Prescribers
Whether you are a medical practitioner, a nurse, a dentists, or another health professional, if you prescribe medication to patients then the information on this page will help you understand the Community Pharmacy Service Agreement (CPSA).
The CPSA - changing pharmacy for patient positives
The CPSA between Community Pharmacies and District Health Boards (DHBs) aims to bring positive outcomes to patients and encourage collaboration between pharmacists and members of a patient’s multi-disciplinary health team.
Not only have the services provided as part of the CPSA been designed with this objective in mind, but they also give pharmacists the opportunity to tailor how they support the patient and put their expert clinical skills to good use.
The Community Pharmacy Programme, on behalf of the DHBs supports engagement with prescribers about what Community Pharmacy Services Agreement means for them. The programme is directly engaging with professional organisations such as General Practice New Zealand, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and has representatives from these organisations available to discuss and inform our work.
Services for your patients
The Long Term Conditions Service
This free service provides extra medicines adherence support for patients with long term conditions via initiatives such as:
- Medicines management plans
- Monthly contact
- Synchronisation of their medicines
- Text message reminders when their repeat prescription is due.
Benefits for you and your patients- Pharmacists will work with you to support your patients and help identify those requiring extra help adhering to their medications
- Reduced costs of unnecessary urgent or repeat prescriptions
- An improvement in your patient's medicines adherence over time
- Improved patient health as a result of increased medicines adherence
- A high quality patient centered service from their pharmacist
LTC Service Patient Case Studies
LTC Service information for nurse educators - Do your patients need help managing their medicines?
Community Pharmacy Anti-Coagulation Management Service (CPAMS)
The Community Pharmacy Anti-Coagulation Service (CPAMS) provides point of care INR testing for warfarin patients by accredited pharmacists contracted to provide the service in community pharmacies by their District Health Board. It is an example of integrated patient care with pharmacists, nurses and GPs working collaboratively for the benefit of the patient.
GPs and patients who have been involved in the service have described the immediacy of the results as a key benefit of the service. Patients appreciate being able to get direct advice and care from their pharmacist as well as the more convenient access to testing. On the whole they feel much more involved in the management of their own INR levels.
Advise your patients to talk to their community pharmacist about services that may help them.
More information for prescribers
CPAMS Factsheet for primary and community care
CPAMS Quality Report
CPAMS Case Studies
Dispensing rules for prescribers
Methadone - Communication for prescribers
Community Pharmacy Anti-Coagulation Service