Role expansion lifts care standards delivery says AACP
SYDNEY: The Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (AACP) has issued a statement welcoming the findings of the recent Interim Report from the Royal Commission in Aged Car Quality and Safety.
The report recommended lifting the existing cap on the Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) program, and moves to “enhance and improve” the program are welcome, AACP said.
The organisation also said the Community Pharmacy Agreement could be used to link a pharmacy-led Quality Use of Medicines program to aged care homes.
The AACP said the report highlighted areas where more must be done to improve health outcomes for older people in the aged care sector, as well as recommending “where and how pharmacists, and particularly accredited pharmacists via the RMMR program, may be improved to assist older Australians health outcomes and day to day care”.
Dr Stephen Carter, AACP chair, said he agreed with the statements made by Pharmacy Guild and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia leaders that more must be done for older Australians and soon.
Dr Carter said the AACP believes that an enhanced Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) program linked to aged care facilities via the 6CPA, which isn’t specifically mentioned by the Report, also may have a place in improving health outcomes.
“Accredited pharmacists have been engaged with the aged care sector for many years in delivering RMMRs that can and do lead to improved circumstances for older Australians – the recommendations set out by the Interim Report can only further enhance the value of the accredited pharmacists role in supporting older Australians living in care, ” he said.
“The AACP is ready and willing to be involved in planning and delivery discussions on how to meet the Interim Report’s recommendations pertaining to the improvement and enhancement of the RMMR program as part of the solution in addressing the Report’s detailed concerns”.
