Progressing advanced practice: the action so far, and the action ahead

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) sees Advanced Pharmacy Practice as forming a vital milestone in any practitioner's career journey, and one that should be recognised and planned for from the very first steps into a pharmacy career. The SHPA welcomes the views of Australian Pharmacy's National Student Representative Body, NAPSA, on the progression of Advanced Pharmacy Practice recognition in Australia. SHPA is particularly pleased to see NAPSA advocating for advancing practice, not only because it represents the future of pharmacy, but because it does so with the support of its members. This is important because as Advanced Pharmacy Practice becomes embedded along a pharmacist's career path, it will be this new generation of pharmacists who will benefit most from the structure, and the supportive guidance of the people who form it. The formalisation of pharmacist practitioner development from intern year, through foundation (years 1 and 2 post-registration) and now into advanced and specialist residencies necessitates a growing cadre of pharmacists recognised as advanced practitioners who are the leaders, role models and educators for the growing number of training positions. SHPA has publicly stated its unwavering support for continuing Advanced Pharmacy Practice in Australia. It has lobbied tirelessly for a model to be re-established that not only builds on the existing model as piloted by the Australian Pharmacy Council, but recognises the local and global energy currently being applied to the recognition of practice expertise.1 The previous issue of the JPPR announced a strategic partnership formed between SHPA and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).2, 3 There are a number of tangible benefits to our members in this partnership, and access to the knowledge and experience of our UK colleagues who have already trodden this road is key.2, 3 Advanced practice must be recognised as exactly that, and it must be a credible method of recognition, not just for those within pharmacy, but more importantly to those outside, including our medical colleagues. The challenge for our profession, and for those in leadership positions, is to recognise advanced practice, building and implementing upon the model already developed, and to do this now. We do not believe that there needs to be a “new framework developed”. The APC pilot successfully tested a structured model of recognition through professional collaboration that includes portfolio review and 360-degree multi-source feedback, with independent assessment. This model must be progressed further, refined and embedded into Australian pharmacy workforce development, available to all. This is what SHPA believes must be the way forward, and we have now partnered with RPS to lead these initiatives in advanced practice recognition. SHPA, like NAPSA, believes that the profession benefits most from an interconnected and collegiate system of both practitioners and practitioner bodies. SHPA held an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Think Tank in February 2017, bringing together key representatives from the Australian pharmacy organisations, RPS, the International Pharmaceutical Federation and the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association, alongside other key representatives such as education bodies. Since February, SHPA has presented its modelling to the Australian Pharmacy Leadership Forum and sought feedback from all key bodies as to the best model to move forward. SHPA is encouraged by NAPSA's leadership for their members in Advanced Pharmacy Practice. We look forward to working together with our key partners to progress Advanced Pharmacy Practice in Australia prior to the end of the year.