Exploring how best to assist the impaired pharmacist

Abstract

Impairment of a healthcare professional (HCP) is the inability to practice according to accepted standards of practice due to mental or physical disability, condition or disorder. Substance use disorder is amenable to treatment and the pharmacy profession has an ethical and professional obligation to assist impaired colleagues getand to protect the public. There is one support program for Australian pharmacists, the Victorian Pharmacist Support Service (PSS). An explorative survey and semi-structured interview were utilised to explore the PSS program, its scope of assistance, the nature of its services and its role in addressing impairment. Limitations on the efficacy of the PSS program were identified such as a lack of awareness of PSS in the profession and difficulty with follow-up due to privacy laws. Both financial limitations and lack of availability of expertise prevented the program from comprehensively addressing the issue of pharmacist impairment. PSS is predominantly a listening ear and referral service. Poor transparency by AHPRA and an associated stigma with impairment was identified as a barrier to reporting. More information and education about the issue is necessary. Key concerns surfaced regarding the mandatory reporting requirements with volunteers utilizing several measures to evade the issue . Volunteers revealed a hesitancy to refer impaired callers to professional help and their confidential assistance was limited due to their obligation to report. Impairment is being addressed internationally and within Australia for other HCPs using prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs that have a high success rate. The provision of a more viable HCP integrated support program is required that comprehensively addresses the issue. The findings provide an insight into Australia’s impaired pharmacist population that has been the subject of very limited research.