University of Canberra Health Research Institute
11 Kirinari Street
Bruce ACT 2617
+61 (02) 6206 8312
uchri@canberra.edu.au
The Department of Health and Aged Care has announced a $345.7 million investment to improve medication management and safety for aged care residents through the provision of on-site pharmacists and community pharmacy services. This is in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
This new model of care integrates on-site pharmacists into residential aged care facilities as part of facilities care teams. On-site pharmacists work alongside facility sta铿� and conduct activities to improve medication management. In addition, on-site pharmacists work to enhance collaboration and communication with residential aged care residents and family members, sta铿�, GPs and other prescribers.
On-site pharmacists in residential aged care includes the following suite of projects.
Projects
Year project carried out
2024 to 2026
Project summary
Implementing and scaling up the on-site pharmacist model in residential aged care into regional, rural and remote RACFs through a co-design process that develops quality indicators for resident-focused and facility level outcomes. This will lead to a refinement of the model and identification of the facilitators and barriers that impact on implementation and sustainability of the model of care.
This project is funded by Medical Research Future Fund.
Project partners
Get involved
The OPTIMISER3 Australia team is recruiting pharmacists and residential aged care homes to take part in this project. Please contact the research team at racfstudy@canberra.edu.au or call us on (02) 6201 2930 if you or your facility are interested in becoming involved.
Research team
- Associate Professor Sam Kosari - Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, Pharmacy
- Professor Rachel Davey - Principal Investigator and Director, Health Research Institute
- Professor Mark Naunton - Principal Investigator and Professor, Pharmacy
- Dr Jane Koerner - Principal Investigator
- Dr Bella St Clair - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Mrs Lakeesha Sandamali - PhD Student
- Dr Jennifer Sonter - Research Manager
Project summary
Phase 1 of the study is a randomised controlled trial.
Phase 2 that generated robust evidence on the e铿�ect of having on-site pharmacists in residential aged care facilities on a range of quality use of medicines indicators. This phase of the study was completed in September 2022 and 铿乶dings were be released in Feb 2023.
Phase 2 of the study which evaluates the implementation materials will conclude in May 2023.
Project partners
Resources
Resources to support RACFs and pharmacists to implement the service and the study evaluation report can be found on the .
Publications
.
Research team
- Associate Professor Sam Kosari - Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, Pharmacy
- Professor Rachel Davey - Principal Investigator and Director, Health Research Institute
- Professor Mark Naunton - Principal Investigator and Professor, Pharmacy
- Dr Jane Koerner - Research/Project Manager
- Dr Michael Dale - Research Officer
- Ms Ally Wood - Research Officer
- Mr Ibrahim Haider - PhD Student
- Ms Miranda Batten - PhD Student
- Associate Professor Nasser Bagheri - Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, Health Research Institute
- Dr Paresh Dawda - Principal Investigator and GP, Prestantia Health
- Mrs Lakeesha Sandamali - PhD student
Project partners
Goodwin
Resources
For Resources, videos and publications please visit the .
Publications
Research team
- Associate Professor Sam Kosari - Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, Pharmacy
- Professor Rachel Davey - Principal Investigator and Director, Health Research Institute
- Professor Mark Naunton - Principal Investigator and Professor, Pharmacy
- Dr Jane Koerner - Research/Project Manager
- Dr Michael Dale - Research Officer
- Ms Ally Wood - Research Officer
- Mr Ibrahim Haider - PhD Student
- Ms Miranda Batten - PhD Student
- Associate Professor Nasser Bagheri - Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, Health Research Institute
- Dr Paresh Dawda - Principal Investigator and GP, Prestantia Health
- Mrs Lakeesha Sandamali - PhD student
Media
- Department of Health and Aged Care, 29 March 2022:
- Ageing Agenda, 25 June 2020:
- AJP.com, 19 December 2019:
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, 29 March 2019:
- Australian Pharmacist, 12 June 2018:
