Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to package pharmaceutical products in Dose Administration Aids (DAAs). It requires the ability to set up pre-packaged doses of prescribed medicines to be administered over set periods, verify contents with a pharmacist and complete DAA patient records. This may be for new and ongoing individual customers or for multiple customers in residential care settings.
This unit applies to senior dispensary assistants working in community pharmacies. When preparing DAAs they work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist and their role is limited to those dispensing functions that do not require them to exercise professional pharmaceutical judgement or discretion.
This unit incorporates the requirement for pharmacy assistants to comply with federal, state and territory law and Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for supplying scheduled Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3). At the time of publication, they are not, however, required to hold an occupational licence or to be certified as competent in this unit to dispense scheduled medicines.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to pack dose administration aids. | 1.1.Follow organisational procedures for preparing DAAs throughout dispensing process. 1.2.Schedule processing of orders to meeting despatch deadlines. 1.3.Follow organisational process for dealing with new DAA patients. 1.4.Read, check and follow dose administration and packaging documentation and instructions. 1.5.Maintain personal hygiene and handle medicines and containers hygienically to avoid contamination. 1.6.Set up packaging containers, other consumables and equipment according to manufacturer instructions. 1.7.Confirm availability of patient medicines and identify medications not suitable for packing in a DAA. |
2. Pack dose administration aids. | 2.1.Prepare and attach labels with required DAA information to header cards. 2.2.Fill DAAs according to pharmacist instructions and patient record of medications. 2.3.Include Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) with patient DAAs. 2.4.Ensure all requested patient medications not packed in DAA are provided. 2.5.Reconcile dispensed medicines with DAA packed medicines in terms of form, dose, strength and quantity. 2.6.Present filled containers, any additional medications, CMI and patient record of medications for evidence checking by pharmacist. 2.7.Obtain pharmacist approval, sign off on document and pack filled containers. |
3. Complete administration and maintenance activities. | 3.1.Store filled DAA orders in designated area awaiting collection or delivery. 3.2.Follow organisational procedures to clean and maintain dose administration area. 3.3.Use computerised dispensary system to accurately record DAA client and medication information. 3.4.Make changes to DAAs already provided to patients as directed by pharmacist. 3.5.Dispose of waste according to environmental requirements, patient privacy protocols and organisational waste management procedures. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
assist in preparing twelve dose administration aids (DAAs)
assist in preparing DAA orders for each of these customer types:
new customers
ongoing customers.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
role boundaries and responsibilities of dispensary assistants and pharmacists in the preparation of dose administration aids
circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist
basic aspects of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Professional Practice Standards – provisions relevant to dose administration aids services
organisational procedures for preparing dose administration aids:
accessing and maintaining security of the dispensary area
dealing with new DAA patients
requirements for pharmacist checks of DAAs
patient record keeping
logging of all filled and verified DAAs
cleaning and maintenance of dose administration area
disposal of rejected dispensary items to minimise environmental impacts and protect confidentiality of patient information
formats for, use and contents of:
drug charts
patient medication profiles, both simple and complex
service contracts
DAA orders
features, functions and uses of different types of DAAs:
re-usable dosette boxes
tamper-proof, sealed DAAs
features of medications not suitable for packing in a DAA
features, functions and operating requirements of DAA equipment:
heat or press sealing equipment
irons
pill splitters
formats for, use and required contents of DAA labels:
pharmacy name and address
phone number
consumer name
active ingredients
brand name
strength
directions for use
cautionary and advisory information
packing and expiry date
personal hygiene practices to avoid contamination of medicines and dose administration containers
environmental protection practices for disposal of waste
features and functions of dispensary software specifically for keeping patient DAA records.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a pharmacy with a designated operational dispensary area. This must be in an industry workplace, which meets Pharmacy Board of Australia and relevant industry standards for dispensary operations.
Assessment must ensure use of:
information technology hardware and software
dispensary software currently used by the community pharmacy industry
pharmacy storage locations for filled customer prescriptions
pharmacy storage locations, shelf facings and signage for unscheduled medicines, Pharmacy Medicines (S2), and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3)
different types of DAAs:
re-usable dosette boxes
tamper-proof, sealed DAAs
DAA equipment
a diverse commercial product range of solid pharmacy medicines; tablets and capsules
a range of completed:
prescriptions
drug charts
patient medication profiles
service contracts
DAA orders, instructions and checklists
materials for DAA labelling (for cautionary and advisory details and to print customer details, medicine details and directions for use)
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Professional Practice Standards – provisions relevant to dose administration aids services
organisational procedures for preparing dose administration aids
customers with whom the individual can interact
pharmacists with whom the individual can interact
assessment activities that allow the individual to work with commercial speed, timing and productivity to prepare dose administration aids within nominated deadlines.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors, and
have worked in the pharmacy sector for at least two years.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Sectors
Community Pharmacy
Competency Field
Dispensary