Clinical consultant improves health outcomes for aged care residents
By Veronika Cox
Southern Cross Care Tasmania residents who experience medication-related problems are in good hands, thanks to the dedication of clinical consultant Dr Mulugeta Angamo.
The Ethiopia-born clinical consultant has devoted his career to improving health outcomes of residents through evidence-based learning, training, and collaborative research on medication management.
“Residents in aged care facilities use multiple medications with complex medication regimens due to a large number of comorbidities and inappropriate prescribing,” he explained.
Dr Mulugeta, who holds a PhD in Pharmacy from the University of Tasmania, said his career path had not always been straightforward. Despite his working history as a clinical pharmacist and university lecturer in Ethiopia, he found it challenging to get a job.
While he was studying, Dr Mulugeta started working for Southern Cross Care (SCC) Tasmania as a casual extended care assistant, alongside his tutoring job with the university. After some time, SCC learned of his qualifications and Dr Mulugeta – who has conducted and led various research projects addressing medication-related problems – found his skills in high demand.
“I met [Chief Executive Officer] Robyn Boyd, [Executive Manager Care Services]
Jo Perry and [Clinical Consultant] Sr Chidi Njoku for an interview,” he said.
“Since then, I have been working as a clinical consultant and involved in several clinical and care services management processes.
“Southern Cross Care Tasmania are very supportive and always want to see mechanisms that improve Quality of Care, including appropriate and safe medication use,” he said.
Dr Mulugeta is currently rolling out a new medication management system BESTmed across all SCC residential facilities.
“There is the potential for improved medication safety because medicine orders are transferred electronically. Any changes to prescriptions are sent to the resident’s servicing pharmacy instantly once prescribed, which may enable the pharmacy to dispense and deliver the medicine to the facility sooner, reducing the chance of the resident missing any of their scheduled doses and keeping resident’s medication history altogether within one system.”