SHPA new Standards of Practice

THE Society of Hospitals Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has released the first of its new Standards of Practice, a series of “revered guidelines on optimal clinical practice and operations of hospital pharmacy services,” which focuses on Pain Management and appears in the latest issue of the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR).

SHPA Chief Executive, Kristin Michaels, says the publication of SHPA’s Standard of Practice in Pain Management for Pharmacy Services kicks off the progressive release of new and updated guides, which draw on decades of expertise and experience held by Leadership Committee members across SHPA’s 25 Specialty Practice streams.

“SHPA’s Standard of Practice series is widely utilised and well-referenced by pharmacists and health professionals seeking guidance on the delivery of clinical, operational and specialty hospital pharmacy services.” Michaels said.

“In partnership with some of our most influential members, supported by our Specialty Practice model, SHPA is undertaking a comprehensive review and expansion of the crucial series with enhancements relevant to current practice.

“This is meticulous work and we are proud to see the result of 18 months of consultation and revision culminate in this Pain Management standard, with Standards of Practice in Emergency Management, General Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Oncology and Haematology and Nephrology next in the development pipeline.”

The new standard includes information about staffing ratios, consideration of patient factors for commencing treatment and discussion of emerging practice such as opioid stewardship.

Visit shpa.org.au to access the new Standard of Practice.