Ann Privett – Community Pharmacist
Ann’s best subject was chemistry. She had never thought of pharmacy as a job let alone a career but after a suggestion from her Mum she started thinking about it.
“I didn’t even know what a pharmacist did but there weren’t many careers in the 1970’s that had equal pay for women and that definitely was a big plus! Now, 30 years on, I am a community pharmacist and I’m very proud of that.”
If there is one thing Ann has learned over the years it is that if you want to be a community pharmacist you have to be prepared for change and be able to handle it. “The role of community pharmacist is constantly changing, evolving and developing. That is one of the reasons I love it. In my last year of training (1978) a visiting Professor from the USA spoke to us about the future roles of pharmacists. Patient centred care, medication reviews, doctors and pharmacists working side by side for the benefit of the patient – I was sold! That was what I wanted to do.”
Ann’s internship was with John Berry. “He was one of the most progressive pharmacists in the 1970’s. He taught me that not only do you need to work hard and have good systems; you also need to take a few risks, lead change and do your bit to further pharmacy for those who follow, great advice. We were the first pharmacy to computerise the dispensary and all our handwritten patient notes. We were a trial site – it was exciting, and straight away I could see the benefits to pharmacy.”
“I would encourage every young pharmacist to work in a number of different pharmacies and pharmacy situations. I worked in rural, suburban, city, large, small, some well run, others not so well and what I learned in this time was invaluable. I listened to the sage advice of the older pharmacists that I had the privilege to work with, tucking away all their advice to draw on later in my career.”
After Ann’s marriage she settled in Wellington and found that she was spending more time dispensing than doing the work with patients that she had dreamed of. Deciding that a change might be what she needed she became a sales representative for a drug company. “For three years I sold a range of medications to doctors, visiting pharmacies, GP’s and hospitals. I learned a lot and developed some really good communication skills but decided that in the long term it just wasn’t for me.”
Her position as a sales representative did however put her back in touch with her first love – community pharmacy. “While visiting one of my pharmacies the owner convinced me to buy his business. My husband and I mortgaged ourselves to the hilt and in October 1987 I became the owner of Miramar Pharmacy 1987 Ltd. It was a small, sole operator pharmacy in a very busy suburban neighbourhood. I wasn’t at all experienced in running a pharmacy but it was exciting learning. Nothing was too hard, it was challenging and it was fun.”
Ann developed the pharmacy, focused on natural health products and also managed to navigate her way through the demands of motherhood. “It was a busy time but I developed some amazing organisational skills and learned how to expect the unexpected.”
“A few years later with my goal to increase the services a community pharmacy could deliver to the community, I approached another pharmacist in Miramar – Raj Nagar. After numerous attempts Raj Nagar and I formed Miramar Healthcare Pharmacy Ltd, moved into a purpose built pharmacy with a medical centre, dentist and med lab in the same building. By amalgamating we were able to grow our business and provide the services it had been my goal to establish. We have been doing Medication Use Reviews since July 2004. These reviews are one of the reasons I became a pharmacist. We’re working with our patients and their GP’s to keep them healthy and controlled on their medications. It is a rewarding service that requires excellent communication skills and knowledge of pharmaceuticals and pharmacology – exactly what we’re trained in!”
Ann is now looking forward to her next challenge. Her pharmacy is one of the demonstration sites in a Health Workforce New Zealand innovation project where GP’s and community pharmacies work together to manage patients on anticoagulation therapy (warfarin). “This has given us the opportunity to shape the future of pharmacy. I am involved in numerous committees and groups around the country involved in pharmacy contracts, medication reviews, teaching fellow pharmacists and telling the rest of NZ about pharmacy and what we can do. I am fortunate to have been elected to the National Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society. This has given me a greater understanding of all things pharmacy and why and how change can happen. I believe it’s important to give back to a career that has given me so much.
Every day I love that I can go to work and know the people coming in the door. I live and work in the same area and love that I am there to help them with their problems even if it is just to listen or refer them to someone else (like their doctor). Once in a while someone will come back and thank you for your advice or product you recommended and at Christmas we receive the most wonderful home baking.”
Ann believes strongly that the accessibility of the local community pharmacy is something that is appreciated by all members of the community. She says that pharmacists have a tendency to under value the role they play in keeping communities healthy. “To me, giving over the counter advice is just as rewarding as doing Medical Use Reviews; from the IST aid we apply to the lady who has just shut her finger in the car door, to the advice we give to the new Mum with the colicky baby. It is one of the most rewarding and challenging roles you’ll have.
One of the reasons I love community pharmacy is that it challenges you on many levels. There is the professional challenge but there’s also the challenge of running your own business. I like to think that the pharmacist’s attention to detail makes for an astute business owner. I love the variety that the day offers although I have my moments when it comes to filing a GST return or doing the monthly accounts!
When it comes to a career in pharmacy here’s what gets me out of bed in the morning: the thrill of not knowing what the day will bring, the enjoyment of working with staff who are like family to me, the enjoyment of solving patient medication questions, and the speed by which the day flies by due to lots of variety and challenge. Pharmacy has been a great career choice and one I would recommend, it is what you make of it.”