Aged care Onsite Pharmacist Trial at Willaura Health Care

Pharmacist Somnath Sakthi Sekaran has been welcomed at Willaura Health Care as part of a Commonwealth Government Aged Care Onsite Pharmacist trial.

Mr Sakthi Sekaran operates Trident Pharmacy in Willaura and is currently on site one day per week at the Willaura hospital and Parkland House Hostel, where he reviews patient and resident medications and makes recommendations to GPs to ensure patient safety.

The aim of the program is to improve medication use and safety, provide continuity in medication management, provide easy access to pharmacist advice for residents and staff and integrate the onsite pharmacist with the health care team.

The Commonwealth funded Pharmacist Onsite program is a recommendation which came out of the Royal Commission into Aged Care and is currently working well at Willaura, with the view to expand to the Ararat campus aged care facilities in future.

East Grampians Health Service Director of Clinical Services Bec Peters said having Mr Sakthi Sekaran on site at Willaura has been of great benefit to both patients and staff.

“Our clinical staff appreciate the advice of Som and we thank him for taking part in this trial and the care he provides our patients and residents,” Ms Peters said.