Pharmacy News December 2018 | Page 7

Dec 2018 7 Dn N Wn World news Drug News news 15 tips for growth in 2025 THE Pharmacy Guild has released a checklist to help pharmacies tap into the four CP2025 growth pathways. The pathways are: Becoming a community hub; health services; digital enablement; and business operations. Here are 15 points to note: Community hub • Talk to patients, GPs and other health professionals to identify needs in your area. • Focus on areas that add value to your existing services and products. • If you build a consulting room, ensure it meets the relevant requirements. Health services • Research what services are in demand among patients. Talk to your patients and analyse dispensing and sales data. • Work out a budget and plan what staff and infrastructure you’ll need. • Run trials to test patient demand and potential pricing. • Consider trialling extended hours or after- hours appointments. • Have a plan to evaluate the services. Digital enablement • Check that you pharmacy is listed on Google’s search engine by visiting google. com/business • Ensure your pharmacy’ data is secure. Take out cyber insurance. • Look into template websites and e-commerce offerings. Consider what stock you will FANTASTIC FOUR: The Guild is focusing on new key pathways. sell online and how your online store will integrate with the point-of-sale system. • Develop a digital and social media plan and train staff. Business operations • Observe workflows and review procedures to look for opportunities for improvement. • Establish key indicators that measure the pharmacy’s performance against industry benchmarks. • Consider if an expert business advisor would be beneficial. Is this the secret of pharmacy success? FORGET busting a gut and working long hours, pharmacists are more successful when they have a healthy work-life balance. That’s according to Canadian researchers who have interviewed pharmacists to identify the character traits that contribute to their success. Putting family first, being physically active and avoiding burn-out are essential, they report in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. “Overall, success was thought to be a combination of having a fulfilling career, achieving work-life balance, being engaged and passionate, and making meaningful contributions to patient outcomes,” they write. Here are five other key findings: 1. The 10 pharmacists who participated in the study had accrued experience in multiple roles and settings, and were engaged in a variety of practice activities. 2. Their practice had changed over time through sub-specialisation and ongoing education, including diabetes education and palliative care. 3. They adopted novel patient care activities. 4. They took on additional roles, such as education and research. 5. Good communication and interpersonal skills helped overcome resistance from doctors. More information: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 2018 Cardiovascular 7 Get the latest guidelines on the treatment and prevention of common cardiovascular conditions Therapeutic Guidelines Cardiovascular, version 7, is available in print and digital formats, including the eTG complete app. Visit www.tg.org.au eTG Cardiovascular 7 ad.indd 1 19/11/2018 11:09:56 AM