 2019

Industry

As the custodians of medicine safety, promoting the judicious, quality and safe use of medicines is key to pharmacists’ roles. But it is also...

Sarsaparilla: show but limited go

Dr Leigh Dayton - 3 August 2022

Vintage silver sarsaparilla cup and saucer with floral design.

Clinical

It comes in teas, tablets, tinctures, and capsules, and may only look good. In colonial Australia sarsaparilla was a hit. Like their American counterparts the...

A pharmacy career built on curiosity

Ruth Cooper - 1 August 2025

People

From hospital wards to AI-driven healthcare, PSA's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has turned curiosity into a lifelong pursuit.

Frankincense: scent & sound of season but promises more

Dr Leigh Dayton - 12 December 2022

Monochrome illustration of three kings, representing the historical and cultural context of frankincense used in seasonal rituals and aromatherapy

Clinical

Beyond the laboratory, frankincense is used primarily to manufacture incense and lozenges, however aromatherapy is one of the big sellers.

PSA welcomes the Pharmacy Guild’s new Executive Director

Ruth Cooper - 4 July 2019

Industry

Suzanne Greenwood, a leader in the not-for-profit hospital and aged care service sectors, has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Pharmacy...

It’s time to recognise pharmacy excellence

Chloe Hava - 25 May 2022

Industry

Past PSA Excellence Award winners share what the recognition meant to them and the professional doors it can open.

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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.

Health comes first

Timing is everything

Approaching chronic disease management

Self-adjusted dosing

Starting the conversation

Knowing what invalidates a fast

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

Health comes first

Timing is everything

Approaching chronic disease management

Self-adjusted dosing

Starting the conversation

Knowing what invalidates a fast

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

Health comes first

Timing is everything

Approaching chronic disease management

Self-adjusted dosing

Starting the conversation

Knowing what invalidates a fast

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?