CAN I DO A MEDSCHECK WITH ONLY ONE PHARMACIST ON DUTY?

Providing in-pharmacy medicine reviews, like MedsChecks, is an important service that many pharmacies offer their patients. 

A question pharmacies often ask is whether it is mandatory to have at least two pharmacists on duty during MedsChecks in order to meet QCPP requirements. The answer to this depends on your pharmacy’s operational needs.

Whilst it is not mandatory for more than one pharmacist to be on duty during a MedsCheck, you must be able to demonstrate that the pharmacist providing the MedsCheck is not dispensing or undertaking other professional duties at the same time. The intent of the requirement is to ensure that the pharmacist and the patient have an uninterrupted consultation.

In order to adhere to QCPP requirements, your assessor must be confident that if only one pharmacist is on duty whilst a MedsCheck is being conducted, you can demonstrate that they have a system or process in place to ensure their responsibilities for dispensing and the provision of professional services are met. 

During your QCPP assessment your assessor will ask for an explanation, with evidence, of how you manage your personnel resources during in-pharmacy medicine reviews, such as MedsChecks.

Examples of evidence may include a documented procedure in place to ensure dispensing and professional duties do not occur whilst a MedsCheck is being conducted, a staff roster showing multiple pharmacists on duty, script volume demonstrating peaks and troughs or evidence of performing in-pharmacy medicine reviews outside of your normal operating hours. 

Pharmacies should remain aware of their obligations described in Program Rules for in-pharmacy medicine review services, such as MedsChecks, as QCPP assessment does not specifically assess compliance with these requirements. However, these guidelines may be used to help determine if pharmacist resources for a specific service are adequate.