Aged Care On-Site Pharmacist (ACOP) program

Improving Medication Safety in Aged Care: On-Site Pharmacists Now Funded

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN (CESPHN) is committed to supporting safer, more effective medication management in residential aged care homes (RACHs). Since 1 July 2024, The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has funded the Aged Care On-Site Pharmacist (ACOP) program, enabling aged care homes to employ pharmacists, bringing expert medication advice and oversight into the heart of aged care services.

Why have an on-site pharmacist?
Having a pharmacist based within a RACH can:

• minimise the risk of medication-related harm
• ensure safer use of high-risk and complex medications
• provide consistent medication oversight for residents
• offer real-time support and advice to staff and residents
• Improve collaboration between nursing staff, GPs and community pharmacies.

Program details

Residential aged care homes can access an on-site pharmacist by partnering with a community pharmacy or, where appropriate, employing a pharmacist directly.

Funding supports approximately one full-time pharmacist per 250 residents, with staffing scaled according to facility size (approximately one day per week of pharmacist time for every 50 beds).

It’s important to note:
Homes that engage an on-site pharmacist will no longer be able to engage Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) or Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) services from external pharmacists. Those without an on-site pharmacist will continue accessing external QUM and RMMR support as usual.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists participating in the Measure are required to:

• be a registered pharmacist with a valid Australian Health Practitioner
  Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) number
• be ACOP credentialed having completed an APC accredited ACOP training
  program.

How CESPHN can help

CESPHN supports residential aged care homes by:

• Providing information about the ACOP Measure.
• Assisting facilities to understand participation requirements.
• Helping connect aged care homes with eligible pharmacists.
• Supporting collaboration between aged care providers, pharmacists, GPs and community pharmacies.

Interested in taking part?
For detailed information on eligibility, funding arrangements, ACOP roles and PHN support activities, refer to the Australian Government’s Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure – Primary Health Network Residential Aged Care Home Support Grant Program Guide.

CESPHN encourages all residential aged care homes to consider the benefits of this initiative and take steps to enhance the safety and quality of medication use for their residents.

For further information, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website, or contact Central and Eastern Sydney PHN at agedcare@cesphn.com.au.

Current Tender Opportunity – Pharmacy-Led ACOP Integration and Support Services

This 12-month initiative is designed to support the integration, development and retention of Aged Care On-site Pharmacists (ACOPs) across Residential Aged Care Homes in the CESPHN region through mentoring, education and collaborative learning.

To apply for this tender click here.