Author: Pharmacy Alliance Marketing

Hosted by the PSA, Pharmacy Guild, SHPA and the University of Tasmania, Ms Park received her award from PSA Tasmania Branch President Dr Ella van Tienen despite the official Tasmanian Pharmacy event being cancelled due to the pandemic.

Dr van Tienen described Ms Park as a highly motivated early-career pharmacist committed to her practice, patients, and profession. Her enthusiasm and professionalism were acknowledged – not only as a pharmacist, but also for her involvement within the local community as a volunteer Ambulance Officer and a member of the local Rotary Club.

Ms Park has worked at several pharmacies in Western Australia and Tasmania and is well known for being sent to support pharmacies get back on track and serve their local communities.

Pharmacy Alliance congratulates Ilwoo on her award and know that the future of our industry is in safe hands with pharmacists like.

We salute you as a local healthcare hero!

#bettertogether #independentpharmacy #localhealthmatters #healthcareheroes

Photo credit: Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Source: Australian Government Department of Health 18 November 2020

On 9 November 2020, the Pharmacy Alliance family suffered a terrible loss. It is with heavy hearts that we mourne the passing of Robert (Bob) Reynolds.

The founding father of Pharmacy Alliance, Bob started his career after graduating from Pharmacy College in 1964. Following short stints in Perth and Melbourne as a working pharmacist, he he purchased his first pharmacy in 1968 in Albany, Western Australia, the birthplace of Pharmacy Alliance, to start and establish his pharmacy career.

Bob and wife Elaine became proud parents of Simon and Adam, setting the foundation for a strong pharmacy family. At this time, Bob already had two pharmacies in Albany and Elaine was the retail manager – no ordinary retail manager though. She filled roles as bookkeeper, business manager and mother. Simon loves to tell anyone that will listen the story of how he grew up in a dispensary and that it was inevitable that he would become a pharmacist.

Bob is remembered as an extremely proud and passionate pharmacist. He was a prominent figure at many Pharmacy Alliance member meetings and conferences. He loved meeting like-minded pharmacists and hearing their personal and professional stories and was never shy to offer candid and honest advice. However, his advice was always delivered with kindness, sincerity, compassion, and care.

Everything Bob did and said came from the heart. Apart from his love for his family and the pharmacy industry, he was an avid cricket fan. He loved to watch any form of cricket – whether it was Western Australia or the Australian cricket team – he loved a good chat and debrief about his passions.

Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to Elaine, Simon, Adam, and the extended Reynolds family.

Should you wish to share a message with the family, please feel free to do so here.

Recent legislative changes paved the way for the introduction of electronic prescriptions across the country. Electronic prescriptions (eScripts) are an alternative to paper prescriptions that allows Australians convenient access to medication. Current COVID-19 restrictions on community movements have seen a reduction in the number of Australians visiting their general practice consultation rooms out of fear of community transmission.

Pharmacy Alliance Managing Director Simon Reynolds says, “With social distancing continuing to be in practice as a result of COVID-19, eScripts helps to reduce spread of the virus.”

“Pharmacy Central Bargara is one example of a Pharmacy Alliance member that has embraced this new technology by being the first pharmacy in Queensland to dispense an eScript.  With many of our members being smaller community pharmacies this will provide welcome efficiencies where operational pressures are increasing due to COVID-19.”

Campbell Gradon, a Queensland-based Partner Member is proud of being the first Queensland pharmacy working with a local medical practice in using this newly introduced best practice to dispense from an eScript. “I think that eScripts will be awesome when they become ubiquitous and adopted by all prescribers. They solve a lot of problems through improved security, transmissibility and speed of dispensing through improved workflow”, says Campbell. “I wish we could turn paper scripts off today and just go 100% eScripts moving forward.”

Once the software was activated in the pharmacy, there were no hassles in adopting and following this new practice. The pharmacy team agreed that the process is easy to follow and that dispensing is more streamlined than before, however, there are a few ways that it can be improved even more.

“We have to change our workflow and we need some computer terminals in new locations to accept the eScripts in a streamlined manner.” says Campbell.

“Ultimately, eScripts should become the new norm. Just as email has replaced the postal service for the transmission of important information, eScripts will replace the need for paper scripts. They are safer, more secure, more accurate, easier to transmit and will lead to a whole new way of pharmaceutical delivery methods in the future.”

Local customers have welcomed the introduction of this new way of dispensing medication view themselves as pioneers.

Pharmacy Alliance is committed to let you stay in control of your pharmacy but have all the strength and benefits of group membership.

SmarterPharm Website and Member Portal

We are pleased to announce that we have updated the SmarterPharm website and member portal for program participants. The rejuvenated website is easy to use and contains information about:

• Current Deals,
• Professional Services,
• Business Support, and
• Marketing Support.

We are currently working on updating our member portal to ensure we only provide you with the latest information

For more information, visit https://smarterpharm.com/

Smarter buying. Smarter solutions.

We are enjoying the new layout within the store – making it easier for staff and customers to navigate and access areas of the store. The movement of some of our key categories out from behind the counter, onto the shop walls should benefit sales in years to come.

We had some unusual shaped gondolas that were acting like roadblocks before and many important products were not visible to customers. We now have great new internal and external signage throughout.  It has made the store look brighter, fresher, and more professional. The matching category signage also assists with navigation and product selection.

The vivid blue on the outside of the building makes an immediate impact. We trade to midnight every day and it looks fantastic lit up under our new LED spotlights and neon signage.

We have received many positive comments from our customers telling us that we love what we have done with the store. Local businesses told us they loved watching the transformation over the installation week. One of our local GPs told me they love the colour choice.

Our loyalty rewards program is growing beyond my expectations. Hopefully, the new signage has attracted some new customers – as the building was looking pretty tired and outdated before.

As an owner I am also enjoying the ability to run a catalogue program where the hard work is done for us and the implementation of each catalogue is quite a simple process for my staff.

Daniel

Owner, Prahran Midnight Pharmacy