January 2018

COLLEGE EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2018 PROGRAMMES

We are well into 2018 now so you may be thinking about your 2018 professional practice goals!

See below for 2018 topics provided to you by the College Education & Training business unit of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. We will be providing pharmacists and technicians a number of topics which will benefit your practice. The focus areas for 2018 will be on mental health and womens’ health.

WEBINARS*

Month Topic Title
March (date TBC) Depression & Suicide in Young Adults
Wed 11th April Post-natal Anxiety and Depression
May (date TBC) Sexually transmitted Infections
June (date TBC) Laboratory tests basics
July (date TBC) Anticoagulants
Tues 21st August Osteoporosis
September (date TBC) Stroke Prevention
Tues 13th November Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

(Webinars consist of 1 - 2 hour education sessions)

PROGRAMMES*

There will be two pharmacist programmes in 2018.

Drug addiction in New Zealand

This programme will cover over the counter drug addiction, prescription drug addiction and illegal drug addiction and treatment. This will be a comprehensive programme which can be completed part time and will be approximately 10 weeks duration. This programme is expected to run from March – May 2018.

Biologic Medicines

This programme will detail various biologic medicines and cover conditions over 3 specialties (Rheumatology, Gastroenterology and Dermatology) for which biologics are used in New Zealand. This will be a comprehensive programme which can be completed part time and will be approximately 10 weeks duration. This programme is expected to run in the second half of 2018 – dates TBC.

ACCREDITED COURSES AND PROGRAMMES

Course Title
Emergency Contraceptive Pill Course
Selected Oral Contraceptive Reclassification Course
Trimethoprim Course
Medicine Use Review Training Programme
Community Anticoagulation Management Service (CPAMS).

If you work at a CPAMS contracted pharmacy and want to enrol in the CPAMS programme contact college@psnz.org.nz.

PHARMACY ACCURACY CHECKING TECHNICIAN (PACT) TRAINING PROGRAMME

Following 2 successful cohorts in 2017, we will be running another PACT training programme in 2018. Dates for the next workshop are to be confirmed – keep an eye out on your email as we will let all members know when we are accepting applications.

WORKBOOKS

Heart Health Workbook

We are working on the final touches to the Heart Health workbook, written by Clinical Pharmacist Lejla Brkic. The workbook contains an overview on conditions such as hypertension, acute and stable coronary syndromes, heart failure and atrial fibrillation, and will be available for purchase in February.

Self-Checking Workbook

This workbook is aimed at pharmacy technicians and pharmacists working in medication dispensing roles. This is an excellent workbook to improve your self-checking process when dispensing medicine. By understanding causes of errors and having a robust self-check process, you and your colleagues can minimise and prevent errors from occurring. More information on this workbook coming soon.

For more details or to enrol contact; Email: college@psnz.org.nz Ph: 04 802 0030

Practice

PHARMAC notification - blood glucose meters are changing (1st February to 31st July)

PHARMAC are awarding sole supply to fund four CareSens blood glucose and ketone meters and test strips until 2022. Most people currently using meters will not have to change.

From 1 August 2018, the CareSens II, Freestyle Optium/Neo and Accu-Chek Performa meters and their test strips will no longer be funded.

People using these meters will need to change to one of the four funded CareSens meters and test strips. There will be a 6-month changeover period – from 1 February 2018 to 31 July 2018.

PHARMAC expect that most people will be able to swap their meters over at their community pharmacy.

Pharmaco may be able to assist practices with high-needs patient groups, and diabetes clinics wishing to change their patient’s meters, by providing some sample meters.

If you have any questions about this change, you can contact:

More information can be found on the PHARMAC website

Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome Booklets for health professionals, females, their family and whānau

The Ministry of Health, ACC and Health Quality and Safety Commission have worked in partnership with clinicians and consumer advocates and the Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome New Zealand to create booklets for health professionals and women. They are designed to inform the reader about the benefits and risks of taking antiepileptic medicines during pregnancy and encourage early conversations between health professionals and females taking these medicines who are sexually active, whether or not they are planning to get pregnant.

Online and hard copies of the booklets can be ordered for free from www.acc.co.nz/treatmentsafety. If you would like more information about the booklets or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Dee Young, Programme lead, Senior Injury Prevention Specialist at ACC on dee.young@acc.co.nz or 04 819 5189.

Pharmacy Specialist Technician (Level 6) – Enrolments open with MIT

The Specialist Technician (Level 6) course is a great opportunity for pharmacy technicians who hold a level 5 certificate to further their professional development, and consequently help the pharmacy industry in its progression to support the implementation of the New Zealand Healthcare strategy.

For more information click here

Otago University –School of Pharmacy Continuing Education Roadshow

School of Pharmacy is inviting pharmacists to participate in a series of roadshows in February and March. Refer to the flyer for more details

PSNZ member survey

In coming days we will be sending out an email with a link to members to participate in a membership survey for 2018. This is an opportunity for you to provide feedback and information to us on our services and engagement with members. It will only take a few minutes and we would appreciate your responses.

Primary Health Alliance General Meeting

The President and CEO attended the December meeting held at Waitangi. Presentations from Dr Nick Chamberlain,CEO NDHB, Dr Andrew Miller, Chair Manaia PHO and Dr Juliet Rumball-Smith, last years Harkness Fellow in Healthcare policy and practice, on electronic health records in U.S.A.

PSNZ is an organisational member of the PHA and also an elected member of the Executive Council in governance.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from GPNZ and Procare.