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Veterans' MATES

Veterans' Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services

Factors such as the increased use of medicines and advancing age can lead to adverse drug events and hospitalisation through confusion and misadventure with medicines. Being aware of these factors and of the high usage of medicines within the veteran community, the Department has developed a new quality use of medicines program, the Veterans' Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services (Veterans’ MATES) to improve the use of medicines in the veteran community.

Veterans’ MATES uses data from prescription claims to identify members of the veteran community who may be at risk of medication misadventure and provides information which may assist in improving the management of their medicines. The program puts veterans' general practitioners at the centre of the program and aims to build a team approach to veterans' medicines use by including veterans, their carers, their community pharmacists, other medical specialists and health practitioners. An important facet of the program is to inform and raise awareness of a veteran's chronic medical conditions and to encourage improved communication between veterans and members of their healthcare team.

The Veterans’ MATES program is delivered in the form of clinical modules every three to four months. Each module focuses on a particular aspect of medicines management.

Modules Index

Separate telephone Helplines have been established for doctors and pharmacists, and veterans who may wish to discuss the content of the program material sent to them. As well, survey forms are included with each module to invite written feedback. Feedback received to date from veterans, doctors and pharmacists has been very encouraging.

PSA CPD & PI Points
Information for pharmacists who wish to gain PSA CPD & PI points (125 Kb pdf)

RACGP QA & CPD Points
Information for doctors who wish to gain RACGP QA and CPD points (112 Kb pdf)

SHPA CPD Points
Information for pharmacists who wish to gain SHPA CPD recognition (133 Kb pdf)

For more information about Veterans’ MATES:

• Download and print a copy of the Veterans’ MATES veteran brochure that interests you or is related to your particular medical condition.
• Talk to your doctor – you might like to show your doctor the brochure
• Talk to your pharmacist – take along the relevant brochure to show your pharmacist
• Call the Veterans’ MATES Helpline on 1300 556 906 for the cost of a local call.