Ajhp Voices

Implementation of a Hypertension Clinic Using a Streamlined Treatment Algorithm Author Heather Olivier discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, how a pharmacist-managed hypertension clinic based on the Simplified Treatment Intervention to Control Hypertension (STITCH) algorithm was implemented. The article under discussion appears in the April 15, 2012, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

The Role of Mucoregulatory Agents After Continence-preserving Urinary Diversion Surgery Author Ginger Langley discusses with Pamela Hsieh, Assistant Editor for AJHP, the postsurgical use of N-acetylcysteine, octreotide, and other agents to reduce mucus accumulation after urinary diversion procedures. The article under discussion appears in the March 15, 2012, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions Across a Nationwide Health Care System Using Information Technology Authors Thomas Emmendorfer and Von Moore discusses with Pamela Hsieh, Assistant Editor for AJHP, how improvement and linkage of two Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) databases for monitoring adverse drug reactions (VA Adverse Reaction Tracking and VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System) enhance medication safety. The article under discussion appears in the February 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Billing for Outpatient Transplant Pharmacy Services Author Angela Maldonado discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, issues surrounding billing for outpatient pharmacy transplant services at her institution. The article under discussion appears in the January 15, 2012, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Advanced Practice Pharmacists: Practice Characteristics and Reimbursement of Pharmacists Certified for Collaborative Clinical Practice in New Mexico and North Carolina Author Matthew Murawski discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, the findings from a survey of advanced practice pharmacists in New Mexico and North Carolina. The article under discussion appears in the December 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Evaluating and Classifying Pharmacists’ Quality Interventions in the Emergency Department Authors Anisa Abu-Ramaileh and Rita Shane discuss with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, their subset analysis of data from a previous study on medication interventions performed by pharmacists. Drs. Abu Ramaileh and Shane describe the types of interventions made by pharmacists in the emergency department and the implications for future research. The article under discussion appears in the December 1, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Pharmacy Practice Model Summit: An invitational consensus conference conducted by ASHP and the ASHP Research and Education Foundation Dr. Daniel Cobaugh and Mr. David Chen discuss with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, the key recommendations from the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit and their implications for practice leaders. The proceedings of the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit appear in the June 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Expanding the number of positions for pharmacy residents: Highlights from the Pharmacy Residency Capacity Stakeholders Conference ASHP staff members Janet Teeters and Douglas Scheckelhoff discuss with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, the core issues related to the current gap observed between the demand for residency training and the number of residency positions available. The article under discussion appears in the October 1, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

"Tech-check-tech": A Review of the Evidence on its Safety and Benefits Author Alex Adams discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, the current evidence on the use of technicians rather than pharmacists for final verification of prescription medications in hospital and institutional settings, as well as emerging trends and issues that have renewed interest in this topic. The article under discussion appears in the October 1, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Development and Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Oncology Program in a Community Hospital Author Clement Chung discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, how an interdisciplinary oncology chemotherapy program was developed at a community hospital. The article under discussion appears in the September 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Methods of fostering change in the practice model at the pharmacy department level Dr. Max Ray discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, the best practices related to changing the pharmacy practice model at the institutional level. The article under discussion is part of the Proceedings of the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit and appears in the June 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Rationale and evidence for extended infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam Author Scott Kaufman discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor at Large for AJHP, antimicrobial stewardship and the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic rationale for extended infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam. The article under discussion appears in the August 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Pharmacy Practice Model Summit: An invitational consensus conference conducted by ASHP and the ASHP Research and Education Foundation Interview with Douglas Scheckelhoff regarding the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit: An invitational consensus conference conducted by ASHP and the ASHP Research and Education Foundation, November 7–9, 2010, Dallas, Texas. Douglas Scheckelhoff discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, how health system pharmacy will get to the point of attaining standardized education and training as well as other necessary advances in the use of technicians. The proceedings of the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit appear in the June 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Rapid-sequence Intubation and the Role of the Emergency Department Pharmacist Author Jeremy Hampton discusses with Pamela Hsieh, Assistant Editor of AJHP, the role of the pharmacist in rapid-sequence intubation in the emergency department. Dr. Hampton explains how selection of an appropriate sedative and paralytic agent may depend on the status of the patient. The article under discussion appears in the July 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Opportunities and Challenges Related to Technology in Supporting Optimal Pharmacy Practice Models in Hospitals and Health Systems Author Mark Siska discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, his perspective on evolving information technology support systems for health-system pharmacy practice. The article under discussion is part of the Proceedings of the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit that appear in the June 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Critical requirements for Health-system Pharmacy Practice Models that Achieve Optimal Use of Medicines Dr. Rita Shane discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, the evidence-based components of effective health-system pharmacy practice models. The article under discussion is part of the Proceedings of the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit and appears in the June 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Overall Importance of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative and the Summit Dr. Henri Manasse discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, the overall importance of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative and the summit, providing his sense of the elements and magnitude of the imperative for change and the challenges in moving in this direction. The proceedings of the Pharmacy Practice Model Summit appear in the June 15, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Inhouse authorization center to improve reimbursement for outpatient chemotherapy infusions AAuthor Shetal Desai discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, how the implementation of a clinical authorization process and use of manufacturer-driven patient assistance programs led to a reduction of disputed claims from third-party commercial payers and substantial savings in chemotherapy charges. The article under discussion appears in the May 1, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Integration of a Clinical Pharmacist into the Hematology-oncology Clinics at an Academic Medical Center Author John Valgus discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, how a clinical pharmacist was integrated into the oncology clinics at a university medical center and describes that pharmacist’s responsibilities. The article under discussion appears in the April 1, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.

Selection of Drug - Laboratory Result Pairs for an Inpatient Asynchronous Alert Program: Results of a Delphi Survey Author William Galanter discusses with William Zellmer, Contributing Editor for AJHP, a process by which pairs of drugs and laboratory results were selected for inclusion as alerts in an inpatient clinical decision support system. The article under discussion appears in the March 1, 2011, issue of AJHP. For more information visit www.ajhp.org.