Recent
surveys and focus groups conducted with pharmacy assistants
and dispensary technicians identified that these staff members were
looking for recognition of the specific roles that they fulfill.
Many employers do not acknowledge that these pharmacy assistants
are interested in receiving unbiased professional information and
advice.
They are interested in a wide range of issues including those that
are affecting pharmacy practice in Australia e.g. New Clicks, Woolworth's,
rescheduling of ibuprofen.
I have spoken to many pharmacists who do not see value in allowing
these staff members to attend some of the PSA education evenings
or courses.
For specific topics I encourage the pharmacy assistants to attend
satellite telecast and education events even if the topic is a little
beyond them in technical nature.
If the topic is of interest to them then this can only enhance their
desire fro life long learning opportunities and make them feel more
competent in performing their role of a pharmacy assistant.
This is very important to many of them as they are not general retail
assistants -they have enhanced professional knowledge e.g. treatment
of cough and colds, wound care- and they wish to have the fact that
they acquired these extra skills recognized by their employers.
In
recognition of the outcomes from these surveys and focus groups
PSA National, in conjunction with several of the state branches,
has recently decided to extend an offer of affiliate membership
to those staff members who have a qualification that allows them
to work in the dispensary sections of the pharmacy.
This membership offer is designed to provide education and support
for the dispensary technician as well as providing recognition
of the important role that these pharmacy assistants provide in
their workplace.
The
affiliate membership offer includes a quarterly newsletter designed
for dispensary technicians that will be mailed personally to the
technician.
The newsletter will serve multiple functions.
It will provide information and advice relating to areas of interest
to dispensary technicians.
The newsletter will also contain education modules for the dispensary
technician to complete and return to PSA national for marking.
Continuing education (CE) points will be granted for successful
completion of these modules and when a minimum number of these
points are earned an annual certificate will be issued to the
dispensary technician.
The
dispensary technicians will be able to access some member benefits
from PSA national including special prices on books from the bookshop,
access to the PSA-American Express Gold Credit\card and the AMP
Affinity Banking Package.
A PSA membership badge will be sent to each affiliate member to
recognize the contribution that they have given as a dispensary
technician.
Individual states will also extend offers to the affiliate members
and these offers will vary between the states.
I hope that pharmacy owners/managers may see affiliate membership
of PSA for the dispensary technicians as a reward tool to an employee
who has given dedicated and professional service that enables
the pharmacist to have an easier workload.
Any dispensary technician or pharmacy owner/manager who is interested
in obtaining information on this membership offer can contact
PSA on 02 6283 4777 or email dispensary@psa.org.au.
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