Aged Care for Onsite Pharmacists
Aged Care On-Site Pharmacist Program
Improving Medication Safety in Residential Aged Care
The Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) Measure responds to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, in particular Recommendation 38, and is intended to improve medication management and safety for residents through aged care credentialed pharmacists working on-site in RACHs in a clinical role.
Why On-Site Pharmacists Matter
Having a pharmacist embedded in aged care homes offers significant benefits:
- Reduces medication-related harm
- Supports safe use of high-risk medicines
- Ensures continuity in medication management
- Provides direct advice to residents and staff
- Strengthens collaboration between nurses, GPs, and community pharmacies
How the Program Works
Aged care homes can either:
- Partner with a community pharmacy to engage a pharmacist, or
- Employ a pharmacist directly if needed
Funding Allocation
One full-time equivalent pharmacist is funded per 250 beds, in 50-bed increments (e.g. one day per week on-site per 50 beds).
Note: Homes with an on-site pharmacist will not receive external Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) or Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) services. Homes without an on-site pharmacist will continue to receive these services.
Get Involved
Residential aged care homes and Community Pharmacists can take part in this initiative to improve medication safety and resident care.
Background and Research
https://joppp.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40545-023-00587-4
https://www.chnact.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/HRIPiRACHandbook_LR.pdf
https://www.canberra.edu.au/research/centres/hri/research-projects/on-site-pharmacists-in-racf
Resources
Visit the Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care website.
Visit the Pharmacy Programs Administrator website for more information on Tier 1 and Tier 2 guidelines.
Contact Us
Email Northern Sydney PHN at ageingwell@snhn.org.au for further support and guidance.