Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot services must be delivered in a private consultation room for patient privacy and to ensure confidential conversations and patient examinations can be conducted.
The Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP) outlines a number of minimum standards for a consultation area. These requirements include that the consultation area:
- allows for confidential sit-down consultations between the pharmacist and patient and/or substitute decision maker
- allows the pharmacist and patient and/or substitute decision maker to talk at normal speaking volumes without being overheard by others
- is not within the dispensary.
In addition to the QCPP standards for a consultation area, room requirements to deliver Pilot services are detailed in the below table.
| Category | Requirements |
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Infrastructure
| - Sufficient floor area within the consultation room for the required equipment and furniture to deliver care effectively and comfortably to the patient
- Room is suitably enclosed and sound-proof to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality
- Room has sufficient lighting to effectively examine the patient and conduct the consultation
- Room maintains a comfortable ambient temperature
- Room has access to hand washing facility (including sink) to ensure appropriate infection control measures are achievable
- Room has flooring that is easy to clean
- Room has appropriate storage space to safely and hygienically store clinical and non-clinical consumables
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
| - Room has a computer with the Pilot Clinical Information System available and accessible during the consultation
- Room has a printer or access to a proximal printer to be able to provide physical documentation to the patient
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Equipment
| - Room contains an examination table, or all-purpose fully reclinable bed-chair, that is suitable for patient examinations and procedures
- Room contains a desk and office chair for pharmacists that has appropriate space for a computer and to appropriately conduct the consultation
- Room contains adequate seating for the patient and a guardian/ carer
- Room has a hand sanitising station that can be used by the pharmacist and patient (alcohol concentration of between 60% and 80% volume per volume ethanol or equivalent)
- Room has safe and sanitary disposal bins for sharps and other consumables as well as the relevant process in place for waste management
- Room has a First Aid kit, an emergency response protocol, an anaphylaxis response kit and ready access to the Australian Immunisation Register to manage adverse events. Additionally, access to an AED is preferred but not mandatory
- Room has a height measurement device
- Room has a scale or weighing machine
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Resources
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