The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) last week officially launched the Professional Practice Standards Quality Improvement and Self-Assessment Implementation Program to help community pharmacists better understand and implement the standards into their practice. The Implementation Program enables pharmacists to identify their individual scope of practice and the standards relevant to them, as well as self-assess against these guidelines. Upon completing the program, pharmacists are provided with a tailored action plan to help them improve their practice. Speaking at the Western Australia Annual Therapeutic Update in Perth, PSA National President Dr Fei Sim (pictured) strongly encouraged pharmacists to take advantage of the Quality Improvement and Implementation Program to improve their practice. “When we launched the new Professional Practice Standards earlier this year, we knew that it would fundamentally change the way pharmacists interact with and apply professional standards to their own practice,” Sim said. “Our Implementation Program allows each pharmacist to take an individual approach to applying the Standards in practice, no matter what our area of specialisation. “Self-assessing performance against these standards allows all of us to better our practice, and in delivering better care. Sim added as pharmacists’ scope of practice continues to evolve, “it is vital we continually assess our own performance as to whether we consistently enable the delivery of safe, high-quality, reliable, and effective healthcare services”. “I encourage all pharmacists, in all areas of practice and in all career stages to make the most of the Professional Practice Standards Quality Improvement and SelfAssessment Implementation Program as a contemporary, evidence-based resource to guide their quality professional practice.” By incorporating these standards into daily practice, pharmacists will ensure safe, effective and personcentred care for all, she explained. The launch of this interactive program reaffirms the Society’s “dedication to supporting pharmacists to provide quality healthcare services; and remains committed to equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in their roles and improve patient outcomes,” PSA stated. To learn more about the Professional Practice Standards, the implementation program, and more, CLICK HERE. JG