NSW TAG Role and FunctionsMember-based organisation servicing frontline clinicians’ real time needs for Quality Use of Medicines since 1988

LHDs DTCs Support clinical decision making & governance; identify QUM issues & support solutions; tailor advice to local needs & context

NSW Pandemic SolutionsCo-ordinate the Drug and Therapeutics Advisory (DaTA) CoP & develop resources

ACSQHCAdvise National Standards & Quality Indicators development & medication safety initiatives

ACI Models of care consultation, education & input to Leading Better Value Care

CEC Advice for medication safety, continuity of care & AMS activities

National IssuesAdvise, support & contribute to CATAG, SHPA, NPS MedicineWise & TGA initiatives

NSW Health Provide advice for practicalities of policy implementation & change management

eHealth NSW Implementation of QUM in eMR & DTC support strategies

Unique strengths: Sharing expertise

Network of local engagementRapid clinical information

dissemination & advice

Infographics & icons from: Slidesgo, Flaticon (Freepik & prettycons).

NSW TAG

KEY ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE OUR FUNCTIONS

• Identify issues• Resources to support

solutions independently and with CATAG

• Formulary & IPU templates• Support DTC decision making• Life saving drug registers

(LSDRs)

Support DTCs

• Guiding principles (GPs) & Position statements (PS)

• Rapid reviews, therapeutic guidance, practical guidance

• TAG Mail newsletter

Evaluate new therapeutics

• QUM indicators for quality improvement & accreditation

• Coordinate multi-site MUE• Collaborate with other TAGs,

clinicians, academics, national organisations

• Email discussions

Promote QUM

• Content & implementation• Medicines advocacy• Consultation & submissions

Advise NSW Health & national bodies on medicines policy

201 hospitals

surveyed for LSDRs

11 antivenoms +

34 antidotes

49 TAG Mail issues p.a.

39 email

discussions

conducted in

2020

For example:

- COVID-19 meds management

- Member of state advisory committees

- Member of clinical care standards

development

- Promoting automated indicator

measurement

- NMBA advocacy to TGA

Collate & share

> 2500

formulary & IPU

decisions &

other DTC

decisions p.a.

Updating &

developing QUM

Indicators

- Biosimliar use GPs

- Off-label medicine use GPs

- Low dose methotrexate PS

- ABF considerations

- Minimising harm from contrast

- Cannabis primer

Prepared December 2020

NSW TAG has held key leadership roles that benefits all LHDs. The COVID-19 DaTA CoP is an excellent example. TAG was also intimately involved in the eMeds project (Sasha

supervised the lead pharmacist for the project) and it consumed a large amount of time. Interestingly, eMeds was the first time a clinician had led an eHealth project and the

involvement of a not for profit like TAG was I am sure a first as well.TAG definitely assists our QUM Committee.

TAGs support of medicines governance is invaluable/irreplaceable.

MedicalLarge Metro Hospital

Director of Pharmacy Large Metro Hospital

Our DTC has definitely been supported by NSW TAG and values the numerous services that it provides. For example the forum it provides for rapid sharing of detailed information from the frontline particularly when dealing with

emerging DTC matters such as off-label IPUs, formulary and restrictions, med safety issues, coordinating DTC activities, preventing duplication of effort, facilitating DTC standards through the provision of TAG tools, indicators and evidence-based QUM guidelines and activities and advocating for DTCs such as the work on the IPU portal and this year’s work to keep DTCs

up to date with COVID guidance, just to mention a few.

We value the support of the CATAG guidance documents which NSW

TAG have certainly contributed to. The Biosimilar guidance and the

evaluation of DTC performance are two particular documents which we have valued and used on a regular

basis.

There is significant value in the responsiveness of

NSW TAG to providing collective wisdom for

questions we might have about off-label usage.

The work of the Editorial committee is valued and

our DTC use many of the tools NSW TAG has

produced e.g. IPU, Formulary Applications, COVID

guidance documents, Indicators – the list goes on.

Deputy Director Large Metro Hospital

Director of Pharmacy Large Metro Hospital

Director of Pharmacy Large Metro Hospital

Can I just say how incredibly useful TAG Mail is and how much I appreciate receiving it each week! Without it I wouldn’t have a chance of keeping up to date with everything going on. I forward relevant pieces to my colleagues and

they are also very grateful.Thank you for your continued efforts in

providing this important newsletter.

Pharmacist & academic

Re the new SHPA Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) document. Thank you to all members and especially NSW TAG who

gave such considered feedback.

Interstate Medication Safety Lead Pharmacist

Advantages of Independence

Able to seek funding from other

organisations for complementary

activities addressing QUM needs: sustaining

viability

Information sharing amongst members in a

safe environment & minimise duplication

of effort

Address the ‘grey’ areas of

clinical therapeutics: where others fear to tread

Expert support from clinicians with technical

knowledge of field & environment

Unfunded member contributions to identify

issues, leverage members’ full spectrum of expertise & develop high impact resources

NSW TAG Role and FunctionsMember-based organisation servicing frontline clinicians’ real time needs for Quality Use of Medicines since 1988

Infographics & icons from: Slidesgo, Flaticon (Freepik & prettycons).

Some recent feedback

Prepared December 2020