Cooleman Court Pharmacy in the ACT has been named the 2022 Guild Pharmacy of the Year.
The Guild Pharmacy of the Year Award, conducted annually by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, recognises pharmacies that are leading the way in providing innovative and optimal healthcare for members of their community. The ultimate winner is chosen from the three category winners who this year were:
- Excellence in Community Engagement – TerryWhite Chemmart Rosny Park TAS
- Excellence in Professional Innovation– Cooleman Court Pharmacy ACT
- Excellence in Business Management – Amcal Life Clinic Pharmacy Donnybrook WA
The awards were presented at the Australian Pharmacy Professional conference (APP) on the Gold Coast.
A spokesperson for the judging group, pharmacist Nick Panayiaris, Pharmacy Guild of Australia Senior Vice-President and President of the South Australian Branch of the Guild, said Cooleman Court Pharmacy stood out in how it has succeeded in developing the pharmacy into a community health hub.
“The pharmacy downsized and made the conscious decision to rationalise non-pharmacy lines from their operations, thus enabling it to focus on healthcare services and health information,” Mr Panayiaris said.
“They also actively empowered employees to develop projects and ideas, by taking ownership and responsibility in driving new opportunities in their community pharmacy.
“One key initiative has developed into the pharmacy becoming a centre for men’s health services; an area which is often overlooked and under serviced.”
The awards are sponsored by Care Pharmaceuticals whose General Manager Jonathan Biddle said Cooleman Court was a great example of a pharmacy recognising the needs of the community and going all-out to meet those needs.
“Every year I am excited to see how pharmacies continue to grow and evolve to meet the changing environment in which they operate, and the changing needs of their patients and communities,” Mr Biddle said.
“This year was no exception and Cooleman Court Pharmacy has recognised that what its patients want is healthcare, reliability, great staff and a sense of community when they walk into the pharmacy.
“Care Pharmaceuticals is proud to once again have sponsored this competition which is so important to the sector and to the whole healthcare industry in Australia.”
