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A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to Edition #39 of the newsletter, the last for 2001.
We will be appearing again on February 1st, 2002 with a format upgraded to an e-magazine level, which will include a range of interactive tools, plus more "in depth" articles on the range of subjects you voted on in the recent Reader's Survey.
We are sharing details of the results with you in this edition.
The survey has formed the basis of our planning for 2002, and prior to the Reader Survey, we conducted a separate poll among the writers, to ensure that we had covered all bases.
Thus, the recess will not be a holiday, or a rest period, but one where we will be planning and building a publication, in tune with current and future pharmacy problems and aspirations.
I think the year 2001 has been a difficult year for most community pharmacists, and many are expressing frustrations and concerns about the future.
The writers connected to this newsletter have highlighted many of these problems over the year, but are looking forward to 2002 as a year for rebuilding the community structure of the profession.
Many of you have started models to provide a "point of difference" and have been expending long hours in an attempt to rise above the complexity generated by government legislated paperwork. This is an area of deep concern to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a whole, and Pharmacy political organisations must contribute, and make strenuous efforts on behalf of their members, to attempt an alleviation of this burden.

This edition is the largest yet published, with most of our writers making an effort to be with you for the last edition of the year.

Our first offering for this edition is the Reader's Survey and its findings.
To us it was very illuminating, and we are determined to rectify any "holes" in our publication. It is our vision to provide a "world's best" pharmacy e-publication that is both a useful reference, and is relevant to current pharmacy concerns.
You can let us know sometime over 2002 if we are coming up to the mark.

Rollo Manning basically reviews the year from his perspective, highlighting the chord that was recently struck when one pharmacist suggested "120 prescriptions dispensed and close the door!" in a posting on Auspharmlist. Other writers have also picked up on this theme.
Rollo's message: stop being "robotic" and get out and problem solve.

Ken Stafford has some concerns about the DMMR process and discusses some of the "hiccups" encountered to date. He also presents some solutions.

The editor has presented a pilosophical review of the newsletter, its aspirations and future plans and intersperses this with community pharmacy concerns, chief among these concerns being stress levels induced by an unsustainable workload.

Jon Aldous discusses various software that is available for pharmacists for drug information, and gives them a personal rating. With cost and utility being important factors before you commit to a purchase, a perusal of Jon's article would be a good insurance.

Health Communications Weekly, the bulletin produced for the GP desktop, has a focus on alcohol usage by patients, with data being collected anonymously through the Medical Director System. A follow up on allergic rhinitis statistics is also published, along with the top 20 prescribed medications for the week.
Consultant pharmacists may find some of this material of interest as they generate stronger alliances with GP's over their normal working day.

Roy Stevenson is back and with his special brand of humour, discusses some special locum problems with the S2/S3" Educators". He also makes a few workplace predictions for 2002 and remember, Roy is in a position to know, being one of the few professional manager locums committed to the long term.

Simon Rudderham is now a successfully completed his university studies and is working his pre-registration period.
He will be abdicating his "student issues" hat in 2002.
For this edition he picks up on how IT skills need to be included in the university curriculum, and that the B.Pharm degree should be recognised as a B. Div (Bachelor of Diversification Degree).
Just another name for upskilling and multiskilling perhaps?
Simon will be back next year with some illuminating and fresh thoughts on community pharmacy practice and has the advantage of youth and energy to sustain him. The future looks bright!

Terry Irvine is back and ponders a legal problem for pharmacists.
Are you performing illicit acts or illegal acts, and should these grey areas of law be tidied up in the various Pharmacy Acts.
Read and see what you think.

Patrick Gallagher is back with a summary of IT developments that are taking place, are in place, and what future shocks await us.
Patrick is very close to pharmacy IT needs and is working on a project that has great potential for community pharmacists. Anyone based between Sydney and the Queensland border can become part of a trial, if they wish to embrace the new economy ahead of competitors. Contact the editor if you would like further details.

Brett Clark, from ePharmacy, is back with a very useful contribution on how an e-commerce strategy can help a pharmacist provide a value-added information service that is appreciated by customers/patients. This is a "gem" for any of you people looking for justification to set up an interactive website.

Now for all those people who want to close the door after 120 prescriptions, or who are looking for a model of pharmacy to cope without shutting the doors, then please read Peter Sayers' article for this edition. In fact, Peter's series should be revisited and read sequentially to get the full benefit of his message.
Here is a blueprint for getting back into the professional side of pharmacy, and while it requires major change to existing structure and culture, the end product is well worth it. There is also an offer to help facilitate any pharmacist or group of pharmacists that would like to submit to the challenge of a new direction.

Heather Pym is back with her GP perspective on pharmacy, and points out that the paperwork experienced by pharmacists, can be matched paper-by-paper by GPs.
She points up the similarities and the positives as GPs and pharmacists reach out to each other for patient benefit.

Stephen Rogers has a postcard from his pharmacist daughter, presently working in the UK.
She points out the differences in the two systems and why she will be heading back to "Oz" just as soon as she can.

Finally, Roundup discusses the discomfort that can occur when a pharmacist becomes part of a rural/remote health team. The message: gain acceptance before you initiate any change and modify your ego downwards before you venture forth.

Thank you for allowing us to visit your desktop and we hope to keep you company again 2002.

May the true spirit of Christmas prevail as we reach the end of 2001, and I look forward to greeting you in 2002 with an upgraded format. Neil Johnston

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