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There’s a well-quoted saying that “Great satisfaction comes from sharing with others”, and consultant clinical pharmacist George Damuk (pictured), from Pharmacy Focus Rosemeadow, is a firm believer.
SWSPHN Diabetes Coordinator Alyssa Horgan accompanied Mr Damuk on a recent visit to Mount Gilead Estate retirement village where he gave a presentation to residents about diabetes.
He provided an overview of what diabetes was, what symptoms you could suffer from and how it affected the body. He also talked about the care needed to manage the condition to ensure long-term health outcomes.
Pharmacy Focus is the main pharmacy which services this retirement village. As an extension of his dispensing service, Mr Damuk delivers an education session to residents every two months on a topical health issue.
A member of South Western Sydney Primary and Community Diabetes Care Sub-Committee, Mr Damuk has an interest in diabetes and particularly in care around the condition.
He estimates about 50 to 60 per cent of Mount Gilead Estate residents who visit his pharmacy have diabetes, so it was a logical next step to talk to them about the condition.
A South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) diabetes educator and the manager of Campbelltown Hospital’s Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Translation Unit (DOMTRU) also accompanied Mr Damuk to Mount Gilead Estate.
The team provided an overview of the joint programs and services SWSPHN and SWSLHD provide, such as small group education sessions for type 2 diabetes patients.
They also highlighted the case conferencing service for type 2 diabetes patients, where an endocrinologist and diabetes educator attend a general practice for the day to run a diabetes clinic for patients.
Mount Gilead Estate residents who attended the talk were engaged with the information.
Mr Damuk is keen to look at opportunities to deliver education sessions to other retirement villages and aged care homes. He wants to promote the message that pharmacists are integral to patient care and highlight the role pharmacists can play in patient education.
Mount Gilead Estate residents will learn more about home care in a November talk delivered by a home care provider. Mr Damuk will return in January to lead a discussion about a health condition nominated by residents.
For more information, or to discuss booking a diabetes case conference clinic day, contact SWSPHN Priority Populations Program Coordinator Alyssa Horgan at Alyssa.Horgan@swsphn.com.au.