REFLECTIONS OF A PHARMACIST, ACADEMIC AND RESEARCHER IN A PIVOTAL YEAR OF CHANGE FOR THE PHARMACY PROFESSION
Dr Kate Wang, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, RMIT University &
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Western Australia
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE
Filmed in Melbourne, Victoria | December 2024
Dr. Kate Wang, a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy at RMIT University and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Western Australia, has over a decade of experience in both hospital and community pharmacy settings.
Dr Wang spoke to Australian Health Journal on some of the key topics in 2024 that have been pivotal as a pharmacist, academic and researcher for the pharmacy profession.
With Australia’s ageing population projected to reach 21-23% of those over 65 by 2060, the need for effective medication management is crucial. Older adults often face multiple chronic conditions and take multiple medications, making pharmacists essential as medication experts.
Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals in Australia, allowing for regular patient interactions. This consistent contact enables them to provide ongoing monitoring and health management, highlighting the importance of expanding their scope of practice. Dr. Wang emphasises the trialing of structured prescribing for conditions like uncomplicated urinary tract infections and oral contraceptives, where timely access is vital.
Attending the PSA24 conference hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in Sydney, she noted the collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals to address changes in scope of practice. The process requires thorough review and piloting, with a commitment to patient centred care. As the field evolves, pharmacists must adapt to new treatments and emerging health challenges, continuously striving to make a positive impact on individuals and the broader community.
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Lens on patient care & allied health workforce across settings
The CEO of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), Bronwyn Morris-Donovan spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
The structure and priorities for AHPA
The setting and disciplines in Allied Health
Allied Health representation in the Strengthening Medicare Task Force
Importance of a data strategy and interoperability in delivery of allied health services
Key allied health priorities hopefully addressed in Federal Budget.In the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Bridging the orthodontic knowledge gap
In recent years, the orthodontic sector has been growing rapidly due to success in B2C marketing and companies like Invisalign reaching the consumer, but there has also been a lack of knowledge sharing among general dental practitioners and specialists.
General dentists require mentorship and guidance from orthodontists to feel confident in providing orthodontic treatment to their patients, ultimately improving the quality of care in the community.
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HIGHLIGHTS The power of social determinants of health, panel discussion
Clinicians and consumers know only too well that life circumstances such as poor housing, income and food insecurity can have a negative impact on health outcomes. Conversely, participation in community activities, social connection and access to nature parks and leisure facilities can help maintain health and wellbeing.
More recent phenomena in public health have also focused us on the health and social care connection. Stress factors such as the sudden loss of employment and social interaction, moving to remote work or schooling, and the impacts of sudden, localised COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ to prevent further outbreaks were triggers of increased psychological distress.
And loneliness is being described as our latest epidemic with chronic loneliness inked to a myriad of health problems and earlier death. A recent report found one in four Australians say they feel persistently lonely, and that loneliness costs $2.7 bn a year in health costs alone.
