To help pharmacy staff stay abreast of all the evolving Covid-19 changes, Guild Learning and Development, together with their strategic partner, the Australasian College of Pharmacy, have updated their Asthma management and the role of the pharmacist in optimising patient outcomes course.
The updated course, which is now available to pharmacy staff, provides an opportunity to review and revisit the management guidelines for asthma, particularly from the perspective of Covid-19 and ‘long Covid’.
The course examines the stepwise approach to asthma management and addresses the role pharmacy staff can play in patient outcomes.
To enrol in the course, visit: guilded.guild.org.au
Covid, flu and asthmaÂ
Covid-19 and the evolution of ‘long Covid’ have resulted in the need for vigilance by health professionals, including pharmacy staff, to ensure at-risk patients (e.g., people living with asthma) are aware of the risks and adhere to their asthma management plans.
Pharmacy staff have an important role in assisting patients to manage their condition.
This may include the importance of adhering to preventer regimens to decrease the risk of asthma flare-ups, especially in light of exposure to viral respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19 and/or influenza.
The influenza season has been predicted to be worse due to the low immunisation rates for influenza in recent years which in turn increases the risk of significant flare-ups in asthma patients.
Pharmacy staff should deliver advice regarding managing asthma to patients and carers at every opportunity.
This best practice management of asthma has undergone many changes in recent years which has led to changes in the Australian Asthma Handbook and the national asthma management guidelines for health professionals.
