Month: December 2021

A 2021 wrap up

Posted on | by Niamh Foley

There’s no doubt that 2021 has been stressful, confusing, unpredictable and daunting. From mice plagues and football bubbles to vaccinations and a Victorian earthquake, this year might be one we’d all prefer to forget. But there have been some stand out moments for Locumate, for the pharmacy industry, and for our community in general that are worth reflecting on before heading into 2022. 

Lockdowns, social distancing and PPE 

Never have more Australians tuned into daily press conferences by state and territory premiers and health officers. And pharmacies, like many others, had to change the way they worked on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. QR codes, social distancing in stores, and click and collect became a regular part of our vocabulary, and a regular part of how we operated. Throughout lockdowns, pharmacies were deemed an essential service, so remained open, but lockdowns and travel restrictions meant pharmacies might have started serving more customers online. 

Another important factor was – and continues to be – personal protective equipment (PPE). Staff and customers were required to wear PPE throughout 2021, and pharmacies were a large supplier of PPE to Australians, too. From masks and face shields to gloves and hand sanitiser, pharmacists had to work hard – and in different ways – to meet consumer demand. 

Vaccinations 

Another incredibly important call out in 2021 for pharmacies – and for everyone – was of course, vaccinations. With pharmacies authorised to supply and administer COVID-19 vaccinations, pharmacists played a mammoth role in Australia’s vaccination roll out. With booster shots well and truly here, pharmacists will continue to do lots of the vaccination heavy lifting well into 2022. 

Virtual events 

Plenty of pharmacy events this year were all hosted virtually. While this was exciting and again demonstrated our industry’s resilience and willingness to adapt, as a newly launched business, we’re excited to get back to face to face and start meeting our members in person! 

Locumate launch 

I can’t wrap up 2021 without a mention of launching Locumate! In October, we launched a phased roll out of Locumate across Victoria, with the rest of Australia to follow. The launch is a culmination of years of hard work, risks, plenty of sweat, even more tears, and a burning desire to give pharmacists and locums a better way of working. 

There’s no mistaking that 2021 was like no other, but I know that we’re absolutely ready for anything that 2022 throws at us. Bring it on. 

Kavi 

 Find out more at: https://locumate.com.au/ 

Resourcing over the holiday season

Posted on | by Niamh Foley

Navigating the Busy Holiday Season in Australian Pharmacies

Whether it’s sorting out repeat prescriptions, gift buying, school holiday season, or regional pharmacies dealing with sunburnt holidaymakers, it’s no secret that summer in Australia brings with it a busy time for pharmacists. Now, we’re not complaining here; ask any pharmacist and they’ll tell you that a bustling store is one hundred times better than a quiet one.

Staffing Challenges During the Holiday Season

But mix an increased demand with regular staff on leave and all of a sudden what should be an exciting, lively time turns into a recipe for stress, understaffing and customer dissatisfaction.

Maintaining Balance with Locumate During the Holiday Season

But just because everyone else is having a great time on holidays doesn’t mean you can’t relax, either. That’s where Locumate comes in.

Locums: Make the Most of the Holiday Season with Extra Shifts

For locums, it’s a great time to pick up extra shifts, and we’re here to help make finding those shifts easier than ever. By creating a free profile and sharing your availability and rates on the Locumate app, you’ll be able to browse jobs according to your preferences. From there, you can accept shifts and communicate with pharmacies directly. You’ll know exactly how much you’ll be paid (great for holiday budgeting) and what software a pharmacy uses before accepting a shift. Submit invoices and get paid on time, and view your schedule in our handy calendar.

Pharmacies: Ensure Smooth Operations During the Holiday Season with Locumate

For pharmacies, Locumate locums can help fill gaps in your rostering, from adding extra resources during peak times, to finding someone to cover for your regular staff quickly. Creating a job is quick and easy, and once a locum approves it, you’ll be able to communicate directly for a smooth arrival and transition. You’ll also be able to see how much a locum charges up front (which is also good for your holiday budgeting)!

Enjoy a Stress-Free Holiday Season with Locumate

So remember, the silly season doesn’t have to be stressfully silly. Don’t get caught out by being understaffed this summer. A little bit of planning and harnessing technology can go a long way. Find out more at: https://locumate.com.au/

A focus on our company values

Posted on | by Niamh Foley

Introducing Locumate: Our Mission and Vision

As the co-founder of Locumate, it’s no secret that I’m often asked about the organisation and our company values. I’m asked about how the platform works, how the idea came about, or what features we’re working on next. I’m asked about the technology behind the app, the payroll and invoicing, and how we’re making the lives of pharmacies and locums easier. But I’m also asked about what we believe in. What we stand for as a company. What it’s like to work at Locumate. And as a growing organisation, I wanted to share these values with you, with our broader community, and beyond.

Company Values: The Importance of Integrity

We treat everyone with respect and equality. We believe in a level playing field for everyone and strive to make sure that we’re fair in everything we do. A big part of that is communication. We offer transparency across the board for employees and customers through honest and open communication. We know that we might not always get it right – and that’s OK – but we will always communicate and consult with our community every step of the way.

Innovation: The Heartbeat of Locumate

We’re a startup app in the pharmacy sector. Of course, innovation is a huge part of our DNA. We’re here to change the way things have been done for decades. To think of better solutions. To be faster and make it easier for our customers, all while harnessing technology to help us innovate. We encourage creativity, thinking outside the box, and challenging the norm.

Locumate’s Work Culture: Fostering Fun and Creativity

We’re not your regular marketplace app, and we hope that comes across in what we offer, how we communicate, and how we solve problems. We value humour, enjoying the work we do, and celebrating every success along the way, no matter how small. We work hard to deliver positive outcomes to the people we serve, but also to create a fulfilling and exciting environment.

A Customer-focused Approach: Keeping Pharmacies and Locums at the Forefront

An app that serves pharmacies and locums isn’t going to work unless they’re at the forefront of every decision we make. We’re customer-led and pull out all stops to make the satisfaction of our customers paramount. Because without them, we can’t exist.

Keeping it Simple: Locumate’s Philosophy

I have a pharmacy background, not a technology or business background, and it’s easy to get caught up in the complexities and complications of systems, processes and over-engineering. We know that the simplest solution is usually the best one, so we remove the clutter and the noise and only keep what’s actually useful. It doesn’t mean the work isn’t difficult or complex – it is – but it does mean that we always try to design logically and sustainably. We know that keeping things simple now will put us in great stead for the future.

Looking Ahead: Locumate’s Future

We’re so excited to continue to help build and scale Locumate over the years ahead, and I truly believe that by staying true to ourselves, partnering with people and organisations with aligned values, and tapping into the wonderful network of pharmacies and locums across Australia, we’ll be in for one incredible journey.

Find out more at: https://locumate.com.au/