A Gunnedah pharmacy is a finalist in the 2022 Pharmacy of the Year awards.
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Karen Carter Chemist is one of six finalists in the awards run by by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
The local pharmacy in Conadilly Street is owned by Karen and David Carter who purchased the business in 1996. They also own a pharmacy in Narrabri.
Mrs Carter has been working as a pharmacist for more than 30 years and said the staff were "thrilled to be recognised" among more than 2000 nominations.
"We're really, really excited and we think it's amazing for our team with all of the work we put in, so it's a nice recognition for the work we do in our community." she said.
In the pharmacy's awards submission, Mrs Carter said the business' pharmacists travel to isolated and remote ares, such as Boggabri, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri to conduct residential medication management reviews and quality use of medicines reviews.
"This can be a 664km drive in one day, visiting two facilities or being flown in a two-seater plane to Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett ... but this just part of our main priority which is to provide a full-service platform with enhanced services to engage our patients and community," Mrs Carter said.
"The shortage of GPs in town has allowed us to be a health hub, and our amazing pharmacy assistants interact with our community to allow us to deliver healthcare in a variety of forms.
"Being unable to automatically see a GP locally, patients seek advice on a variety of health issues, which builds great trust, and they feel confident with the professional help they receive."
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Ms Carter said "the profession is changing" and automation would be key to delivering services in the future.
"Everyone loves it. As a pharmacist it frees up your time to be pharmacist rather than worrying about stock and getting things off shelves," she said.
"We now have a forward pharmacy dispensing model and this means patients can see the pharmacist straight away. All our processes have been streamlined."
Mrs Carter said it was also helpful in the pharmacy's COVID-19 vaccination program roll-out.
The awards category winners and the overall Guild Pharmacy of the Year winner will be announced at the APP Conference in March 2022.