For decades, various bodies within and outside of the Australian pharmaceutical industry have advocated for community pharmacies and pharmacists to play a larger role in the provision of healthcare to Australian patients.
There are many reasons for this, some of which are;
For starters, our healthcare system faces increasing capacity and financial pressures each day.
Secondly, accessibility and timely access to healthcare is diminishing.
And thirdly, we can do it.
Unfortunately though, what has always been intended and promoted to ensure the viability of our healthcare system, and therefore the best health outcomes for our patients, has often been met with harsh criticism from media, some patients themselves, and unfortunately even those that also play an integral role in the healthcare of Australians.
These activities have led to dangerous accusations, falsehoods, and increased division between those that should have a shared primary goal and purpose focused on health, and health alone.
Not politics. Not profit. Just the patient.
But turf wars aren’t anything new. And this article isn’t about who’s right or wrong, or who to blame.
It’s about our role, ability and opportunity, as we expand our scope of practice, to relive the past, just like what’s been done for decades, or to redefine our future.
But in order to redefine our future, we need to understand how we are defined right now.
Defined To Divide
While there is no one definition of allied health used locally and abroad, for most Australian State and Federal Governments, the generally accepted definition of “allied health practitioners” refers to health professionals that are not part of the medical, dental, midwife, or nursing professions.
Now this isn’t a dig at the Government. But let that sink in for a second.
An ally is defined as the act of combining or uniting a resource with another for mutual benefit – and in this case, the ultimate benefit of positive health outcomes for our patients.
And so, as pharmacists, if we aren’t defined as allies with medical, dental and nursing practitioners, what does that say about the role we play in our patient’s healthcare?
What implications does this have for us, if the highest authority of our land defines us to divide us?
By virtue of this segregated definition, are we then not deemed to be allies with these other healthcare providers as per the meaning of ally?
And if we’re not allies, then what are we?
What does the future hold for us as we expand our scope of practice and become even more involved in the provision of healthcare to Australians?
And as we become more involved, what is our ability to then collaborate, form professional relationships and work harmoniously to ensure that our ultimate combined efforts provide the best possible health outcomes for our patients?
There are so many more questions we could ask.
But in reality, the “what” doesn’t come down to a definition, or label given to any health professional.
The “what” comes down to you.
How do you interpret this definition in your own mind?
And how do you respond to it?
What was your reaction when you read the definition of “allied health practitioner”?
Did it trigger you? And if so, what came up for you?
Did you immediately jump to thinking, “yes, this definition is a true and accurate reflection of my reality, and this is why I have so many issues and can’t work well with these other healthcare practitioners. That’s why they don’t like what I do and are threatened by our expanding scope of practice”?
Or did you go to thinking, “OK, but that label doesn’t reflect my reality. Even though these other health practitioners aren’t defined under the same definition as me, I still work closely and collaboratively with all healthcare providers around me. I don’t agree with this definition of allied practitioner at all, as I feel we’re all allies. Ultimately, this label doesn’t define me”?
So, what’s the difference between the two responses?
It’s simple – and if you read my previous article, you probably know the answer.
One is with ego, and the other is without it.
THE EGO IS NOT ONLY THE UNOBSERVED MIND, THE VOICE IN THE HEAD WHICH PRETENDS TO BE YOU, BUT ALSO THE UNOBSERVED EMOTIONS THAT ARE THE BODY’S REACTION TO WHAT THE VOICE IN THE HEAD IS SAYING.
Eckhart Tolle
Regardless of whichever response you had, you have the opportunity to explore a deeper meaning to it.
To understand it.
And then to respond in a way that serves you and your patient.
We do this by simply asking questions. Why did I have that response?
What led me to believe that my initial response was true?
What evidence do I have to support my truth?
Do I still need to feel this way?
Where are the opportunities to do things differently?
What is my role in this?
Why do I perceive this?
My Perception
So, you might be wondering why I’m bringing this up.
Because everybody I chat to about this doesn’t realise that this definition even exists.
And when I first read this definition, I knew it didn’t define me.
Why?
Because it wasn’t my truth.
It wasn’t my reality.
It wasn’t a reflection of my experiences.
And as such, it quickly became one my goals to ultimately lead the way to change it.
To remove the unconscious behaviours and their impacts, which have been instilled from the highest authorities, down to each healthcare provider and patient.
Thereby breaking the barriers that create animosity, disdain, friction, and resentment between healthcare providers.
Ultimately, it’s about redefining our future by redefining how we are defined.
But why bother? Because it’s simple.
We can let someone else define who we are, or we can define it ourselves.
Right now, for too many, this definition holds true.
There is divide. There is segregation. There is opposition.
But in order to change how we are defined, we must first change how we respond, and how we act.
Because I know for a fact that there are many healthcare practitioners who aren’t defined as an “allied health practitioner”, and by virtue, aren’t defined as my ally. But they are the same people who are in fact my biggest allies in helping our patients, and even our health businesses thrive.
Furthermore, they are some of the biggest advocates and supporters of what we do today, and what we can do tomorrow.
Why, because they know it’s not about who does what. It’s about what we can do together.
It’s about redeploying our efforts and lightening the load on each other’s plates to what matters most – providing better and greater levels of care to our patients.
And while we are on the precipice of some of the biggest changes to our profession we have seen to date in Australia, what do you want your role to be?
Do you want to positively embrace this change, and support others to embrace it to?
Do you want to empower those that might be scared, afraid or challenged by our expanding scope of practice, with the knowledge, tools and resources to help them be better equipped to understand and embrace this change?
Do you want to take ownership of your role in forging stronger relationships, partnerships, and allies across all health disciplines to work collaboratively for the betterment of your patients?
Or do you want to avoid the change, not embrace what so many have worked so hard to bring to the table, and simply succumb to the segregation and fragmentation that we are currently defined as?
BETTER TO HAVE FLAMED IN THE DARKNESS, TO HAVE INSPIRED OTHERS, TO HAVE LIVED, THAN TO HAVE SAT IN THE DARKNESS, CURSING THE PEOPLE WHO BORROWED, BUT DID NOT RETURN, YOUR CANDLE.
Neil Gaiman
Relive Or Redefine
For too long, many healthcare practitioners have been working in a fragmented environment, working on opposite sides of the fence, and pleading with each other to help perform even the simplest of tasks to help the patient.
And up until this point, you may have had a whole bunch of other reasons why you thought this was happening.
But I’ve simply provided one reason today.
BETTER TO HAVE FLAMED IN THE DARKNESS, TO HAVE INSPIRED OTHERS, TO HAVE LIVED, THAN TO HAVE SAT IN THE DARKNESS, CURSING THE PEOPLE WHO BORROWED, BUT DID NOT RETURN, YOUR CANDLE.
Neil Gaiman
If we continue to relive our past, and live true to the definitions applied to us, then nothing will change.
Because why should it?
We are simply acting the way we are defined, and thereby supporting that definition of us.
But if we can work together, to redefine what defines us, then not only are we on the precipice of change with our expanded scope of practice, we are on the precipice of rewriting the way in which we provide truly collaborative healthcare to our patients all over Australia.
However, it’s not just up to me to redefine our future. It starts with each of us.
Relive or redefine. What do you choose?
I MEANT IT WHEN I SAID I WANT TO REDEFINE THE DEFINITION OF ALLIED HEALTH GLOBALLY
That’s why I’ve spent the past 3 years working to do just that.
Because as you know, it takes action to redefine something, not just words on paper.
But our actions need to stem from a unique set of skills. And unfortunately, you haven’t been given those skills.
Until now.
Until Foundations.
Like a house needs solid foundations to stand the test of time, so do we in order to succeed working in, or owning our own health businesses.
Foundations is designed to empower health professionals from all walks of life with the foundational skills, knowledge and tools needed to understand, work in, and maximise the opportunities of todays and tomorrow’s healthcare businesses.
Essentially, it’s everything you wished you, and your team learned in school, university or college to convert your clinical knowledge into real-world thinking.
TO FIND OUT MORE
Head to www.zamilsolanki.com/foundations.
To become part of our global community supporting healthpreneurs from all walks of life, head to facebook.com/groups/zamilsolanki. As we’re growing a like-minded community that truly values health, be sure to answer all of the questions to gain entry. There’s no right or wrong!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zamil Solanki works with healthpreneurs – from individuals to large multi-national organisations – to help them overcome unique challenges and achieve their goals through curated training programs, and tailored holistic solutions.
Unlike other coaches and consultants, we pair global research and techniques with our own experiences, having grown our own pharmacy by $4 million and exiting it for 3x the industry average multiple. To do this, we focus holistically using 5 key pillars – mindset, planning, leadership, marketing and sales and specialize in workflow, innovation, automation and systems.
Zamil Solanki
Pharmacist, Business Strategist & Entrepreneurial Coach