Callan Beesley MPS can see benefits in HMRs via telehealth, especially for those who were isolated during the pandemic travel restriction phase.[/caption]
John Pisasale MPS has moved to telehealth Medschecks to comply with physical distancing regulations for the usual 20–30-minute consultation. He and his pharmacy staff also assist with medicines and body mass index information for patients in his isolated community who take up the option of a telehealth consultation with a general practitioner, using an encrypted service, from this private room in his pharmacy at Robinvale, on the Victorian-NSW border.[/caption]
A/Prof Ruth Stewart is Australia’s new National Rural Health Commissioner. (Image: Twitter)[/caption]
Samuel Keitaanpaa MPS.[/caption]
Peter Fell MPS[/caption]
Dimitra Tsucalas FPS[/caption]
Quoc Sam MPS[/caption]
Cameron Walls MPS[/caption]
Pene Wood MPS (Image: La Trobe University)[/caption]
Tighter regulation was one of the measures recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to reduce harm associated with opioid use. Education and awareness campaigns will be phased in over the next two years.1
It comes in response to increasing numbers of deaths involving opioids in Australia. From 2007 to 2016, the number of deaths due to opioids nearly doubled, from 591 to 1,119 per year. Most deaths were due to prescription opioids rather than illicit opioids such as heroin.2
Suzanne Nielsen MPS (Image: Monash University)[/caption]
‘I think it is important how you have this conversation and the terminology you use, i.e. opioid toxicity instead of overdose. These medicines can be dangerous and need to be treated with care.’
A/Prof Nielsen said pharmacists need to support patients through these changes, particularly where new requirements, such as needing a second opinion, introduce new barriers to care.
She echoed the importance of education around opioid safety and keeping naloxone in the home.
‘It is an easily implementable strategy to raise awareness of risks and prevent opioid-related mortality among people prescribed opioids for chronic pain,’ A/Prof Nielsen said.
Community pharmacist Jenny Tam MPS, from Chermside Shopping Centre Pharmacy in Brisbane, is being more vigilant with opioid prescriptions this week, but thinks the changes are a good thing.
When dispensing large packs of opioids, she wonders what quantities people have stored in their homes. She would also welcome education on the place of naloxone so she could feel more comfortable recommending it to people prescribed opioids.
References
This article was independently produced with support from Roche.[/caption]
References: Aust Govt Dept of Health, CDC[/caption]
The Victorian Parliament recently passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act and its 18-month implementation period is shortly coming to a close. So what exactly does the Act mean for patients who are suffering and what role do pharmacists need to play?
Learning resourcesAfter successful completion of this CPD activity, pharmacists should be able to:
Competencies (2016) addressed: 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.2. Accreditation code: CAP1810B |
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On 29 November 2017, the Victorian Parliament passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017.1 This legislation, which includes an 18-month implementation period, provides individuals living in Victoria and suffering at their end of life, a legal and safe option of accessing a lethal dos
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