The Pharmacy Guild’s vision for pharmacy is to transform to Community Health Hubs by 2025 (CP2025). The key growth pathways include medication management, digital enablement, operational efficiencies and automation. The explosion in Australia’s population aged over 65 and those requiring multiple medications is a market segment waiting to be serviced.

Ziad Sultan the owner of Bellambi Pharmacy, North Illawarra in NSW says he doesn’t understand the reluctance of many pharmacists to invest in their business. He says many of his peers ‘don’t blink an eye in buying a BMW but drag their feet when it comes to investing in technology’ to sustain and build their pharmacies’ business. He says investing in DAA Software and Automation is a ‘no brainer’ and he’s made his money back in less than 3 years.

The top 8 tips before you invest in DAA Technology & Automation

1. Watch for operational warning signs. Increasing staff stress levels, near misses, growing error rates and inefficiencies. The DAA process is becoming unmanageable. The tipping point is around 100 packs per week when you must seriously investigate automation and software.
2. Look for a complete solution from one supplier to fit your business – software, consumable blister packs and automation.
3. Involve your key staff in the process and support them in the transition period.
4. Research Research Research. Review company website automation and software pages. Ask to speak with the supplier’s sales representative. Ask suppliers with help in going to a pharmacy to see their technology in action.
5. Compare the reliability and total offering. Make sure you compare like with like. Invest in software that’s easy and intuitive for the staff and is fully supported by the supplier.
6. Look for the most compact size robot that delivers an ROI in around 3 years.
7. Ask for case studies and testimonials and check they are real!
8. Ask what sort of support you will be given throughout the process and after everything is installed.

Between 1998 and 2018, the number of Australians aged 65 years and over increased from 12.2% to 15.7%. This number is set to explode, with Australian and New Zealanders aged over 60 expected to increase by 92.6% between 2019 and 2050. This growth rate is far higher than North America and Europe.

Recent decades have also seen a strong trend of older people choosing to live independently, from around 24% in 1990 to 37% in 2010. Television footage aired in 2018 revealed how some Australians in aged care were badly mistreated, prompting many to rethink their future health care arrangements. More will likely choose independent living.

Today, over a million Australians take 5 or more medications daily. This estimate is low – it doesn’t account for over the counter, complementary medicines or private prescriptions.
Are Australian pharmacies ready to support them? We believe Australian pharmacists can lead the way in supporting the elderly, especially those on multiple medications.

Make DAA’s an essential part of professional services

DAA services are an increasingly important part of pharmacy professional services. A rapidly growing and aging population will live in the community for longer. They need support from Australia’s most trusted healthcare professional – pharmacists.

Up to 25 percent of patients are non-compliant with their medication regime. Many are a significant part of some 230,000 people admitted yearly to emergency departments at hospitals nationwide.

Numerous studies show pharmacist intervention can lead to better patient medication compliance.

myPak Solutions complete DAA medication management system streamlines the entire process. It combines Australia’s leading DAA software with a huge range of hygienic blister packs and surprisingly compact robotic automation to drive significant workflow efficiencies.

Our customers say our solution boosted staff morale, reduced staff stress levels helping to avert near misses and medication errors. They now focus on growing professional services.

Our complete DAA solution delivers 4 of PGA’s 9 growth pathways to become a Community Health Hub by 2025: medication management, digital enablement, automation and operational efficiencies.

How to Transform Your DAA Workflow

Recently a customer told us why he invested in software and automation 3 years ago. With more elderly in the community needing multiple medications, his DAA workflow had become unmanageable and ‘frankly one of the most stressful parts of the business’. Staff morale fell.

Medication ‘near misses’ and error rates rose. ‘Technology was the way forward and I’ve never looked back’.

The Royal Commission’s interim findings into Aged Care in November 2019 found a system ‘designed around transactions, not relationships or care…fail(ing) to meet the needs of its older, vulnerable, citizens’.

Pharmacists are perfectly placed to meet these needs, especially those reliant on multiple medications, more of whom are keen to stay in their communities for longer.

Pharmacists can support these patients by providing the best DAA pack solutions to meet their needs. myPak Solutions MedicoPak perforated pack is ideal for polypharmacy patients. It helps maintain their active lifestyles more easily and discreetly for longer. Our cutting-edge DAA software and Alpaca automation transforms DAA workflow efficiency.

Grow Professional Services Without Extra Staff

The Royal Commission’s Interim Aged Care findings described the ‘nature of residential care (as) dispiriting’. Many elderly are now looking for other options. As Australia’s most trusted healthcare professionals, pharmacists are ideally placed to help them stay in their communities for longer.

Is your pharmacy ready to care for more elderly polypharmacy patients? myPak Solutions complete DAA solution helps you help them.

Our cutting-edge software, quality consumable blister packs and surprisingly compact Alpaca robot not only streamline and build DAA services, our complete solution also helps grow overall professional service

One customer mentioned above grew DAA’s without increasing staff, ‘by 50% in the first year and more than 300% over 3 years. I should have invested in technology 5 years earlier!’.

Powered by myPak Solutions automation and software, our most recent case study reveals DAA packs grew 37% after 6 months. This customer commented ‘It’s a no brainer!’

myPak Solutions transforms the DAA workflow’s accuracy, speed and safety.

So, what are you waiting for? Future proof your business today! Ask about our obligation free consultation to help you better manage and grow your DAA services.

Call 1800 812 649, or email customerservice@mypaksolutions.com.au

First published in Pharmacy Daily Weekly Commentary, Nov 2019.References available on request

Demographic tsunami

The growth rate of Australia and New Zealand’s population aged over 60 is set to explode by 92.6% between 2019 and 2050, significantly higher than North America & Europe.¹ KPMG’s Chief Economist, Brendan Rynne, speaks of a ‘demographic tsunami’, that from the age of 65, the cost of an Australian individual will ‘increase from around $20,000 per annum to (around) $80,000 towards the end of life … (including) healthcare and aged care costs …’²

In recent decades there has been a strong trend of older people choosing to live independently, from around 24% in 1990 to 37% in 2010.³ Shocking television footage aired in 2018 revealed how some elderly Australians in aged care were being badly mistreated. This has prompted many to rethink their future healthcare arrangements, with more Australians likely to choose independent living.

Polypharmacy growing in Australia

Australian Research 2017 shows those aged 70 or over, on more than 5 daily medications, comprised at least 36.1% of the Australian population. The prevalence of polypharmacy among older Australians is relatively high, affecting almost one million people, and the number is increasing as the population ages.⁴ This estimate is low as it doesn’t account for private prescriptions, or over-the-counter and complementary medicines.

The researchers concluded: ‘Polypharmacy can be appropriate, but this needs to be balanced against the risk that it may contribute to adverse health outcomes in older people.’

Polypharmacy patients have complex medication regimes they must adhere to. There are around 230,000 hospital admissions in Australia each year due to medication errors.⁵ Monash University’s Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department says adherence to medicines for chronic conditions stands on average at 50%.⁶ A 2018 Australian Patients Association survey revealed that ‘half of respondents admitted to not completing their prescription as directed by their health professional …’⁷ Medication blister packs can help patients take the right dose at the right time.

Future proofing pharmacy

According to a recent independent pharmacy operations report⁸ by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, ‘Industry sales during 2007–2017 have grown at only 1.94% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) … while rising expenses of 4.32% CAGR per annum have exert(ed) downward pressure on the viability of the industry.’

It says pharmacies must transform to community health hubs: ‘Staff need to be re-deployed from more menial tasks, such as packing, to investing time consulting with patients. This engagement builds loyalty … as the patients age, many becoming reliant on vitamins and medications to help maintain their quality of life …’

NSW Pharmacist Ziad Sultan, owner of Bellambi Pharmacy, says he’s surprised how some of his peers ‘don’t blink an eye in spending $100,000 on a BMW, yet procrastinate when it comes to investing in automation and software in their business’.

‘Since we invested in Alpaca and myPak software, our return on investment will come in less than three years … I’ll buy the BMW then!’⁹

Automation study reveals growth pathway¹⁰

In 2018, Alpaca automation tests in NZ pharmacies showed average growth in pack numbers was 37%. Pharmacies packing 200 packs per week saved over $30,000 per annum. Most found the DAA workflow faster, easier, more accurate and efficient.

myPak Solutions supports pharmacists

myPak Solutions is a leading Australian end-to-end DAA solution for medication management. Its cutting-edge software, consumable blister packs and automation products provide pharmacy the tools it needs for the Guild’s CP2025’s key growth pathways of medication management, digital enablement, operational efficiencies and automation.

myPak Solutions drives operational efficiencies through digital enablement and automation with QCPP and 6CPA compliant consumable packs. myPak Software integrates with all major dispense systems. Alpaca Automation is powered by the world’s leading robotic technology from Japan.

First Published in ITK , Oct – Nov 2019

References 1- 10 available on request. Please contact us here.

CASE STUDY

Gia Cecchele, pharmacist/proprietor at Inglewood Amcal+ Pharmacy and Innaloo Discount Drug Store, Perth. I oversaw a major refit for my pharmacy and was offered a very good deal to also install an Alpaca robot shortly afterwards.

Not wanting to pass up this opportunity, I bought it, unsure how and where I would now be able to fit it in, given that my pharmacy had just had a major renovation. I found that the big thing with the Alpaca was that it was on wheels and was tiny and just fitted into half of my Webster packing area in its entirety, and fitted in nicely. All I had to do was modify a shelf and slide this thing into place.

One thing I did learn was that there is no real need to renovate your pharmacy to specifically fit this robot in. It took two days to get the pharmacy staff accustomed to it. The bigger part was the software coordination, which took longer.

The big trick was actually putting the correct code on every single one of the drugs that was in each person’s profile. So my Webstercare could talk to my Fred dispense system and that in turn could talk to the Alpaca. As we were new to this machine, it took a bit longer to understand.

But saying that, this machine is like a Subaru: all you have to do is turn it on. We did have the installer come in and show us how to clean and reinstall the canisters as well as setting aside some time for staff learning.

We re-rostered our timetable so each staff member got some time with using the machine. You do need to spend time and do it properly. You can’t just be sitting there dispensing and listening to a customer, it just won’t work. We got training over the phone.

You’ve to remember this is WA, and no one comes down here unless they have to.

Saying that, we were one of the first sites in Australia to get the first Alpaca robot in 2015, so they have learnt a lot since then, as have we. I’m extremely happy with it, as are my pharmacists. They love working with the Alpaca robot. It’s a bit of a status symbol for them. It’s efficient, because we really tested it.

Our Webster packing used to take us 15 hours a week for about 100 packs plus dispensing scripts, which you have to do anyway. We’ve now dropped to doing the same amount of packs in six and a half hours plus an hour for de-blistering and putting into the canisters. The big part was the accuracy. It was 100 per cent right.

I was checking all the packs (as you still need to do that) with my manager, and this is critical: this is the first time it was totally  accurate, and that to me is the most important thing. I also found that with leasing one and taking into account the efficiency, the depreciation, and the fact that you don’t need to do a big refit, honestly it’s worth it.

First published in Retail Pharmacy, August 2019

The Australian Pharmacy and Professional Conference & Trade Exhibition, which includes the Pharmacy Guild’s Annual National conference takes place again at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Thankfully, one of the biggest and most popular trade exhibitions in Australia is far better known by its three-letter acronym (TLA), APP.

We’ll simply call the venue the ‘Convention Centre’ – GCCEC is just too much of a mouthful!

It’s come around far quicker this year than the previous 28. The 2018 Commonwealth Games took centre stage on the Gold Coast, leaving just a 10-month gap between conferences.

Transforming pharmacies into community health hubs 

In November 2018, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s (PGA) George Tambassis and David Quilty called for Australian pharmacies to   

‘embrace an innovative…commercially resilient, service & care-oriented business model …’

This is the CP2025 Vision. At the heart of this vision is to transform pharmacies into Community Health Hubs through digital enablement & automation technology.

myPak Solutions supports 4 of the PGA’s 9 growth pathways:

• Medication Management
• Digital Enablement
• Automation
• Operational Efficiencies

Something for everyone

This year, more than 70 local and international speakers in as many sessions present to thousands in the industry. In fact, over 6,000 people are registered to attend. Around 450 exhibitors are ready to tell you the latest news about how their business can grow yours. 

For pharmacists, APP is the opportunity to learn more through the education program as part of Continuing Professional Development. That too has a TLA… CPD!

For pharmacy owners it’s an occasion to gain insights into global and local trends and initiatives, a chance to learn how to continue to improve the community pharmacy business model. Wandering the exhibition hall during session, morning-tea and lunch breaks, the latest products, services and industry developments can all be seen in the same venue. Many will inspire community pharmacies to help deliver better patient health outcomes.

For exhibitors like us, months of preparation gives way so we can finally meet with current and potential customers. Our time to showcase myPak Solutions complete Dose Administration Aids solution – Software, Consumable packs and Automation, along with exciting new offerings, all designed to improve patient medication adherence. 

Visit Stand 36/37 – Live Automation Demos & Exclusive Competition

Not only do we have LIVE DEMOS of the Japanese made ALPACA Automation Robot, we have an EXCLUSIVE APP competition. The winner will walk away with 50% off the RRP of ALPACA, a prize valued at $65,000. Conditions apply.

So, be sure to come along and meet our team at Stand 36/37 (near Trade Entry 2).

The winning ticket will be drawn at our stand during the tea break on Sunday, March 10^th at 10.45am.

Pharmacists are ready, able and willing to deal with the 230,000 hospital admissions due to medication errors — accountability and responsibility accepted.

Shane Jackson, Vice-President, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia | Twitter, 10 October 2018

World’s ageing population

According to the 2017 UN Population Report the ‘global population, aged 60 years or over, numbered 962 million in 2017, more than twice as large as in 1980’. This will likely double by 2050, to almost 2.1 billion. In recent decades, older people in 67 countries have already become more likely to live independently, from around 24% in 1990 to 37% in 2010. In 2017, one-in-seven Australians were aged 65 years and over. In Australia and New Zealand, combined growth is predicted to be +92.6% between 2019 and 2050. This is significantly higher than North America at +56.7% and Europe at +35.1%. Are Australian pharmacies ready to respond to this trend?

Poor medication compliance

A Mayo Clinic study showed around 50% of patients being treated for chronic illnesses don’t take their medicines as prescribed. Monash University’s Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department says adherence to medicines for chronic conditions stands on average at 50%. A 2018 survey by the Australian Patients Association further revealed that ‘half of respondents admitted to not completing their prescription as directed by their health professional …’

Another Australian study found 83% of those taking multiple medications for chronic conditions said they used habitual cues to remember to take their meds. Relying on this method alone puts a significant number of people at unnecessary risk of medical misadventure.
The reasons for medication misadventure hospital admissions vary. Elderly patients find it too difficult to adhere to overly complex medication regimes and some have poor health literacy. General literacy in multicultural Australia among the elderly is often inadequate while bad communication by healthcare professionals is another contributory factor.

Community pharmacy ideally placed

Luke van der Rijt is a co-owner of the 2018 Guild Pharmacy of the Year in Southcity, Wagga Wagga. Luke advocates Dose Administration Aids (DAAs) as one tool to reduce medication misadventures and improve medication adherence. He also said, ‘another thing that’s helping to increase compliance is technology.’

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia CP2025 vision to transform community pharmacies into community health hubs is driven by growth pathways that make for a ‘…commercially resilient framework build(ing) upon… technological advancement…’

NZ automation study reveals growth pathway

Dr Natalie Gauld says 2018 automation tests conducted in NZ pharmacies showed the average growth in pack numbers was 37%. Pharmacies packing 200 packs per week saved over $30,000 per annum. An average of 5.04 minutes per pack was saved. Most owners, pharmacists and technicians agreed using the Alpaca robotic automation made the DAA medication management process faster, easier, more accurate and efficient.

Grow your DAA professional services

myPak Solutions is a leading Australian end-to-end DAA solution for medication management. Its innovative range of software, consumables and automation products provides community pharmacy the tools it needs for the Guild’s CP2025’s key growth pathways of medication management, digital enablement, operational efficiencies and automation.

myPak software integrates with all dispense systems. Unlike competitors, it is the only DAA supplier currently using the highest quality and always current drug images from GuildLink’s Secure Data Warehouse. Alpaca Automation is powered by the world’s leading robotic technology from Japan. myPak Solutions drives operational efficiencies through digital enablement and automation with a range of QCPP and 6CPA compliant range of consumable packs.

Learn more

Learn how myPak Solutions Software, Consumables and Automation helps grow your DAA professional services.

Website: mypaksolutions.com.au
Phone: 1800 842 649 (Mon to Fri, 9 am – 5.30 pm E.S.T.)
APP March 2019: Visit Stand 36/37 by TRADE ENTRY 2. Watch our Alpaca Automation Demonstration.

First Published in ITK Magazine Feb / Mar Edition 2019