District recognises the role of pharmacists and promotes the safe use of medicines.
 

Hannah Turton is an informatics specialist pharmacist at RPA, a relatively new role in hospital pharmacy. 

She plays a key part in supporting clinicians to use technology and promoting medication safety across the hospital. 

“Electronic medication management has become a critical part of clinical work because we’re now using electronic systems to prescribe, dispense, administer, record and review patient medications,” she said. 

“It's a very quickly evolving space as we're starting to adopt more and more technologies.” 

The Electronic Medical Record system (eMR) improves patient safety through better access to information and incorporates best-practice protocols and reporting.  

When new pharmacists start in the hospital, Hannah provides training on how to use the medication part of eMR to do their job on the ward and in Pharmacy. She also works continuously to improve the systems by collaborating with clinicians and Digital Health and Innovation, the District’s technology team.  

“I provide medication insights and raise issues and concerns so that we can work together to build medications safely into the system. This ensures they are safe and available for all clinicians who need to provide patients with medications.” 

The continuing system of improvement is particularly important because of higher risk medicines used in a hospital setting, such as opioids and anticoagulants. 

Learning sessions on higher risk medicines were available to all staff for Sydney Local Health District’s Medication Safety Week. 

Rosemary Burke, Director of Pharmacy, says the week highlights medication safety and quality use of medicines across the District.  

“In our District, we have a strong focus on quality improvement programs and education. The week is not only a great opportunity for our pharmacists to share their knowledge, but it is also part of the ongoing dedication to excellent patient-centred care,” she said. 

Events included information stalls at District hospitals and facilities, nursing and medical education series on specific medicines, such as respiratory puffers and high-risk diabetic drugs, and insights into anticoagulation practices from overseas by Julianne Chong through her Churchill Fellowship.. 

A session was also run online about SafeScript NSW, the statewide system that provides prescribers and pharmacists with real-time information about a patient’s past use of opioids and benzodiazepines. 

The week also incorporated World Pharmacists Day on 25 September, recognising pharmacists across District hospitals who work tirelessly behind the scenes, supporting multidisciplinary teams and helping patients understand the medicines they are taking. 

“Pharmacists are here to support everyone in managing medications, for patient safety. We’re here when you need us,” Hannah said.