Jim Danahy’s Post

I remember one day while I was practicing pharmacy a patient I knew by name and sight came in, handed over a prescription for diabetes and started to sob. I asked her why she was upset and she said she had just been diagnosed with diabetes and was "so scared". She worried about what kind of life she would have now. We talked and when we were done, she felt relieved that with the medication and small changes in her food choices and some added physical activity she could effectively manage her illness and live a very normal and active life. As health care professionals what a privilege it is that patients let us into their private worlds. What a wonderful example of human connection when we are able to be fully present and authentically respond to our patients. Yes, it helps our patients, but it is an equally important reminder to us that we are connected and those connections have emotional and psychological value to our patients AND us. Of course, those genuine connections have a tremendous impact on treatment adherence and health outcomes for our patients. The relationship is still the best predictor of therapeutic success. AND, how sad that so many health care professionals (HCPs) work in environments in which staffing levels are so low that HCPs don't have time to interact with patients in meaningful ways. Not only does this increase the possibility of errors being made, it is impossible to uncover potential adherence problems if we don't spend time with our patients. And, it harms all of us emotionally who took an oath to put our patients first. My plea is to the decision-makers out there who make staffing decisions. Appropriate patient care is not in conflict with profitability. It improves adherence and outcomes. I had the privilege of keynoting and attending Pharmacy U Toronto last week. What a great meeting. Jim Danahy headed up a session on Pharmacist-at-Intake. Two owners (Christopher Juozaitis and Carlene Oleksyn) who had reconfigured and transformed their pharmacies to have the pharmacist be the first encounter for the patient presented the impact on adherence, outcomes and profitability. As a result of this approach, which allows pharmacists to talk with patients about their new prescriptions and expectations, any issues with refills, etc., adherence, outcomes and profitability improved dramatically. All of the pharmacy chains have the resources and technology to change practice dramatically like the above pharmacists have done. Why not do a pilot study and "risk" a new practice model in which pharmacists, patients and profits win? Why not lead the change that allows pharmacists to practice at the top of their license and allows them to really help patients?

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Recent research by the BJGP shows that using ARRS staff 'was significantly associated with lower prescription rates ⬇️ and higher patient satisfaction.' ⬆️ Are you looking for ways to enhance your Practice capacity and improve patient outcomes? Medacy's clinical pharmacy services can help. Our experienced pharmacists and pharmacy technicians integrate seamlessly with your existing team, providing expert support in medication management, long-term condition management, and patient education. Read the report 👇 https://lnkd.in/eu2aXzhd

Spotlight on Improvement – December Quality Activity: Opal Admission Discharge Medication Module Expansion Project (RiskMan Q #: 14618) Activity Leads: Jack Pilven (GRHA/BossNet Project Manager), Darlene Smith (Lead Pharmacist Medication Safety) & Nick Holland (Pharmacist Horsham) The OPAL Digital Medical Record (DMR) is utilised across all health services within Grampians Rural Health Alliance. The Opal Admission Discharge Medication Module expansion project commenced in August this year and focused on enhancing the Admission and Discharge medication workflows where a health service has onsite pharmacy services. Health services who met the criteria for this expansion project were Grampians Health Horsham and Grampians Health Stawell. The aim of this project is to implement Admission and Discharge medication functionality including replacing paper-based prescriptions for inpatient services. Implementation of this functionality has multiple benefits such as improving efficiency by capturing patient medications on admission and facilitating early preparation of discharge prescriptions along with consistent and centrally controlled prescribing options. Importantly this will also reduce risk of prescription duplication, dispensing errors, improve legibility, alert prescribers to restricted and high alert drugs and automatically populate Discharge Medications in the eDischarge Summary. The project team began by selecting the Wyuna Ward at our Horsham campus as the initial pilot site. A steering committee was formed in Horsham, and the project trial started in October. Positive feedback from the steering committee and pharmacy stakeholders led to an evaluation of the expected outcomes. The pilot was deemed successful, and plans are now in place to extend the rollout across the Horsham campus, followed by Stawell in 2025. 📸 Philip Sabien (Improvement and Innovation Advisor) with Nina Roberts (Clinical Nurse Consultant Wyuna), David Di Federico (Clinical Pharmacist) and Nick Holland (Clinical Pharmacist).

A smaller proportion of health-system pharmacists can independently prescribe a medication pursuant to a diagnosis than they did from 2020 to 2023, according to provisional survey data presented at the ASHP Midyear2024 Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, in New Orleans. The percentage of hospital #pharmacists with such prescribing authority ranged from 21% to 31% in previous years, and stands at 17.5% in 2024. I bet it’s higher for non-health systems pharmacists.

🌟 Driving Quality Improvement in Healthcare 🌟 We’re thrilled to see Altera Opal driving meaningful improvements at Grampians Health through their Admission Discharge Medication Module Expansion Project! With a focus on enhancing workflows for admission and discharge medications, this initiative is replacing paper-based processes, improving efficiency, reducing errors, and ensuring a seamless experience for patients and providers alike. Special congratulations to the project team, including Jack Pilven, Darlene Smith, and Nick Holland, for their dedication and successful pilot at Wyuna Ward, Horsham. The positive outcomes pave the way for a broader rollout across the Horsham campus and Stawell in 2025. It’s inspiring to see healthcare teams leveraging healthcare IT solutions to improve patient safety and care quality. We’re proud to support Grampians Health in their mission to deliver outstanding care. #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #PatientSafety

🌟New Year New Conversations-Pharmacists: The Quiet Leaders of Healthcare. It’s Time We Said Their Name.🌟 I want to commend the authors Chris Hannay and Alanna Smith of this article for shedding light on the vital role Alberta pharmacists play in bridging gaps in primary care. Their insights highlight the progress made and the challenges we continue to face. Pharmacists are prescribing, renewing & adapting prescriptions, point of care testing, free lab requisitions, free OTC consultations, managing chronic conditions, vaccinating and much more—yet professional recognition often lags behind these contributions. In a time when many professions adapted to working remotely, pharmacists remained accessible in person, ensuring patients had the care they needed throughout the pandemic. Here’s a solution: Let’s include pharmacists in the conversation. Imagine hearing this in speeches: 📣 “Our nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and allied health teams are transforming healthcare in our communities.” This small but powerful acknowledgment can spark meaningful change—recognition, fair compensation, and stronger collaboration across all healthcare roles. We often talk about the gaps in healthcare. Let’s start focusing on actionable solutions. How else can we elevate pharmacists and the healthcare teams driving innovation on the frontlines? #PharmacistRecognition #PrimaryCareSolutions #PharmacyForward #InnovationInHealthCare #InclusiveCare #Collaboration #RecognitionMatters The Globe and Mail - Company Alberta Pharmacists' Association Shoppers Drug Mart Loblaw Companies Limited Government of Alberta United Conservative Party of Alberta Alberta NDP Alberta Liberal Party Canadian Pharmacists Association

Rising Demand for Pharmacist Care: Are You Ready for It? The role of pharmacists has always been essential, but the demand for pharmacist care and services is set to continue rising. Why? Our population is aging. New therapies are emerging rapidly. Treatment guidelines are evolving constantly. Enrollment in pharmacy schools has decreased in recent years. Some argue that we don’t have a shortage of pharmacists in the workforce. That may be true. But regardless of workforce size, the need for identifying and resolving drug-related problems hasn’t gone away. If the workforce is right-sized, perhaps it isn’t right-skilled? For years, pharmacists have acted as the cost police, helping patients find less expensive solutions for their conditions. With healthcare costs continuing to soar, this role is more crucial than ever. The Forecast is Clear Pharmacists will face increasing demands in the years ahead. How you respond to this reality is a choice. You may see this as an exciting opportunity or a daunting challenge. Regardless of your perspective, one thing is certain: we need to be ready. The Skill We Need Most: Leadership To serve every patient effectively—not just those with specific conditions—we must develop skills that extend beyond clinical expertise. And the skill that will help us most is leadership. In my view, a pharmacist’s role is: “Monitoring medication safety and efficacy throughout the drug delivery system.” And a leader is: “Anyone who helps someone at some time get somewhere or do something.” Put together, this means pharmacists who lead are those who: Empower patients to achieve better outcomes. Guide teams to deliver safer, more effective care. Adapt to increasing demands with confidence and clarity. I was visiting a pharmacy in South Carolina to discuss statin adherence. During the conversation, the pharmacist admitted to me, “I have no idea what to say to these patients.” While this could be seen as a gap in clinical knowledge, what struck me was that this pharmacist lacked the know-how and skill to lead patients toward adherence. This wasn’t just a clinical issue; it was a leadership issue. Knowing what to say, how to guide, and how to empower patients are all leadership skills. And they are essential in meeting the increasing demands we face. Opportunity or Burden? How do you see this rising demand—as a burden or an opportunity? Remember this wisdom from John Wooden: “When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” The future will ask more of us. Let’s be the leaders who rise to meet it. What skills are you developing to ensure you’re ready? #ForPharmacists #PharmacyLeadership #LeadWell #EveryoneDeservesToBeLedWell #KeepPharmacistsImproving #LeadershipInPharmacy #LeadershipMatters #PharmacistsSupportingPharmacists

The study found that the use of ARRS staff – which includes pharmacists – was ‘significantly associated’ with lower prescription rates and higher patient satisfaction.

National Pharmacy Week highlights the vital role pharmacists play in patient care and health care improvement, as well as the diverse paths within the profession. MUSC and MUSC Health pharmacists share their insights. Learn more by visiting the link below. #ChangingWhatsPossible #NationalPharmacyWeek