The new onsite pharmacist initiative in aged care started on July 1, 2024, with the aim of improving medication management and safety in residential aged care homes. Funding is available for community pharmacies and aged care providers to employ onsite pharmacists.
The role of onsite pharmacists is to regularly review medications to reduce medication-related harm and work closely with GPs and aged care staff to optimize the use of medicines.
The initiative aims to:
Aged care homes can engage an onsite pharmacist through a community pharmacy or employ one directly where necessary. The funding supports one full-time-equivalent pharmacist per 250 beds, allocated in 50-bed increments.
Please note, homes with an on-site pharmacist will not receive Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) or Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) services from external visiting pharmacists.
Homes without an on-site pharmacist will continue to receive QUM and RMMR support.
Aged care homes are being encouraged to explore this opportunity to engage an onsite pharmacist to enhance medication safety and improve resident outcomes.
Contact Central and Eastern Sydney PHN for guidance and support at agedcare@cesphn.org.au.
See CESPHN website for more info https://cesphn.org.au/allied-health/help-my-patients-with/aged-care/residential-aged-care-facility-support/aged-care-on-site-pharmacist
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