UFS Dispensaries Ltd

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 200 YEARS

UFS DISPENSARIES LTD

CARING FOR

Australia

A business that believes in giving back, UFS Dispensaries Ltd has been contributing to the Australian healthcare sector for 200 years Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Callam Waller

2 | APAC Outlook issue 48

HEALTHCARE

A

s the biggest employer in Australia, the health sector employs approximately 14.2 percent of the population and is delivered primarily through Medicare, the public healthcare programme.

For such a vast sector, the outlook of Victoria-based healthcare organisation UFS Dispensaries Ltd is surprisingly local.

What sets UFS Dispensaries apart

is their customer-centric outlook, prioritising the care of their community and extensive network of members, but also in the wider sense.

“We exist for the benefit of our members, working to improve the health of both our members and the local communities where we operate.”

Founded over 200 years ago in the Central Highlands of Australia, UFS Dispensaries has grown to become

an established name within the healthcare sector.

Based in the city of Ballarat, UFS and its associated pharmacies prides itself on having treated generations of local families.

The pharmacies themselves have been a landmark on the historic local landscape since the first dispensary opened its doors on Ballarat’s Armstrong Street in 1881.

APAC Outlook issue 48 | 3

UFS DISPENSARIES LTD Known as an employer of choice, UFS Dispensaries’ staff body now comprises over 440 full-time, parttime and casual staff.

“UFS Dispensaries also operates three pharmacies in Coburg in Melbourne’s inner-north, on behalf of another mutual organisation, Friendly Pharmacy (Victoria) Ltd. The pharmacies operate as UFS Pharmacies.”

A MUTUAL ORGANISATION The organisation is run by an elected board of directors and is owned as a mutual not-for-profit by over 48,000 members. At present, the company is headed by CEO Lynne McLennan.

Owned entirely by members, as opposed to shareholders, the company benefits in many ways from its status as a mutual organisation.

“A mutual organisation is a company that is owned by its members, who are usually also its customers, rather than by shareholders interested in receiving a return on their investment.”

Essentially, this lays the foundation for UFS’ status as a social enterprise.

Annual membership is available for just $10 per year and offers discounts and reciprocal benefits across the ‘Friendly Society’ pharmacies. A democratised system, all members are invited to attend and cast their vote at the association’s Annual General Meeting.

“Any profits generated are reinvested in the business, and are used to improve services for our members, offer member discounts, invest in our people, etc... This is in contrast to publicly traded companies where profits are distributed to shareholders without necessarily benefiting the company’s customers.”

True to their ethos, UFS extends the same level of care and attention to the selection of their partners.

“UFS partners with organisations whose values align with our own and we are delighted to partner with Australian Unity to offer UFS members health insurance.”

MPS Connect HOW ARE THINGS CHANGING AT MPS? MPS CONNECT, the new MPS eNRMC Software that connects everyone to the one platform makes it easier for doctors, aged care nurses and carers as well as pharmacists to provide medication to consumers incorporating the following: MPS-DOCTORCONNECT – electronic prescribing for doctors to improve the safety of managing medication changes and prescriptions required MPS-PHARMACYCONNECT – electronic ordering and confirmation of medication profiles MPS-DOSECONNECT – electronic administration records for nurses and carers to reduce the risk of missing a medication dose MPS-FAMILYCONNECT – electronic portal for families to view current medication profiles and any changes made

www.mpsconnect.com.au

COMPANY ASSETS AND OPERATIONS UFS Dispensaries currently owns and operates: • 16 pharmacies in the western region of Victoria, encompassing Ballarat, Beaufort, Gisborne, Ballan, Bacchus Marsh and Melton • A Supercare Pharmacy operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Ballarat • Three medical centres • A day spa and well-being centre • A specialty gift store

4 | APAC Outlook issue 48

MPS CONNECT, the new MPS eNRMC Software that connects everyone to the one platform makes it easier for doctors, aged care nurses and Cares as well as pharmacists to provide medication to consumers incorporating the following: MPS-DOCTORCONNECT – electronic prescribing for doctors to reduce time and safely manage medication changes and prescriptions required MPS-DOSECONNECT – electronic administration records for nurses and carers to never miss a medication administration again MPS-PHARMACYCONNECT – electronic ordering and confirmation of medication profiles MPS-FAMILYCONNECT – electronic portal for families to view current medication profiles and changes

HEALTHCARE

Key Features: • Reporting and monitoring on the way medication is used with KPI dashboards in line with regulatory compliance and monitoring pharmacy performance.

• New family medication portal for better transparency with secure IT protocols protecting consumer’s information • Safer medication prescribing, dispensing and administering with the MPS software suite.

MPS provides consumers the choice of how their medications are packed through your selected pharmacy.

• Use one of three MPS TGA dose manufacturing facilities providing the safest way to pack medications, or • The pharmacy packs in store using the MPS software suite in either sachets or blister packs.

Come and discover what we have learnt and see how our model can assist your facility and your consumers be better connected.

A total solution for Pharmacies, Aged Care

MPS Connect MANAGEMENT IN AGED CARE IS MEDICATION Facilities, Doctors and Families.

CHANGING AND SO IS MPS A TOTAL SOLUTION FOR PHARMACIES, AGED CARE FACILITIES, DOCTORS AND FAMILIES

Connect today • 1800 003 938 • www.mpsconnect.com.au • hello@mpsconnect.com.au MPSconnect_FP.indd 1

Over the past 12 months MPS has spent time connecting with Doctors, Aged Care Staff, Pharmacists, Consumers and their family members to tailor our new approach.

25/1/21 11:07 am

Connect today CHANGING • 1800 003 938 • www.mpsconnect.com.au • hello@mpsconnect.com.au HOW ARE THINGS AT MPS? MPS CONNECT, the new MPS eNRMC Software that connects everyone to the one platform makes it easier for doctors, aged care nurses and Cares as well as pharmacists to provide medication to consumers incorporating the following:

MEDICATION MANAGEMENT IN AGED CARE IS CHANGING AND SO IS MPS

MPS-DOCTORCONNECT – electronic prescribing for doctors to reduce time and safely manage medication changes and prescriptions required MPS-DOSECONNECT – electronic administration records for nurses and carers to never miss a medication administration again MPS-PHARMACYCONNECT – electronic ordering and confirmation of medication profiles MPS-FAMILYCONNECT – electronic portal for families to view current medication profiles and changes

Over the past 12 months MPS has spent time connecting with Doctors, Aged Care Staff,

Pharmacists, Consumers and their family members to tailor our new approach.

Key Features: • Reporting and monitoring on the way medication is used with KPI dashboards in line with regulatory compliance and monitoring pharmacy performance.

• New family medication portal for better transparency with secure IT protocols protecting consumer’s information • Safer medication prescribing, dispensing and administering with the MPS software suite.

MPS provides consumers the choice of how their medications are packed through your selected pharmacy.

• Use one of three MPS TGA dose manufacturing facilities providing the safest way to pack medications, or • The pharmacy packs in store using the MPS software suite in either sachets or blister packs.

Come and discover what we have learnt and see how our model can assist your facility and your consumers be better connected.

MPS Connect A TOTAL SOLUTION FOR PHARMACIES, AGED CARE FACILITIES, DOCTORS AND FAMILIES

HOW ARE THINGS CHANGING AT MPS? MPS CONNECT, the new MPS eNRMC Software that connects everyone to the one platform makes it easier for doctors, aged care nurses and Cares as well as pharmacists to provide medication to consumers incorporating the following:

Connect today • 1800 003 938 • www.mpsconnect.com.au • hello@mpsconnect.com.au

MPS-DOCTORCONNECT – electronic prescribing for doctors to reduce time and safely manage medication changes and prescriptions required MPS-DOSECONNECT – electronic administration records for nurses and carers to never miss a medication administration again 25/1/21 11:07 am MPSconnect_FP.indd 1 MPS-PHARMACYCONNECT – electronic ordering and confirmation of medication profiles MPS-FAMILYCONNECT – electronic portal for families to view current medication profiles and changes APAC Outlook issue 48 | 5 Key Features:

UFS DISPENSARIES LTD A fellow mutual organisation with a rich heritage, Australian Unity goes back more than 175 years to the establishment of Manchester Unity in Victoria and South Australia in 1840.

“They trace their origins to a pub in Melbourne where a group of eight people formed a friendly society with

COMPANY STATEMENTS OUR MISSION: UFS aims to improve the health of our members and the local community.

OUR VALUES: • Focus on our members • Provide professional services • Be connected to our community • Operate with high ethical standards • Support our staff • Lead innovation in healthcare • Provide leadership in health solutions

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the goal of looking after the health and wellbeing of its members.”

CHARITABLE VALUES Crucially for UFS, their status as a ‘mutual organisation’ gives them the means to contribute to worthy causes based in their area.

“This means that we invest money back into the local communities that we operate businesses in, by supporting a range of organisations and causes, providing considerable donations, in-kind support and sponsorship to local groups and organisations each year!”

UFS prides itself on its active role amongst the local community. Last year, the company donated over $100,000 to community groups across Ballarat and the Victoria district through donations and sponsorship.

This was distributed amongst several worthy causes, including ‘Share the Dignity’, an organisation dedicated to ending period poverty in Australia, and ‘BRMC’, a charity focussing on promoting multiculturalism and the well-being of migrant communities across the region.

In 2019, when Australia was gripped by a devastating outbreak of wildfires, UFS made significant donations to

support emergency relief, including $10,000 towards the Victorian Bushfire Disaster Appeal that ravaged their home state.

Other organisations that have been funded by UFS include the Ballarat District Suicide Prevention Network and a community choir that aims to benefit local mental health. The loss of such services was felt on the local landscape when several programmes were forced to come to a halt due to the pandemic.

RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC As a component of the sector that is at the very forefront of the pandemic, UFS met the task of adapting to operating under COVID-19 whilst also fighting the virus, admirably.

“We stayed nimble and adapted to the changing conditions. We continued to protect, innovate and grow our business offering in a way that was aligned with our core values and purpose. The establishment of a Commonwealth Government funded COVID-19 respiratory clinic allowed us to respond to the needs and help protect our community.”

In their 2020 report, UFS Dispensaries’ Chairman went on to comment, “Under the astute leadership of our CEO Lynne McLennan, strategies were rapidly put in place to ensure the protection of our staff and customers and to guarantee continual communication across the business was early and frequent. We mobilised employees to work from home and ensured frontline teams were ready to respond.”

In the nascent days of the pandemic, the Australian Commonwealth Government issued a request for general practices to set up and run COVID-19 testing clinics. UFS didn’t disappoint, and soon established a dedicated testing facility in the City of Ballarat’s Community Hub building with government funding.

The safety of both patients and staff remains of paramount importance to the company.

HEALTHCARE within the course of the pandemic is ample evidence of this. As CEO Lynne McLennan commented in their annual report, “The new systems, processes and services implemented in response to the pandemic have been highly effective and will now stand us in good stead for the future.”

“In UFS Medical, our GPs and some allied health staff moved quickly to telehealth to ensure that patient attendances in person could be minimised, and those who experienced respiratory symptoms could be provided with appropriate care.”

A FINAL WORD

THE KEY FIGURES

7,222

COVID CLINIC TESTS CONDUCTED BETWEEN 14/4/2020 AND 30/06/2020

operates. One of the larger donations of $10,000 was to Rural Australians for Refugees Ballarat, who responded to the support we were able to provide.”

“Our response to the pandemic will be recorded as another proud moment in the long history of the organisation”, concludes the organisation’s Chairman.

OUR PEOPLE ARE OUR STRENGTH True to the charitable values that are at its very foundation, UFS was also quick to respond in the form of financial aid.

In June, the company dedicated a significant portion of their donations to emergency relief services for those in the community most affected by the pandemic.

“The funds were allocated to organisations across all areas where UFS

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY Two of the principal challenges facing Australia’s health system today are the use of the new technologies and the better use of health data.

Although there is improvement to be done, with the Australian government investing in further medical research and technological innovation, UFS is testament to the efficacy of embracing and incorporating tele-health and digital technology.

The crucial role that they have plaid

It comes as little surprise that UFS Dispensaries’ ethical values extend to their concern for the environment.

The company adheres to a strong eco-policy to minimise their carbon footprint.

To name a few of the myriad examples of how UFS choose to work in an eco-friendly way, all ten UFSowned buildings are supplied with solar panels, plastic bags have been phased out across their pharmacies, whilst also offering a safe disposal for unwanted or expired medicines, thereby reducing their impact on the environment.

Last year, the company saved 224 tonnes of CO2 by relying on the 209,343 kilowatt-hours of electricity generated by the solar panels erected across their pharmacies.

UFS Dispensaries Ltd.’s ethical standpoint, community spirit and sustainable approach seems appropriate for our modern context and serves as a worthy example for other industries within the sector.

www.ufs.com.au

APAC Outlook issue 48 | 7

UFS DISPENSARIES LTD 206 Armstrong St Nth, Ballarat VIC 3350, Australia www.ufs.com.au PRODUCED BY APAC OUTLOOK MAGAZINE