Catherine Nguyen
Pharmacist
Sydney
Summary
Dedicated pharmacist offering over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy, residential aged care and research translation with proven ability to accurately and efficiently manage a pharmacy team while adhering to safety and quality control. Experienced in delivering excellent customer service, resolving issues and managing inquiries. Skilled in working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to provide patient care. Possesses excellent communication skills, professional attitude and keen attention to detail.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
6
6
Certifications
Work History
Pharmacist in Charge
Blooms The Chemist Marrickville
01.2013 - Current
- Oversee the day-to-day running of business according to quality care standards implemented by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia while managing a team of 40 rotating staff members in a high-paced environment
- Interpret prescriptions from healthcare providers to properly dispense medications and health products.
- Oversee the supply and ordering of medicinal cannabis products, including maintaining the required TGA documentation, liaising with prescribers, medicinal cannabis clinics, suppliers, and counselling patients on their use
- Assist with the coordination of Clozapine & High risk medication supply, delivery and education to Community Mental Health Service teams in Sydney comprised of nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and psychiatrists. This involves ensuring mandatory blood testing, regular administration and other monitoring requirements are met for safe and effective practice across the service.
- Collaborate with NSW Drug and Alcohol Service to provide methadone and buprenorphine to community patients on a daily basis through the Opiod Treatment Program
- Deliver training on device use and storage to enhance medication compliance and efficacy
- Provide counselling and advice to consumers on the optimal and safe use of prescription and over-the-counter medication including potential drug interactions, side effects, dosage, proper medication storage as well as complementary therapies
- Provide telephone counselling for patient medication enquires and receiving telephone orders for multiple daily medication deliveries
- Oversee the ordering of stock for the dispensary, including schedule 8 stock, medicinal cannabis, highly specialised s100 medications and assist in maintaining dispensary inventory
- Supervise work of pharmacy clerk and technicians to optimize service quality and productivity.
- Dispense and supervise the dispensing of prescriptions using FRED dispense and check prescriptions prepared by dispensary technicians, as well as checking and reconciling dose administration aids (webster packs and sachet rolls)
- Liaise with prescribers to verify medication orders and address concerns about the patient’s disease state and medical history
- Prepare and organise deliveries of prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, beauty and lifestyle products to clients in the community
- Assist with customer service queries, complaints, and initiate de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution
- Supervise and conduct the compounding of extemporaneous medications and repackaged medications, including unit-doses and topical preparations
- Organise the submission of pharmacy-related documentation, including safety net claims, Diabetes Australia claims and providing 7CPA services
- Implement various health promotion projects as part of the Blooms Health Checks Services including blood pressure evaluation, cholesterol screening, blood glucose screening, iron testing, sleep apnoea testing, and stroke risk assessment
- Work collaboratively with healthcare professionals including general practitioners, community health nurses as well as allied health providers and social care workers to deliver medication to multiple assisted boarding houses/group homes and community mental health centres across Sydney and develop tailored care plans for patients
- Assist in the medication reconciliation of medication charts from prescribers to patients in residential aged care facilities and collaborate with nurses and doctors in aged care to facilitate the timely delivery of medication to nursing homes
- Oversee the provision of dose administration aids (webster packs and sachet rolls) to community patients and aged care residents
Project Officer
The Sydney Partnership For Health Education-SPHERE
07.2022 - 12.2023
- Provided operational support for the development and expansion of a not-for-profit organisation comprising of researchers, clinicians, consumers and patients collaborating on projects to improve the lives of children and young people with chronic illness
- Collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams in executing complex projects in a timely manner; managed the provision of high quality and timely support for major project meetings, steering and SPHERE-wide committees, working parties and forums
- Implemented and reviewed information management systems and project plans to facilitate effective executive, business and strategic support to research leads, chief investigators and project managers
- Planned and organised logistics of corporate events, from pre-planning through to post event day activities, including location scouting, catering, finances and program implementation. I was responsible for coordinating scientific conferences, workshops, and meetings with academic staff, healthcare professionals, federal Ministers and government officials in locations interstate and at Parliament House.
- Provided research support including study design, proposal writing, literature reviews and use of quantitative and qualitative methodologies and data analysis preparation and submission of grant applications
- Undertook high level analysis, integration and synthesis of information from a range of internal and external sources to provide the CAG Leader with timely advice on significant internal and external issues which have the potential to impact on daily operations and the strategic positioning of the organisation.
- Demonstrated excellence in grant, report writing, preparing manuscripts for publication, conference presentation of research material and or reporting on project progress; I led a research study from HREC ethics application, recruitment, data collection and analysis
- Demonstrated proficiency in outcome measurement, data collection and management and evaluation
Clinical Pharmacist/Quality&Compliance Coordinator
Australian Vietnamese Aged Care Services (AVACS)
07.2021 - 07.2022
- Perform internal quality assessments and audits across all aspects of care including: quality of care, infection control, restrictive practices, schedule 8 medications, antimicrobial use to ensure key compliance requirements are managed within the facility for accreditation.
- Educate patients on possible drug interactions, potential side effects and counselling on optimal methods of administration and device technique
- Reviewing, adjusting and following up continuous quality improvement initiatives which align with the Aged Care Quality Standards and providing advice on clinical policies and procedures, including National QI reporting requirements
- Facilitating COVID-19 and influenza vaccination programs for staff and residents
- Coordinating infection prevention and control (IPC) compliance and outbreak response in a time of increased pandemic risk
- Liaise with diverse members of allied health including nursing staff, doctors, specialists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to achieve the highest level of personalised care for residents
- Working closely with practitioners to ensure compliance with staff education, facility documentation requirements, and program delivery
- Assist residents and their family with interpreting account/billing enquiries; mediating between the client (resident and family) and the external pharmacy supplying medication
- Facilitate education sessions for nursing staff and practitioners to improve medication management
- Facilitate quarterly MAC Meetings with healthcare practitioners, RMMR/supply pharmacists, and all members of allied health
- Assist the facility team to maintain compliance for accreditation and review audits from the Commissioner
Private English Tutor
Self-employed
04.2016 - 12.2018
- Enhanced student learning by optimizing a wide range of instructional approaches; selecting instructional material and tasked assignments to develop deeper comprehension of English course materials
- Taught students from non-English speaking backgrounds how to read, write and speak English through innovative activities tailored to the student
- Assisted students in primary and high school with enquires, homework, exam preparation, and building of social development and confidence
- Prepared students for selective school exams and the higher school certificate
Education
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Pharmacy
Registration Number: PHA0001787897
Sydney, NSWPSA National Intern Training Program -
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
Bachelor of Pharmacy - Pharmacy
The University of Sydney
Sydney, NSWSkills
Certification
First Aid Certificate - Provide First Aid HLTAID003 and HLTSID002
Timeline
Project Officer
The Sydney Partnership For Health Education-SPHERE
07.2022 - 12.2023
Clinical Pharmacist/Quality&Compliance Coordinator
Australian Vietnamese Aged Care Services (AVACS)
07.2021 - 07.2022
Private English Tutor
Self-employed
04.2016 - 12.2018
Pharmacist in Charge
Blooms The Chemist Marrickville
01.2013 - Current
First Aid Certificate - Provide First Aid HLTAID003 and HLTSID002
Certificate of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy; Mind Medicine Australia; 2022
CPR refresher certificate - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation HLTAI001
Accredited Standard Mental Health First Aider (Mental Health First Aid Australia) 2018-2021
2018/2019 Inner west business awards finalist (as part of Blooms the Chemist Marrickville)
2019 recipient of the annual Blooms Dispensary Management award (as a part of Blooms the Chemist Marrickville pharmacy dispensary manager)
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Pharmacy
Registration Number: PHA0001787897
PSA National Intern Training Program -
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
Bachelor of Pharmacy - Pharmacy
The University of Sydney
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