With pharmacy assistants regularly citing their desire to learn and grow in their profession, in the June issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine, we interview Adjunct Professor Dr Dimitri Kopanakis, CEO of the Australasian College of Pharmacy, to find out what the College has in store for pharmacy assistants.
Why is continual professional development so important in personal and professional growth? Why is it important that assistants have access to education courses such as those available through the Australasian College of Pharmacy (ACP)?
Continual professional development is the key to the effective delivery of pharmacy services. It generates benefits to the individual, the pharmacy business and the community they serve.
Community pharmacy is a significant part of healthcare systems worldwide and for many people, their relationship with their local pharmacy team is an important part of their support network.
The role that pharmacy assistants play in that system and network is continually changing as customers’ needs and expectations change.
Keeping your knowledge and skills up to date means you can adapt faster and more easily when disruptions occur, such as higher demand for community pharmacy involvement in Covid-19 related services.
Sourcing training for their staff through the College saves our members time and offers a valuable return on investment. It’s easy to find courses that match needs and interests, both clinical and business-related, and many of our programs are free.
Employees enjoy a higher level of job satisfaction and more positive interactions with customers when they can knowledgeably be a part of a team, especially when new services or procedures are introduced.
There’s a very true saying: look after your people and they’ll look after your customers, and their repeat business will look after you.
Can you tell us more about the new ACP course targeted at pharmacy assistants that aims to prepare them for the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine once pharmacy rollout begins? How did the course come about and why?
Over the past year, frontline teams in community pharmacy have had to adapt quickly, both as healthcare service providers and as employer businesses.
The Australasian College of Pharmacy developed the Safe Vaccination Services in Community Pharmacy program in direct response to the federal government’s announcement that local pharmacies will support the future nationwide rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations.
Meeting high targets in a short timeframe presents several new challenges in addition to normal trading, especially during the flu season. Many customers will seek assurances about potential side effects, infection containment measures, eligibility, waiting times, costs and choices of Covid-19 vaccines.
Pharmacy assistants need to be prepared for the change in workflow and customer expectations.
The College is committed to ensuring that pharmacies have the right skills and training to manage the rollout effectively, limit wastage and maintain a smooth customer experience.
The Safe Vaccination Services in Community Pharmacy program will help frontline pharmacy assistants support pharmacist immunisers in delivering Covid-19 and other vaccines.
What can pharmacy assistants expect to learn from the course and how can they access the course material?
It’s a short, non-accredited course that’s offered online and takes just a few hours to complete. It’s also free.
Pharmacy assistants will learn practical ways to manage infection control, queue coordination, appointment and booking preparation, refrigeration requirements, record-keeping and data management.
Empowered by the knowledge gained from this evidence-based training, pharmacy assistants will have the confidence to address customer concerns and support efforts to meet all vaccine delivery standards.
There’s more information on our website: acp.edu.au/education/short-courses/safe-vaccination-services/
How can assistants become more engaged in ongoing learning?
Pharmacy assistants can discuss their learning interests and career aspirations with their team leader or their pharmacy owner, depending on their employment situation.
They can check out the College’s programs, find a course that matches, and ask their manager about support in terms of funding and time off to do the course, as covered under their award.
Pharmacy assistants need a diverse array of knowledge and skills, ranging from how to serve customers to specialist product knowledge.
When talking to your manager about training, it’s a good idea to outline how the training will help not just you and your career, but also the pharmacy and its operational plans.
To read the full feature as it appears in the June issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine, visit: rpassistants.com.au/magazines/retail-pharmacy-assistants-june-2021/
