Providing the Best Continence Care Services

The Guild Pharmacy Academy and Continence Foundation of Australia have developed new educational resources for pharmacy staff providing continence care. The online courses – one for pharmacists and another for pharmacy assistants – utilise consumer case scenarios to discuss the various community based management and treatment services that are available for incontinence. The courses also advise on pharmacy products to assist with the management of incontinence and when referral for additional care is appropriate.

Pharmacy assistants can now access the course, titled ‘Continence care for pharmacy assistants’, via the Guild’s online learning platform, myLEARNING. The course is free to all pharmacy assistants and may be used as evidence when seeking Recognition of Prior Learning for the accredited unit ‘SIRCHCSS305 Advise on continence management’.

The pharmacist course, titled “Continence care for pharmacists”, will be released in the coming weeks via the Guild’s online learning platform, myCPD. This course will also cover the business case for providing a continence care service in the pharmacy. Pharmacists can enrol with myCPD today at www.mycpd.org.au to receive updates on the launch of this course. The Guild is currently seeking CPD accreditation for the course.

As the most accessible health care providers in Australia, pharmacy staff routinely assist customers with complex health issues. Continence is a challenging journey for some consumers and these concerns are frequently brought into community pharmacy.

Anthony Tassone, the President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia – Victoria, said: ‘Continence care products are a key category in community pharmacy and help define us as a health destination for many in the community. These online courses will help pharmacy staff start the conversation with those who are seeking help with incontinence, and assist in the appropriate referral of the consumer to the pharmacist. Increasing your pharmacy assistants’ knowledge of continence care will ensure they are able to provide consumers with accurate product information and advice, as well as reinforce the recommendations made by the pharmacist. This course will be helpful to those wishing to deliver continence care services in their pharmacy.’

To enrol in these courses, visit our website, www.guild.org.au/academy, and click on the myCPD button under ‘Pharmacist education’ or the myLEARNING button under ‘Pharmacy Assistant Training’. Please contact the Guild Pharmacy Academy on 03 9810 9930 or email pharmacyguildacademy@guild.org.au for more information.