SUMMARY - Safe Medications Management project: Key issues and ...

There is a need for greater involvement of older people in their own medicationmanagement.4. Clinical GovernanceThere is no single coherent system of clinical governance across residential and communityaged care.There is a lack of clear understanding of “clinical governance” through the industry.General Practitioners, Community Pharmacists and Consumers most often are responsiblefor managing consumers’ medication safety and compliance in the wider community.There are few medication advisory committees and only small numbers of RegisteredNurses involved.5. WorkforceA demographic wave of older people needing care is coming.The current proportion of people in the workforce is predicted to decline as a result of thechanging demographics.There will be insufficient workers to meet the Australian population’s need for aged careand support if we maintain the status quo.Workforce planning and regulation needs revisiting if it is to support the most effectiveapproach.The workforce has to choose, interpret and implement multiple codes and guidelines toachieve good practice.The aged care workforce has a high level of commitment to its clientele, but tends to beconstrained as a result of the current regulatory regime.There is a need to map medication management and care functions in order to informcompetencies and the roles of various participants in these functions.Clarity is needed about the training and roles of personal care workers.Greater consistency is required in Enrolled Nurses’ roles and the way in which theyarticulate with the roles of personal care workers in residential and community care.There are national Vocation Education and Training qualifications for the Certificate III andIV level courses used in the aged care sector. However, delivery of these qualifications isnot consistent across Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).6. Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (APAC) GuidelinesThe APAC guidelines inform policy and practice.APAC guidelines for residential aged care are currently scheduled for review and this maypresent an opportunity to move toward a nationally consistent approach.Conflict between the guidelines of professional bodies and the APAC guidelines needs tobe reviewed and addressed.There seems to be a gap between APAC guidelines and practice.30