Goodwin is pleased to welcome onboard Kirolos Wasef as our in-house Accredited Pharmacist for residential aged care.
The appointment is the second under Goodwin’s industry-leading initiative of employing an embedded clinical pharmacist in residential care.
Kirolos will continue the good work of his predecessor (and Australia’s first residential aged care pharmacist) Richard Thorpe and further develop the role at Goodwin.
A certified geriatric pharmacist and a qualified immuniser, Kirolos brings with him more than 17 years of experience in community pharmacy and consultancy.
“I’m honoured to be handed over the baton of this all-important role. Medication is an important part of every person’s later life. I’m here to assist our teams to continue raising the bar and upkeep the best practices we’ve set as an industry leader to ensure safe dispensation of drugs to our residents.”
In this role, Kirolos will be responsible for:
- more regular medication reviews to ensure medications best meet resident needs, while usage minimises side-effects and supports dignity and quality of life
- improved residents’ and families’ understanding of their medication
- improved safety in administration and usage
- reduced polypharmacy and chemical restraint
- Goodwin’s annual influenza vaccination program.
Since the deployment of the in-house pharmacist at its residential care facilities, Goodwin has seen improvements and time reductions in medication rounds, allowing carers to spend more time with residents to provide other forms of support.
“I can already see a great system in place for medication reviews and management: what truly stands out is the minimal use of chemical restraints, which is unlike any aged care facility I have worked with previously”, said Kirolos.
Chemical restraints, such as anti-psychotics and anti-depressants can sometimes be appropriate, but Goodwin upholds a ‘no-restraint’ policy where ever possible to support quality of life and dignity. Chemical restraints are also associated with falls risk and other health complications among seniors. With Goodwin’s pharmacist on the ground five days a week, he can immediately see how the medications are taking effect and be quick to spot any adverse reactions.
Tamra MacLeod, Goodwin’s Executive Manager Clinical and Health Services said, “The end goal is to ensure residents receive the highest quality of care. With Kirolos’ joining our team, I am confident we’ve taken another great stride in providing the best care to our residents”.
