Frontline staff aren’t always visible, but their impact is undeniable.
Pharmacists working across Bayside Health Service are crucial, working on wards and specialising in areas like renal and cardiology.
Some, like Monika Ogilvie, who has been part of the Bayside Health Service team for more than 20 years, have become the hidden force behind emergency medicine at the hospital.
For the past two years, Monika has been backfilling in the Director of Pharmacy position and working in her role as team leader for emergency, acute care and mental health.
“I specialise in emergency medicine,” Monika said.
"It's about dealing with all sorts of emergency presentations, ranging from falls in the elderly, respiratory conditions, infectious diseases, pain management, cardiac resuscitation of patients, aggressive and agitated patients and immediate medication management when they come into the Emergency Department.
“It’s also important that medications are documented correctly and available, especially for those admitted into the hospital,” she said.
Director of Pharmacy Gabrielle Lambert highlighted the collective experience of her team.
"We have more than a century worth of experience in our pharmacy department," Gabrielle said.
"Our team’s expertise, from the pharmacists on our wards, to those specialising and consulting is indispensable to the hospital’s operations.”
The Bayside Health Service Pharmacy team have been working towards recognition from The Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy (ANZCAP).
“This is a program recognising career progression and specialty skills so that pharmacists and technicians from all practice settings can be recognised for their experience and expertise,” Gabrielle said.