Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to source and use information on regulatory information and pharmacy compliance procedures so that requirements can be followed throughout customer transactions involving the supply of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3). Requests for therapeutic advice or the supply of Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) must be referred to the pharmacist.
This unit underpins effective performance for pharmacy or dispensary assistant roles in a community pharmacy. When supplying Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) they work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.
This unit incorporates the requirement for pharmacy and dispensary 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 supply 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. Source and use information on compliance requirements for supplying scheduled medicines. | 1.1.Obtain and interpret information on key legal requirements and industry guidelines for supply of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and products. 1.2.Obtain and interpret organisational procedures for supplying Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) scheduled items. |
2. Establish requirements for product locations. | 2.1.Identify common medicine categories for Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3). 2.2.Identify storage requirements for scheduled pharmacy items according to the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP). 2.3.Interpret requirements for product placement and advertising of Pharmacy Medicines (S2). |
3. Determine requirements for assessing customer needs. | 3.1.Interpret requirements for protecting and respecting customer privacy. 3.2.Determine what questions must be asked to collect information about customer needs. 3.3.Recognise requirement to refer all customer requests for Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) to pharmacist. 3.4.Identify other triggers for referral to pharmacist. |
4. Identify role in supply of scheduled medicines. | 4.1.Identify the importance of following organisational procedures for the supply of scheduled medicines. 4.2.Recognise role boundaries in recommending Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and unscheduled medicines, products, equipment and aids appropriate to customer needs. 4.3.Determine requirements for finalising supply of Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and other products after pharmacist provision of therapeutic advice. |
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:
obtain and interpret information about the scheduling of medicines from the following sources:
federal, state or territory departments of health
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP)
industry association websites and professional publications
seek and document information on the following key pharmacy legal requirements for the supply of scheduled medicines:
product placement and advertising of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) items in a pharmacy
storage requirements for Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3), Prescription Only Medicine (S4) and Controlled Drug (S8) scheduled items in a pharmacy
role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy and dispensary assistants
circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist
access and interpret this range of organisational procedures for supplying Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3):
questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs
triggers for referral to a pharmacist
maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
sources of information on scheduled medicines, legal and industry requirements:
federal, state and territory departments of health
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP)
industry association websites and professional publications
Pharmacy Board of Australia
basic aspects of the system for scheduling medicines and the role of:
Advisory Committee in Chemicals Scheduling
Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in approving registration of new medicines
purpose of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) and basic features of these schedule types:
general sales medicines (unscheduled)
Pharmacy Medicine (S2)
Pharmacist Only Medicine (S3)
Prescription Only Medicine (S4)
Caution (S5)
Poison (S6)
Dangerous Poison (S7)
Controlled Drug (S8)
Prohibited Substance (S9)
reasons for determining scheduling especially quantities and concentration of active ingredients in packaged medicine
common medicine categories for Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3)
basic aspects of key federal and relevant state or territory legal requirements for the supply of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and products:
product placement and advertising of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) scheduled items in a pharmacy
storage requirements for Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) scheduled items in a pharmacy
role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy and dispensary assistants
storage requirements for other scheduled items commonly found in a pharmacy:
Prescription Only Medicine (S4)
Controlled Drug (S8)
basic aspects of industry guidelines for supply of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and products
Pharmacy Board of Australia guidelines and directives
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Professional Practice Standards – provisions relevant to the provision of non-prescription medicines and therapeutic devices
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Standards for the Provision of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines in Community Pharmacy
typical schedule and content of pharmacy procedures for supplying Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines and their importance in managing compliance with the law:
questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs
collecting and supplying information to an agent acting on behalf of a customer
identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist
maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information
privacy and confidentiality principles relevant to pharmacy product transactions with customers
typical schedule of questions asked to collect information about customer needs and their rationale:
who the product is for
their condition or symptoms
duration of symptoms
other existing health conditions
other medicines currently using
circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist and typical schedule of triggers:
customer who is:
a child under 2 years
an aged person
pregnant or breastfeeding
taking other medicines
customer has:
had the complaint for some time
other health conditions
used the product before but is not satisfied with its efficacy
customer appears to be:
sick
angry
confused
dissatisfied
uncertain
under the influence of drugs or alcohol
pharmacy assistant is unsure and needs confirmation of the medicine selected, even if the product has been requested by name
request for Pharmacist Only Medicine (S3)
roles of pharmacy and dispensary assistants in finalising the supply of Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and other products after pharmacist provision of therapeutic advice:
providing or reiterating directions for product use and confirming understanding
recommending companion products or aids
providing supporting consumer information
processing the financial transaction.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a pharmacy with designated front of pharmacy and dispensary areas. This can be:
an industry workplace
a simulated industry environment.
Assessment must ensure use of:
information technology hardware and software
online information systems
current guidelines, directives and standards, issued by government regulators or industry groups covering scheduling requirements and related legal compliance issues
current Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) and amendments or plain English guidelines
organisational procedures for supplying Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3) and products.
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 in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
Reading skills to: | interpret both familiar and unfamiliar, and sometimes complex documentation. |
Technology skills to: | use online information systems to search for regulatory and procedural information. |
Sectors
Community Pharmacy
Competency Field
Working in Industry