In this episode of Pharmacy Podcast that provides regular interviews with Pharmacy leaders, entrepreneurs, and members of The Independent Pharmacies of Australia (IPA), host Melody Mugari, a Pharmacist and Programs and Corporate Partnerships Manager at Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA) sits down with Keely Paul, National Professional Services Manager at Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA). With over 23 years of experience in the industry, Keely offers valuable insights into her journey, challenges faced by Pharmacists, and the evolving role of Pharmacies in healthcare. As she nears the completion of her Full Scope of Practice training, Keely discusses her passion for mentoring, her commitment to professional growth, and her belief in the power of strong professional connections within the Pharmacy sector.
Topics Covered
- Full Scope of Practice training for Pharmacists
- Challenges faced by Pharmacists during COVID-19
- Team retention and staff development in Pharmacies
- Role of automation in improving Pharmacy operations
- Balancing full-scope training with work and family responsibilities
- Financial and time commitments of expanded scope practice
- Evolving role of Pharmacists in healthcare
- The growing demand for Pharmacy services due to GP shortages
- The increasing role of women in Pharmacy leadership
Key Quotes (Time Stamps)
- “My role entailed coaching and mentoring the Pharmacists within IPA or Advantage (at that point in time) to make sure that they were getting the best out of what they could do in-store. So, that’s the part I love about doing our job is being with customers—and whether it be when I’ve got the white coat on or whether it be in-store, the people part and the relationship part is what I enjoy about our jobs.” (5:14 – 5:42)
- “I think as Pharmacists, we’re quite resilient and I think we’ve had to build a very strong backbone to get through changes.” (7:08 – 7:16)
- “I think that good Pharmacies have a stable team and I know that that’s not necessarily something we can control. Our Pharmacies that are achieving good things, spend a lot of time working on their teams. So, they spend a lot of time investing into their teams. So, as much as we say the Pharmacy is doing well, the owners and the Pharmacists have really engaged their teams to be the best that they can be.” (11:17 – 11:41)
- “We need to make sure that we’re providing education and tools such as automation, to be able to free up our best team members, to be out with the patient doing what they do best. So, that’s investing in a team and team capability comes across every avenue because it may be providing them with the tools that they need to do that. So, whether that be through learnings, whether that be from upskilling or whether it be from putting in different programs and supports to get them through and get them doing what they do best.” (13:32 – 14:04)
- “There were days where I just thought, I can’t do this. And there were times where I thought I need to stop. But I really enjoyed the learnings. I really am excited about what we can do at into the industry.” (17:03 – 17:19)
- “The skills that an expanded scope of practice Pharmacist brings into the Pharmacy are well above what you’re going to get with a Pharmacist that hasn’t undertaken the training. And that’s not just in what we’ve been trained in, it’s in differential diagnosis, it’s in the ability to train your Pharmacy Assistants as well in triaging processes. It’s all different things. It’s not just the ability to run these consults and write prescriptions. So, I think there’s a lot of nuances in the training that will be reflected onto the rest of the team as well when leading a team.” (24:45 – 25:11)
- “The shortage of GPs is frustrating, the community’s frustrated. The shortage of GPs, the inability to be able to get in within a month, the emergency departments that are completely overrun, there are some conditions that require treatment within 72 hours or they’re going to be worse off, Shingles is a prime example. So, I think that it’s really something that we can get on top of and provide a benefit to our community. So, I think the community is ready.” (40:29 – 40:58)
- “Ownership now is completely attainable for women. It’s something that I think that we should be really proud of. And I think that the stats actually show that we have more women owners than men. So, I think the boys club myth needs to go.” (49:43 – 49:58)
Important Time Stamps
- From Pharmacist to National Leader: Keely Paul’s Career Journey (2:00 – 5:42)
- Adapting to Change: From COVID Chaos to 60-Day Dispensing (5:43 – 10:56)
- Want a High-Performing Pharmacy? Start With Your Team! (10:57 – 14:04)
- Balancing Pharmacy, Family & Full Scope—Keely Paul’s Journey (14:14 – 22:44)
- Should Pharmacies Pay for Pharmacist Training? Keely Paul Weighs In! (22:45 – 30:20)
- Pharmacy’s Future: Full Scope or Left Behind? (30:37 – 39:17)
- The Community Is Ready – Are Pharmacists? (39:18 – 47:56)
- Busting the “Boys’ Club” Myth in Pharmacy – Women Are Leading the Way! (47:57 – 52:13)
- Puppy Daycare or Pharmacy? Keely Paul’s Dream Job Swap! (52:14 – 55:03)
Useful Links
Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA) | LinkedIn
Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA) | Website
Chemist Discount Centre (CDC) | Website
