Participation requirements

To enable services to be delivered in the pilot, the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 has been amended to enable participating pharmacists to undertake additional medicines management and prescribing activities. The parameters of these additional activities are set out in the Extended Practice Authority—Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot, available on the legislation, standards and extended practice authorities page.

Pharmacists and pharmacy owners must meet defined participation requirements, and be authorised by Queensland Health, before they can deliver pilot services. These requirements are detailed in the Participation Requirements (PDF 168 kB).

For further information on how to apply to become authorised to deliver pilot services, please email QLD-PharmacyScopePilot@health.qld.gov.au.

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Training

To ensure pilot services can be delivered safely, all participating pharmacists are required to complete additional education and training through an approved education provider. This involves completing 2 components:

  1. Prescribing training
    This component covers the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the National Prescribing Service (NPS) Medicinewise Prescribing Competencies Framework.
  2. Clinical practice training
    This component covers the clinical assessment, diagnosis and management of the conditions included within the scope of the Pilot.

Approved education providers

  • Prescribing training—The Queensland University of Technology Safe prescribing and quality use of medicines course
  • Clinical practice training—The James Cook University Extended community practice pharmacists course

This list will be updated as additional education providers are approved.

2024 enrolments

Queensland Health is working with education providers to confirm course information and enrolment dates for 2024. Course details will be provided here when confirmed.

Private consultation room

Pilot services must be delivered in a private consultation room for patient privacy and to ensure confidential conversations and patient examinations can be conducted.

The Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP) outlines a number of minimum standards for a consultation area. These requirements include that the consultation area:

  • allows for confidential sit-down consultations between the pharmacist and patient and/or substitute decision maker
  • allows the pharmacist and patient and/or substitute decision maker to talk at normal speaking volumes without being overheard by others
  • is not within the dispensary.

In addition to the QCPP standards for a consultation area, room requirements to deliver Pilot services are detailed in the below table.

CategoryRequirements
Infrastructure
  • Sufficient floor area within the consultation room for the required equipment and furniture to deliver care effectively and comfortably to the patient
  • Room is suitably enclosed and sound-proof to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality
  • Room has sufficient lighting to effectively examine the patient and conduct the consultation
  • Room maintains a comfortable ambient temperature
  • Room has access to hand washing facility (including sink) to ensure appropriate infection control measures are achievable
  • Room has flooring that is easy to clean
  • Room has appropriate storage space to safely and hygienically store clinical and non-clinical consumables
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  • Room has a computer with the Pilot Clinical Information System available and accessible during the consultation
  • Room has a printer or access to a proximal printer to be able to provide physical documentation to the patient
Equipment
  • Room contains an examination table, or all-purpose fully reclinable bed-chair, that is suitable for patient examinations and procedures
  • Room contains a desk and office chair for pharmacists that has appropriate space for a computer and to appropriately conduct the consultation
  • Room contains adequate seating for the patient and a guardian/ carer
  • Room has a hand sanitising station that can be used by the pharmacist and patient (alcohol concentration of between 60% and 80% volume per volume ethanol or equivalent)
  • Room has safe and sanitary disposal bins for sharps and other consumables as well as the relevant process in place for waste management
  • Room has a First Aid kit, an emergency response protocol, an anaphylaxis response kit and ready access to the Australian Immunisation Register to manage adverse events. Additionally, access to an AED is preferred but not mandatory
  • Room has a height measurement device
  • Room has a scale or weighing machine
Resources

Last updated: 25 March 2024