Rub shoulders with Kerri Barwick MPS (centre) and other members of team PSA at CPC24[/caption]
The use of insulin, considered a high-risk medication with APINCHs classification,5 Ms Barwick notes, provides justification for a Home Medicines Review (HMR). ‘There’s an advantage to going into the home to observe the patient’s diet, consider potential interactions, and educate patients on the best effects and outcomes,’ she says.
Advice around cleaning blood glucose level (BGL) monitors to ensure accuracy can also be provided. ‘Pharmacists can explain how to put test drops through and clean blood spills on the monitor, common in pregnancy due to higher blood volume,’ says Ms Barwick.
With only 50% of women diagnosed with GDM receiving tests for heart disease and type 2 diabetes post-pregnancy,6 HMRs can be beneficial at this stage of the journey, too.
‘Along with conversations around diet choices, exercise regimes and sleep, I also explain how often testing is required over the next 5–10 years, and how to monitor for signs of the development of diabetes,’ Ms Barwick advises.
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
The presence of iron in pregnancy multivitamins may exacerbate symptoms of nausea and vomiting in some pregnancies, according to Ms Barwick.
‘Pharmacists can recommend a trial cessation of the iron component of pregnancy vitamins, often unnecessary in pregnancy,’ she says.
In 2020, photographer Bobbi Lockyer created a Birthing on Country project to highlight and create awareness around birthing issues and outcomes in Aboriginal women. For more, see 
Suzanne Nielsen MPS[/caption]
A pharmacist who dedicated decades to enhancing the quality use of medicines within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, a community pharmacy mentor, and a pioneer in a non-traditional pharmacist aged care role received Excellence Awards at PSA’s SA/NT annual awards night.
At last Friday’s (3 March) awards, the South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton made joint presentations with PSA SA/NT Branch President Veronika Seda MPS.
Others present included PSA National Board Members Andrew Sluggett and Deanna Mill, the state’s Chief Pharmacist Naomi Burgess and Deputy Chief Pharmacist Vaughn Eaton and Professor Libby Roughhead, Research Professor at the University of South Australia’s Sansom Institute.
Meet the award winners
Fran Vaughan MPS, a previous Chief Pharmacist at the Alice Springs Hospital, and pharmacist advisor to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ms Seda described Ms Vaughan as ’humble’, never boasting or seeking praise after a lengthy career devoted to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in remote areas in the Northern Territory (with a short stint on Thursday Island) and Queensland.
As pharmacist advisor to NACCHO, Ms Vaughan helped facilitate the Integrating Pharmacists with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to Improve Chronic Disease Management (IPAC), which resulted in the integration of pharmacists into 18 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services throughout the trial.
A prime example of a ‘deadly’ pharmacist, she has been a clinician, an academic educator at the Centre for Remote Health at Flinders University, an NPS educator, both a community and accredited pharmacist, and most recently undertook projects that trialled novel models of practice.
Ms Vaughan additionally played a key role in the development of the Remote Primary Health Care Manuals, which guide healthcare delivery in remote areas and also led the initial development of the Medicines Book for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, which presents information about commonly used medicines in simple language with illustrations.
Photo gallery – did we capture you?
The Pharmacist of the Year for 2023 is Adam Forrest MPS, Pharmacist Manager at Terry White Chemmart Christies Guild in Adelaide.
A preceptor to numerous interns and mentor to students, his philosophy is that by helping pharmacists reach their potential, as well as the expectations of consumers and other pharmacists, the standard of the profession is lifted.
As well as driving chronic disease management programs in diabetes and asthma, Mr Forrest has led his pharmacy in becoming a dementia-friendly practice and has built trusted relationships with neighbouring medical practitioners.
He sits on the Adelaide Primary Health Network Clinical Council, assesses intern oral exams and tutors at the University of South Australia pharmacy program.
Dee-Anne Hull MPS, the 2023 SA/NT Early Career Pharmacist of the Year used her cover of a maternity leave position for the Pharmacists in Aged care Project, a PSA–Country SA Primary Health Network project to propel her into multidisciplinary team work.
Now the Quality and Clinical Specialist for Southern Cross care, a non-traditional pharmacist role within a multidisciplinary leadership team, she has launched the Aged Care Pharmacist–Australia Facebook page.
Its more than 250 members share research and discussion while Ms Hull continues to advocate for the vital connection that onsite aged care pharmacists will build with community pharmacies that already dispense medicines for aged care residents.
The SA Gold Medal (not given every year due to stringent criteria) was awarded to Layla McDougall, who recently completed a double degree – Bachelor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science at the University of South Australia.
She surpassed the entry criteria with the highest grade point average above 6.25 after at least 3 years of full-time study in a pharmacy program.
Her medal was presented by Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom AO FPS. Ms McDougall is currently completing her internship year at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals and is interested in chronic disease medication management and working with patients.
