Page 23 - RPA May 2020

Nader Mitri
Operations Manager, PharmaPrograms
What is your professional background and how did you come to work at PharmaPrograms?
I’m a pharmacist and prior to working at PharmaPrograms I was a community pharmacy owner for 10 years. I started working at PharmaPrograms part-
time in 2017, offering my experience in community pharmacy. I now work [at PharmaPrograms] full-time.
Tell us briefly about your role at PharmaPrograms.
My role is very broad. I look after the management of the program, pharmacy assistant enrolments, support and
the roadshow.
Tell us about PharmaPrograms.
PharmaPrograms is an Australian organisation which utilises innovative
IT solutions that support optimal medication usage, adherence and health outcomes. Our experience and expertise enable us to work closely with doctors, pharmacists and industry.
How does PharmaPrograms work?
PharmaPrograms provides community pharmacy with an additional revenue stream that allows pharmacists to better support their patients. Each time a pharmacist engages with one of our programs, we will pay a professional service fee depending on the terms of that program.
According to your website, PharmaPrograms brings companies and pharmacists/pharmacy assistants together and creates programs that help improve medication compliance, adherence and health outcomes.
One of the programs is the Reckitt Benckiser beyouRBest Pharmacy Assistant Training Program. Can you tell us more about this program?
We want to focus on pharmacy assistants and the pivotal role they
play in community pharmacy. Reckitt Benckiser recognised this and, in conjunction with iTherapeutics, we’ve developed a program that provides pharmacy assistants with advice and insights from industry experts.
The program is designed to upskill pharmacy assistants in both patient care and business building through online training modules and attendance at one of the 10 free national
roadshow events.
iTherapeutics hosts a series of
Reckitt Benckiser specific modules that cover areas such as pain, foot care, skin care and cold and flu. Pharmacy assistants are encouraged to complete these modules as part of the program. These modules are designed to assist pharmacy assistants deliver better care to their patients.
The beyouRBest roadshows will provide valuable insights from industry experts, such as Kos Sclavos and
John Bell, as well as a special guest speaker and champion Olympian, Giaan Rooney. The roadshows will
be held in 10 events across Australia, and be available online for those who cannot attend in person.
How can pharmacy assistants
come on board with the beyouRBest Pharmacy Assistant Training Program? To register and join, pharmacy assistants should visit: beyourbest. pharmaprograms.com.au. There’s no cost involved to join. On the website, you can view your progress, register for our roadshow and enter our competition to win one of two $10,000 travel vouchers and more.
How can pharmacists and pharmacy assistants help promote PharmaPrograms within their pharmacies? What sort of resources are provided to pharmacies?
By talking about the iTherapeutics
modules, comparing progress through the program and planning to attend the roadshow as a group. Pharmacists should promote the program to
their pharmacy assistants as it will help develop their counselling and pharmacy retail skills. After the roadshow, pharmacy assistants will be provided with collateral that they can take back to their pharmacy
or download from our website.
This should become a reference for them in their daily practice for years to come.
What does the future hold for PharmaPrograms? What are you hoping to achieve in 2020? PharmaPrograms will continue to work with community pharmacy, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants into the future. We see the important role pharmacy plays in healthcare and the need to continue to deliver additional value to community pharmacy. We’re always working with industry partners, so keep an eye out on our website for new and upcoming programs.
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Through completion of the online training modules and attendance at a roadshow, pharmacy assistants will not only be improving their knowledge and skills in their chosen career but will also go
into the running to win one of two $10,000 travel vouchers.
RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2020