Uncategorized – Pharmacy Alliance

Posted on July 21, 2022July 21, 2022

Feature Pharmacy: Childers Community Pharmacy

Every month we will be featuring a pharmacy in our Alliance Link. This month we want to highlight Fiona, Pharmacist at Childers Community Pharmacy.

How long have you been a pharmacist?

I registered as a pharmacist at the end of 2000, which means almost 22 years. My career has mostly been in Hospital and Oncology, with only 2 years in community pharmacy as an Australian registered pharmacist. I spent a few years as a community pharmacist in South Africa before emigrating to Australia in 2004.

What made you want to pursue a career in pharmacy?

The honest answer is that I didn’t know what I’d like to study. My father pointed out that pharmacy would be a great choice for me as I always loved taking care of family members’ ailments and my love for chemistry at school. So much so that I completed my initial First Aid qualification using an oral exam as a 5-year-old!

How long have you been working at the Childers Community Pharmacy?

I will celebrate my one-year anniversary with the team in July.

What has been your proudest moment to date while working at Childers Community Pharmacy?

I have to say that it was the day we reached our 1000th Covid-19 vaccination a few months ago. An achievement for a single pharmacist site that can only be reached with an awesome team behind you!

How are you preparing your pharmacy & pharmacy team for the Cold & Cough season?

Ensure that the team’s knowledge with regards to OTC and pharmacist’s own cold and cough treatments are up to date. Recommending front-of-shop merchandising ie complementary and supportive care that can be recommended during the cold and cough season. And most importantly, ensuring the team all have the opportunity to have their Flu vaccinations.

What do you see some of the benefits are of being a part of Pharmacy Alliance?

The accessibility to a network of knowledge has been fantastic. In the Wide Bay Area, we have also been fortunate to help each other out during Covid staff shortages. Lastly, having a PBM to support business functions is a major benefit.

What is your biggest customer service tip?

Always be willing to go the extra mile, stay patient, and put on your smile. Yes, smile even with a mask on, your eyes will show it!

What do you think your point of difference is as a pharmacy in the Childers community?

We are in a prime position located next to the Woolworths in Childers. All our employees are locals with some of them having been there since the pharmacy opened. Customers love to be greeted by name plus we offer free deliveries.

Reflecting over the last 2 years of COVID-19 challenges – what has been the biggest opportunity?

The ability of pharmacies to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations, and more recent supervised RATs, especially in regional areas where customers can either not travel to the next town or have to wait 2-3 weeks to see the doctor.

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Posted on July 14, 2022

Feature Pharmacy: Hilary’s Community Pharmacy

Every month we will be featuring a pharmacy in our Alliance Link. This month we want to highlight Fiona, Pharmacist at Childers Community Pharmacy.

How long have you been a pharmacist?

What made you want to pursue a career in pharmacy?

How long have you been working at the Childers Community Pharmacy?

I will celebrate my one-year anniversary with the team in July.

What has been your proudest moment to date while working at Childers Community Pharmacy?

I have to say that it was the day we reached our 1000th Covid-19 vaccination a few months ago. An achievement for a single pharmacist site that can only be reached with an awesome team behind you!

How are you preparing your pharmacy & pharmacy team for the Cold & Cough season?

What do you see some of the benefits are of being a part of Pharmacy Alliance?

What is your biggest customer service tip?

Always be willing to go the extra mile, stay patient, and put on your smile. Yes, smile even with a mask on, your eyes will show it!

What do you think your point of difference is as a pharmacy in the Childers community?

Reflecting over the last 2 years of COVID-19 challenges – what has been the biggest opportunity?

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Posted on July 13, 2022July 13, 2022

8-week advice program to help people live better with diabetes

In line with Diabetes Awareness week (10-16 July), We’re delighted to have launched the Alliance Pharmacy Healthcare Heroes Live Well with Diabetes program.

With 65 thousand Australians diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year, a 5% increase from the previous year, This program will help support independent pharmacies to grow as it is designed to provide customers with advice on how to manage through consultation with their pharmacist.

Diabetes in Australia is one of the most serious and costly health conditions with over 1.4 million Australians suffering from diabetes, and of that 1.2 million are suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Nimfa Martinez, Chief Marketing Officer at Pharmacy Alliance says “off the back of the increasing numbers of diabetes in Australia it’s our role as community pharmacies to support and provide healthcare to create healthier communities. That’s why over the month of July & August we will be running an 8-week program to support anyone living with Diabetes.”

In partnership with Arrotex, AFT Pharmaceuticals, and GlucoseZone, a lifestyle and fitness app, Pharmacy Alliance have launched Alliance Pharmacy Healthcare Heroes Live Well with Diabetes to support those suffering from Diabetes. A key component of the program is the free Diabetes advice booklet, available at participating Healthcare Hero pharmacies, which includes everything customers need to live better, including advice on blood glucose monitoring, tips on managing diabetes, eating & lifestyle plans and healthy recipes as well as recommended products to support Diabetes.

Fady Beshay, Lakes Esplanade Pharmacy Owner/Working Partner, and one of the participating Alliance Pharmacy Healthcare Heroes is thrilled to be able to provide these services to his local community.

“Patients are invited to set health goals with the pharmacist based on weight management and blood glucose control and patients will receive a free booklet and three consultations across the 8-week period with the pharmacist to discuss the progress of their goals.”

“The initial consultation includes base measurements of waist circumference and current blood glucose level test. Patients will receive the lifestyle booklet and free access coupon to the Glucosezone app to have their very own personal trainer, and diet support from their mobile phone. And the best part is that we offer this service for free.”

“It’s very rewarding when you get to provide a free health service to your patients that really can make a big difference in their wellbeing and lifestyle to help create healthier communities. Being a health destination pharmacy has helped our pharmacy build customers for life”.

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Posted on July 5, 2022July 8, 2022

NAIDOC WEEK

This years theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!

At Pharmacy Alliance, we want to amplify the voices of our aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people during NAIDOC week and beyond it.

NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. At Pharmacy Alliance, we’re proud to work with a diverse network of members that break stereotypes and barriers each day.

This NAIDOC Week- Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up and fight for awareness, acceptance, and change!

Pharmacy Alliance members share their own experiences as First Nations people.

“I am very proud to be a Wiradjuri woman, and I am very proud of my success in being a pharmacist, my older relations have spoken about the past and how things are different now, I was brought up with very little in life, but always had my family around me. I live on the local Nanima Village out of town, which is one of the oldest missionary settlements in Australia. As I was isolated from town I didn’t see much problems that others faced, even just 20 years ago, but I am happy that the change continues for First Nations people. The Wellington community celebrated my determination to better myself to become a pharmacist. ”

Pharmacist, Sofoni West from Keirle’s Pharmacy in Wellington NSW

“I am very proud of my heritage, my mob is Wiradjuri which is local to the Wellington area and is recognized as one of the largest mobs in Australia my grandmothers have filled me with many stories of their time and treatment that they suffered but are happy that things have changed for me, Wellington NSW celebrates NAIDOC WEEK, given our large indigenous population. I am very happy with the recognition that first peoples now have, and it was fantastic to hear that the Aboriginal flag is flying on the Harbour Bridge.”

Pharmacy Assistant, Alyssa Smith from Wellington Pharmacy

“I am happy that I can recognize opportunities as a first nation person by blood, that my forebears did not. My grandparents and their grandparents, struggled with their identity due to the cultural chasm they experienced. i am happy that there is now far more recognition and acceptance of my culture and heritage, i am feel a great sense of honour to represent my mob being the Dharug clan.”

Pharmacy Manager, Olivia Lavender from Goodlife Pharmacy South Windsor NSW

“My Nan is an Aboriginal Elder and her name is Violet Lousick and she has shared many experiences with me, but I need to learn more about my heritage. A relative of Nan’s was unfortunately one of the Stolen Generation, due to her lighter skin colour, she was targeted, which still haunts her today. Nan is so happy that I received an education, that she could not, or even think about back then. My dad and Uncle had to leave school early to work to support their family, and I am so glad of the education opportunities that I can take up. My two kids are 18 and 15, and my son is very proud to play footy wearing the Wiradjuri jersey, representing his heritage, and he is even prouder to play for NSW Indigenous basketball. Recognition is better today, but still has a way to go, Nan says! I cannot forget my daughter who has trained in aboriginal dance and studies at school to further her knowledge of her family ties.”

Dispensary Assistant, Kristy Conn from Wellington Pharmacy

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Posted on May 2, 2022May 18, 2022

Mothers In Pharmacy

This Mother’s Day we wanted to celebrate all the hard-working mothers in Pharmacy and around Australia. Catherine Chiu from Hoopers Centre Pharmacy in Toowoomba sat down with us for an interview to discuss the challenges and joys of being a mother while owning and running a Pharmacy.

Tell us a little bit more about Mia.

Mia is 17 months old and a very sweet girl.

When did you return to work after having Mia?

When Mia was 3.5 months old

Does Mia enjoy working in the pharmacy? (tell us about her baby boss badge)

She loves working in the pharmacy for sure. All the customers would come up and greet her, she would wave and give them smiles. She ‘helps’ out with our everyday work- pushing baskets, ‘tidying’ the shelves, ‘sorting’ script baskets and working on dispensing ‘stickers’.

What’s the biggest challenge when juggling mum duties and your career?

I think it’s finding time to do everything- being able to work, spend time with Mia and manage the business. I’ve reduced my working days from 6 days a week to 3 days a week and now 4 days a week so I can spend more time with Mia outside of work. As a result of that, I’ve also worked from home on many occasions for bookwork and stock management etc. I am grateful to have a good team of staff to support me, especially in the early days when there were constant breastfeeding and nappy change.

What advice can you give to other working mums?

Believe in yourself, you can do it, you are doing a great job. Enjoy every moment. I often have mum guilt because I didn’t do things like some of my other friends do with their children but I guess the most important thing I often remind myself is that it’s our first time being mum and baby so it’s a forever learning curve for us- there’s no right or wrong. Welcome, all support around you. I am blessed with a wonderful team of staff and a supporting family. My dad also comes in and helps me babysit regularly. Customers often tell me what grandpa and Mia are up to playing outside of the pharmacy.

What is one thing your mum taught you that you will never forget?

I grew up in my parents’ pharmacy like the way Mia did and hence the influence on me today? My mother was a very hard-working woman and dedicated herself to the family. Her love for us children had been selfless and something we always remember.

Any other comments?

One team member mentioned to me one day how she noticed the customers all behave differently when Mia is around even the elderly men that are usually serious. I am glad Mia has the ability to bring happiness to more people and bring out the ‘child’ side for many adults.

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Posted on March 31, 2022April 11, 2022

The all new ‘The Platform Alliance Group’ creates a buzz APP2022!

There was a great buzz at The Platform Alliance Group (PAG) stand at APP2022 as our Pharmacy Alliance and Pharmacy Platform teams came together to showcase their knowledge and expertise to the industry, members, and clients. We brought together our consumer facing brands Advantage Pharmacy, Alliance Pharmacy, Chemist Discount Centre and our service brands Pharmacy Catalyst, Pharmacy Alliance, BuyITRight, KnowITAll and we delivered mini-sessions at our stand to educate everyone who wanted to learn more.

Our amazing pharmacists and industry partners have been in forefront of healthcare during COVID-19 and it was a great environment to reconnect and share stories at the APP2022 exhibition and at functions, as well as listen to some great insights during sessions.

Krysti-Lee Rigby, our Pharmacy Programs and Services Manager at Pharmacy Platform delivered a great workshop on change management and health services. We now operate in a fast-changing world, so this workshop covered some crucial skills and pointers for pharmacy owners and managers.

This year our Pharmacy Catalyst member Cooleman Court Pharmacy took the honours of Pharmacy of The Year and Excellence in Professional Innovation Award, well deserved recognition for Brooke, Brad and the team. We were also very proud to have had two finalists in the prestigious Pharmacy of the Year 2022, Karen Carter Chemist, and Cooleman Court Pharmacy.

At the PAG sponsored APP2022 panel session facilitated by Dave Fenlon PAG CEO ‘The Future of Community Pharmacy in a post COVID world’ it was unanimously acknowledged that community pharmacy has adapted, built some valuable goodwill with their communities and has shown that we are crucial to the future of health for all Australians.

APP2022 was a significant milestone for The Platform Alliance Group, and we look to sharing more of how we will continue to shape the future pharmacy and help our members, clients and partners create healthier communities.

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Posted on March 7, 2022March 31, 2022

Pharmacy Alliance and Pharmacy Platform join forces to create a stronger future for growth for independent pharmacies

Pharmacy Alliance and Pharmacy Platform announce their merger to form The Platform Alliance Group (PAG)

This merger of two the leading independent pharmacy groups, outside of wholesale owned independent groups, brings together close to 1200 members dispensing over 1 million scripts per week and employing over 10,000 people who deliver the highest standard of pharmacy care in their local communities making this new entity the strongest independent pharmacy group and the largest independent pharmacy service provider in Australia.

The merger brings together two independent groups with heritage and a proven track record of supporting the health of Australians across Australia. The purpose of PAG will be to continue to support independent pharmacies to grow.

Steve Kastrinakis, PAG founder and pharmacist, said on behalf of the PAG board ‘1 in 5 pharmacies in Australia are now serviced by PAG and as a group we have a turnover of $2 billion in total sales – it’s clear to me, we are stronger together. Our purpose is simple, we want a strong future for independent pharmacy across Australia.’

Through the combined brands – Alliance Pharmacy, Advantage Pharmacy, Chemist Discount Centre, non-branded independent pharmacies and services provided via other parties PAG supports over 2500 pharmacies across Australia.’

Using the years of experience of founder pharmacists, Michael Flannery, Steve Kastrinakis and Simon Reynolds along with Dennis Bastas, entrepreneur and advocate for independent pharmacy and newly appointed CEO Dave Fenlon; and the combination of people skills and scale, the strategic priority will continue to be on consumer and patient experience and engagement in every member pharmacy.

The pharmacy industry is rapidly changing. Many of these changes are being accelerated by COVID-19 making it an attractive investment opportunity for large corporations outside the industry. Both Pharmacy Alliance and Pharmacy Platform have taken this step to protect the interests of individual independent pharmacy partners and to improve and integrate support solutions that grow their pharmacies.

Both Pharmacy Alliance and Pharmacy Platform have been supporting community pharmacies for over 20 years. Both organisations recognise that independent pharmacy owners want localised support to suit their communities as well as personal support to help them achieve their goals.

Throughout COVID-19, Pharmacy Alliance and Pharmacy Platform has provided support to independent pharmacies who have experienced significant pressure with the added responsibility of administering COVID-19 vaccinations and experiencing staff shortages due to a lack of pharmacists available as well as staff needing to isolate. These pressures will continue for some time.

In the longer term PAG will enhance and integrate their combined comprehensive suite of services, programs and pharmacy brands to allow independent pharmacists to be more agile and adapt to their community’s health needs in more quickly. PAG will provide independent pharmacies with:

- industry leading buying solutions
- best practice data, loyalty and reporting platforms
- effective consumer engagement strategies to differentiate them from their competitors
- unique coaching and implementation support for in-pharmacy professional programs and services

Dennis Bastas, pharmaceutical entrepreneur and PAG board member said: ‘PAG now has a powerhouse of expertise from both organisations in pharmacy operations, merchandise/category management, marketing, technology, logistics and distribution and human resource management to provide unparalleled support to independent pharmacy owners.’

Dave Fenlon, newly appointed CEO of PAG said: ‘The team that looks after the pharmacies today will look after them into the future. As such pharmacy members will continue their current membership with either Pharmacy Alliance or Pharmacy Platform and will continue to have a direct relationship with the respective operations teams or support offices as they do today.’

PAG is a people-led business and is committed to growing both member and supplier partner businesses. As a combined entity PAG sees a stronger future together with three primary goals of growing their people; growing member profitability and impact positively on the industry.

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Posted on March 7, 2022March 8, 2022

CELEBRATING STRONG INDEPENDENT FEMALE PHARMACISTS

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreakTheBias. Where we can imagine a gender equal world.

A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Together we can forge women’s equality and collectively #BreakTheBias.

These larger-than-life ideals rely upon individuals challenging the status quo. Starting with one person having one thought or doing one action, can evoke a long lasting change.

We can break the bias in our communities.

We can break the bias in our workplaces.

We can break the bias in our schools, colleges and universities.

Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field.

Are you in? Will you actively call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time you see it?

We interviewed two of our female pharmacists to highlight individuals in pharmacy that #BreakTheBias.

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Posted on February 17, 2022

Celebrating 20 Years of Strength & Independence

This year we are celebrating a milestone at Pharmacy Alliance – it’s our 20-year anniversary.

We’ve worked hard over the last 20 years to fight for independent pharmacy – we’ve established big partnerships to leverage the collective buying power for each individual member pharmacy, we asked you to band together a few years ago so that wholesalers wouldn’t diminish our buying power, we navigated price disclosure and more recently we’ve taken on a pandemic together.

How Pharmacy Alliance started

Like some of you who are second generation pharmacists, I grew up in my dad’s pharmacy in Albany and from the age of eight, my job was to take out the rubbish and help during school holidays. After graduating, my dad purchased a second pharmacy in Perth which I later ran. Dad and I then purchased another two country community pharmacies. Soon after, dad wanted to take a step back and I realised quickly that I needed help to run four stores. I found there wasn’t a specific support business that could do what I needed at the time. From this Pharmacy Alliance began in 2002.

Looking to the future

Today, we are now in the third year of the pandemic, and we are experiencing the pressures of taking on vaccinations and the lack of pharmacists and staff. But today we stand together and are even stronger because our communities are coming to our pharmacies for their health needs rather than other pharmacies. I am excited for the future and am committed to continuing to fight for locally owned and operated pharmacy owners who know their local community better than anyone. I have never been more confident that we are better together as a group of independents, rather than trying to go at it alone.

Finally, thank you. I am grateful and humbled for you being a member of Pharmacy Alliance and allowing us to add value to your pharmacy.

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Posted on January 25, 2022January 26, 2022

Happy Australia Day 2022

OUR PHARMACISTS ARE PART OF AUSTRALIA’S STORY

Australia Day is about reflecting on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and to acknowledge our history. This year Australia Day focuses on the Story of Australia – the story of an extraordinary nation and its people.

We want to thank our pharmacists for all they have done for their communities throughout the pandemic. With the year starting Omicron variant spreading it hasn’t been the start that Australians have been hoping for, but our pharmacists and pharmacy assistants will be there for their communities through the ups and the downs of 2022.

We’ve asked two of our pharmacists to tell their reflections on the last year and what they are looking forward to in 2022.

“My pharmacy is in Old Bar a beautiful town with a population of roughly 5000 people in a tight-knit community. When we had bushfires and floods, all of the people come together. That’s the Australian spirit – mateship.“

Akash Mehta

Pharmacist In Charge

Old Bar Pharmacy

Old Bar, New South Wales

“2021 was a pretty dramatic year for us. Like everyone else, we have dealt with the threat of lockdowns, stock shortages, and panic buying. I’m really proud of our team and how we have managed to hold it all together.”

Campbell Gradon

Pharmacist In Charge

Alliance Pharmacy

Baragara, Queensland

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