Introducing TCPA to GPs, Dentists and Vets

My name is Kim Rumble and I am a compounding pharmacist of 10 years standing. I am a member of PCCA (Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia) and have had compounding practices in Port Stephens and Newcastle. For the past 2 years I have been providing a compounding service located in Priceline Pharmacy, Mosman. I have now set up my own professional compounding laboratory, with a front of shop retail area that promotes preventative and nutritional medicine. My passion lies in creating the latest formulas and innovative therapies to help both patients and doctors resolve health issues.

My vision is to empower people with the knowledge of how to improve their health and well-being, preventing illness before it takes hold and achieving a balance in life. With the help of consultant medical practitioners and health professionals who are like minded I believe we can achieve this goal.

My dream has been to set up a professional laboratory with state of the art equipment and a front of shop accessible to everyone for good advice and products to help with their health.

My team at The Compounding Pharmacy Australia share the same passion and bring to the table a great deal of knowledge in the nutrition, herbal and compounding areas. We would like to work with the GP’s, dentists, vets and other health professionals in the area to find effective solutions for their patients, and introduce some products with proven results they may be unaware of.

WHAT IS A COMPOUNDING PHARMACY?

Compounding is the art of making “tailor-made” medications to support the individual needs and preferences. The compounder works with physicians to provide our patients with alternative treatment options that can meet their needs.

One of the most important benefits of pharmaceutical compounding is the wide range of delivery options available including creams, lotions, ointments, gels, capsules, sublingual drops, troches, suppositories, pessaries, sprays and lollypops, so that the personal preferences of each patient are met.

Specialist state of the art equipment is required and further training for the staff is necessary to produce quality, safe products.

Working with the patient, doctor and pharmacist the best healthcare available today can be delivered at affordable prices.

Compounding existed many years ago with the apothecarians/pharmacists but went out of practise in the 1950’s when the pharmaceutical companies began mass producing products for the population. Everyone is different and we believe the needs for each individual can be achieved with the use of specialist compounded products.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

There are many areas that can involve compounding to make the taking of medicines easier, more flavoursome and effective.

• Alternate delivery methods – e.g. if a child will not take oral antibiotics we can make them into suppositories
• Allergies – we can make lactose free, colour free, flavour free and preservative free medications
• Better flavoured medications – we can re-flavour the medications to your liking
• Dose strength changes – we can increase or decrease strengths of medicines to save taking multiple tabs/caps and be more cost effective
• Out of production medicines – we can make same formula products that are not made anymore e.g. Ergotamine/caffeine migraine tabs, scopolamine travel sickness cream.
• Change of application – Certain medications are better absorbed transdermally and reduce the stress on the liver and other internal organs. They are easy to apply and affective in a short space of time

The Compounding Pharmacy Australia strives to produce quality products, made to a high standard using pharmaceutical grade ingredients sourced from reputable suppliers. We have specialist operating procedures and are members of THE PROFESSIONAL COMPOUNDING CHEMISTS OF AUSTRALIA (PCCA)

Kim Rumble   B Pharm   MPS  PCCA 

The Compounding Pharmacy Australia

50 Avenue Road, Mosman  NSW  2088

email:     info@tcpa.com.au

tel:         02 9960 3322     int'l:  +61 2 9960 3322

mobile:   0412 124 456     int'l:  +61 412 124 456

twitter:   #kimrumble

web:       www.tcpa.com.au

9 Reasons for GPs to be Aware of Compounding

Compounding is something that many Australian doctors who are less than 50 years old will have had little exposure to. The following are just some reasons why GPs should think about incorporating compounding into their range of options for treating their patients:

1. Compounding allows pharmacists to provide tailored pharmaceutical care services for each patient.
2. Compounding  provides GPs with a broader range of treatment options:  many more  dosage formats and dose flexibility.   
3. Compounded medications can fill specific needs often not met by commercially available medications.   
4. Informal evidence shows that compounding pharmacists enjoy increased levels of communication as a team their patient and the patient’s GP.   
5. When prescribing compounded medication GPs are bringing the pharmacist into the care team and increasing the chances of the patient complying with the treatment recommended by the GP.   
6. GPs who have worked closely with experienced compounding pharmacists come to respect and depend upon them because they have become an active "problem solver" for the benefit of both the GP and their patients.   
7. Modern local compounding pharmacies use sophisticated processes and equipment to dispense quality products that meet patient’s specific needs; strict documentation to enforce quality  control, continuous independent third party testing of their quality control, electronic balances, clean rooms, training and education.  
8. The responsibility to compound safe, effective prescriptions for patients who require special care is fundamental to the pharmacy profession.  But conventional retail pharmacists are sometimes more focused on dispensing off-the-shelf products and have less opportunity to become directly involved in patient care.  
9. Compounding pharmacists are the only members of the inter-disciplinary team possessing the training, knowledge and skill required to compound and prepare medications to meet a patient's personal needs.

I recommend that GPs take the first step to building a relationship with the local compounding pharmacist by dropping into their dispensary and seeing that the exotic storage jars, mortars and pestles have been replaced by high technology.  They will also find a professional who is keen to make a contribution to the interdisciplinary care team, for the benefit of the GP’s patients.

Kim Rumble   B Pharm   MPS  PCCA 

The Compounding Pharmacy Australia

50 Avenue Road, Mosman  NSW  2088

email:     info@tcpa.com.au

tel:         02 9960 3322     int'l:  +61 2 9960 3322

mobile:   0412 124 456     int'l:  +61 412 124 456

twitter:   #kimrumble
web:       www.tcpa.com.au