Another dose of Atropine
Atropine 0.01% eye drops are not commercially available and Atropt 1% should not be supplied. Despite warning its pharmacist members against this error in 2018, PDL continues to receive incident reports relating to the dispensing of Atropine eye drops 1%, when 0.01% was prescribed. The weaker form of atropine eye drops (0.01%) is typically prescribed to children […]
Small details
A pharmacy’s dispensing history was once a closed loop within the pharmacy walls. However today, with the advent of My Health Record and real time monitoring, the situation is very different. A pharmacy’s dispensing records are now visible to other health professionals, as well as some statutory organisations. This visibility has created some problems for […]
Steroids and hormone therapies
Off Label Use or Misuse/Abuse Pharmacists are expected to have a contemporary knowledge of the drugs that are subject to abuse or misuse, both generally and in their own localities. Steroids and hormone therapies are one of many groups of medications that are the subject of abuse/misuse. Many individuals source anabolic steroids illicitly from coaches, […]
Staged supply
Set rules early The provision of medicines via a staged supply process is common practice in many pharmacies. While the benefits are apparent for the patient, prescribers and pharmacies, there are also challenges for pharmacists responsible for managing the supply process. These challenges may be prevented or better managed through the use of good procedures and clear […]
Concentration confusion
The colder weather sees a predictable increase in the prescribing of prednisolone oral liquid for children. Often these prescriptions are written by after hours or hospital-based doctors and many will be handwritten. As dosages are typically based on the child’s weight, the prescribed dose is frequently written in milliGRAMS instead of milliLITRES. The seasonal increase in prescribing of […]
When yes means no
Over 10% of incidents reported to PDL involve the provision of medication to the wrong patient. The consequence of this error can result in hospitalisation or complaints made to pharmacy regulators who may take action against the pharmacist responsible. The following extracts are taken from incident reports that have recently been filed with PDL and […]
Flu vaccine
With the influenza season fast approaching, demand on pharmacist vaccination services is imminent. Vaccination and immunisation services are covered under the PDL Master Policy but pharmacists providing these services must have current qualifications for vaccination and first aid support. Proprietors can take the lead by ensuring all staff involved in supporting pharmacy-based vaccination services meet […]
My Health Record
At the end of the My Health Record (MHR) opt-out period the Government ranks the participation rate as 90.1%. Healthcare providers are under no obligation to use the MHR system, but it is important that registered healthcare providers know and understand the circumstances in which the Record can be accessed before using the system. Currently, […]
Responsibilities of proprietors
A number of incidents reported to PDL in recent months has exposed some deficiencies that are occurring in pharmacies around Australia. One issue that has emerged is that some proprietors have failed to check the assumed credentials of a pharmacist employed by them. In one case, a proprietor employed a pharmacist who was not actually […]
The importance of saying sorry
Sooner or later most pharmacists can expect to be presented with a complaint. Even the pettiest disputes over a price for medication, can become protracted, particularly if it is referred to a regulatory organisation such as the Health Complaints Commission or the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. To provide some guidance on what to do […]
