Impact of pharmacist outreach on glucagon prescribing

BackgroundHypoglycemia is a major limiting factor in the glycemic management of diabetes. As a method of treating hypoglycemia, the American Diabetes Association recommends glucagon to be prescribed for all individuals at increased risk of clinically impactful hypoglycemia. Glucagon Emergency Kits have been shown to reduce emergency department visits and overall health care costs. Despite these known benefits, glucagon continues to be underprescribed. Previous pharmacist-led interventions embedded in a single clinic have been shown to positively affect the rate of glucagon prescribing in patients with diabetes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the rate of glucagon prescribing between quality improvement remote pharmacist outreach to multiple primary care and endocrinology specialty clinics and the control group in 1 month following a pharmacist-led provider outreach.MethodsThis was a single-center, 2-arm study with a simple randomization design.ResultsOn pharmacist outreach, 61 of 109 patients (56.0%) in the outreach group were prescribed a glucagon product within 1 month of their primary care provider (PCP) or endocrinology appointment compared with 1 of 113 (0.9%) of patients in the control group (P < 0.001). Glucagon prescribing occurred in 25 of 35 Black patients (71.4%) compared with 36 of 73 white patients (49.3%) in the outreach group. Glucagon prescribing was associated with race (P = 0.03; chi-square test).ConclusionsThe pharmacist-led provider outreach before a PCP or endocrinology appointment has a positive and statistically significant impact on glucagon prescribing rates. The pharmacist outreach had a higher impact on Black patients than white patients, possibly because of a lower rate of glucagon prescribing in Black patients before the outreach.     

Impact of a pharmacist/physician cooperative target drug monitoring program on prophylactic antibiotic prescribing in obstetrics and gynecology

The pharmacist's role in promoting rational, cost-effective use of drugs has been described in the literature. In a target drug monitoring program (TDMP), a single agent or group of agents becomes targeted for review. Antibiotics have been the primary focus of TDMP because of their therapeutic impact and cost considerations. The objectives of this project were to assess the prophylactic antibiotic prescribing habits of OB/GYN physicians and to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist/physician cooperative TDMP on prophylactic antibiotic prescribing and cost. The study was conducted in three phases: 1) a retrospective chart review of 150 patients, 2) an in-service education session, and 3) a concurrent chart review of 107 patients. Patient selection, timing of preoperative dose, and use of single dose prophylaxis were according to criteria in greater than 90% of patients both before and after the in-service training. Compliance with recommended regimens increased from 45 to 73% after the in-service training. A cost savings was not realized because the physicians wished to use a regimen with anti-anaerobic coverage (i.e., cefotetan) rather than a less expensive agent. However, the cost of selection of resistant organisms must be considered when discouraging the use of multiple broad spectrum agents. Active involvement of the medical staff in a pharmacy-based TDMP produces a cooperative atmosphere in which to educate clinicians and promote rational prescribing habits.     

Evaluating the impact of education by a clinical pharmacist on antibiotic prescribing and administration in an acute care state psychiatric hospital.

An antibiotic utilization review program was implemented by a clinical pharmacist in an acute care state psychiatric facility. Antibiotic utilization was concurrently audited in 61 antibiotic orders, written for 48 patients, in order to determine antibiotic prescribing and administration practices and problems. Interventions, consisting of educational presentations, problem-solving meetings, and distribution of written educational materials, were provided by a clinical pharmacist to improve antibiotic prescribing and administration practices. A second audit of 68 antibiotic orders written for 47 patients was concurrently audited after completion of the interventions. When prescribing problems were detected, the clinical pharmacist made recommendations to the prescribing physician. Statistically significant changes in the use of culture and sensitivity tests, appropriate dosage regimens, correct antibiotic administration, and selection of cost-effective therapy were found after all educational interventions were provided. A positive trend not resulting in statistical significance was noted for documentation of infectious disease and selection of appropriate antibiotic agents. This study demonstrates a drug utilization review role for clinical pharmacist's involvement in the acute care psychiatric facility, and illustrates one method by which clinical pharmacists can provide educational programs to improve nonpsychotropic drug prescribing and administration in this setting.     

Impact of a drug-use review program intervention on prescribing after publication of a randomized clinical trial

The effect of a drug-use review (DUR) program intervention on physician prescribing after the results of a randomized clinical trial were published was studied. A Veterans Administration (VA) cooperative study published in June 1986 showed that congestive heart failure (CHF) patients who had hydralazine and isosorbide added to their drug therapy had less mortality than patients given digoxin and diuretics with or without prazosin. Physicians with at least one CHF patient who was receiving the less effective therapy were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. In September 1986, intervention-group physicians (n = 288) were mailed a letter and questionnaire from the DUR program coordinator, the journal article, and a drug history profile of a CHF patient who might benefit from the information. Control physicians received no mailing. The questionnaire asked whether the physicians already knew about the VA study, intended to alter their prescribing, and could identify factors that would affect their decision. Two thirds of intervention-group physicians were already aware of the VA study. One third indicated that they intended to alter drug therapy based on the study results; factors significantly associated with the intent to adopt a change were physician training and experience, comments by peers, new drug availability, and the size of the reduction in mortality. During four months after the intervention, only 5 physicians in the two groups switched their patients to both hydralazine and isosorbide (full change); 23 switched them to at least one of the drugs or discontinued prazosin (partial change). There was no significant difference in the number of full or partial changes between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Impact of clinical pharmacist intervention on rational use of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in thyroid surgery

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the intervention effect of prophylactic antibiotic use in thyroid surgery in a largehospital. From 2004 to 2012, 70 patients who underwent thyroid surgery were randomly selected each year. The quality of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) was assessed each year in terms of antibiotic ratio, choice, duration, timing, combination, route of administration and so on. The result showed that the SAP ratio was 100% from 2004 to 2010. With our intervention, this SAP ratio was decreased to 45.7% in 2011, and it reached 2.9% in 2012. The AUD was consistently greater than 38 before 2010, while it rapidly declined to 1 in 2012. The number of DDDs per 100 operations was decreased from 431 to 3 after the intervention. The average cost of antibiotic drugs per patient was RMB 350.65 in 2010, whereas it was decreased to RMB 18.51 in 2012. The average duration of hospitalization showed no difference during the intervention. This study indicated that implementation of a multi-disciplinary protocol and clinical pharmacist interventions could improve the rational use of SAP.     

Provision of pain management by a pharmacist with prescribing authority.

PURPOSE: The clinical and financial outcomes of a pain clinic managed by a pharmacist with prescribing authority are described. SUMMARY: Pharmacist clinicians in a for-profit, integrated health system recently received permission to bill for their services in certain ambulatory clinics. A pharmacist clinician, who had an individual Drug Enforcement Administration number and whose services are billable under New Mexico law, was chosen to assume the medication management responsibilities in a clinic where 90% of the patient population is treated for chronic non-cancer-related pain. No additional personnel were needed, and no additional space was required, eliminating overhead for the space and utilities needed for operating a new clinic. With the ability to bill for the pharmacist clinician's services, a new model for justification of clinical pharmacy services was developed for the ambulatory care clinics. The revenue generated was tracked by a medical billing system, and clinical outcomes were tracked using the clinic's database for patients' individual visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores. Between June 2004 and June 2005, an average of 18 patients were seen by the pharmacist clinician each day. The clinic generated 107,550 dollars of actual revenue and saved the health plan over 450,000 dollars. There was a consistent decrease in mean VAS pain scores with continued visits. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic non-cancer-related pain were managed effectively by a pharmacist with prescribing authority and refill authorization in a pain management clinic. The favorable clinical outcomes, revenue generated, and cost savings achieved justified the pharmacist clinician's services in this health system.     

Impact of pharmacist prescribing through direct pharmacy access policies on access to hormonal contraception

Background/ObjectiveThis study assesses the impact of direct pharmacy access (DPA) policies that allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives on women’s access by comparing access among 3 groups: (1) women in a state without DPA (Indiana), (2) women in a state with DPA, but not using DPA, and (3) women in a state with DPA and using DPA.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey, including a scale to measure access to contraceptives, perception items, and demographics, was distributed through Amazon Mechanical Turk (Amazon.com, Inc). Kruskal–Wallis tests and linear regression analysis were used.ResultsThe sample size was 316. When controlling for education, income, and age, the women not using DPA (in Indiana and a DPA state, respectively) reported significantly higher levels of approachability (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), acceptability (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), availability and accommodation (P < 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively), affordability (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and appropriateness (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) access than the women using DPA. The women using DPA reported significantly lower levels of privacy access than those not using DPA in a DPA state (P = 0.004) when controlling for education, income, and age. However, 78.9% of women using DPA agreed DPA made obtaining contraceptives easier. Most of the women who had never used DPA were previously unaware of DPA (81.1% in DPA states and 86.2% in Indiana) but felt that it would improve access (82.8% and 80.0%, respectively).ConclusionUnderstanding the effects of DPA policies on women’s access to contraceptives can inform future policies and support implementation. Lower levels of access across all dimensions among those using DPA may be influenced by imperfect implementation and failure to legislatively enable the sustainability of this service rather than pharmacists’ ability to improve women’s access.     

Assessment of sotalol prescribing in a community hospital: opportunities for clinical pharmacist involvement

Objective Due to risk of serious adverse drug events (ADEs) sotalol use is limited in renal insufficiency and heart failure. To reduce potential life‐threatening ADEs, medication safety initiatives that ensure appropriate dosing of sotalol are necessary. Pharmacist‐managed renal dosing assessment programmes ensure appropriate dosing of renally eliminated medications. A prospective medication safety evaluation was conducted to assess the need to include sotalol in an existing renal dosing assessment programme as well as the impact of clinical pharmacist assessment on sotalol prescribing. Methods Patients in a 736‐bed community hospital, receiving sotalol during a 6‐week period, were prospectively evaluated. Information was collected on indication, dosing, concomitant disease states and medications, renal function, QTc length, symptoms of toxicity and readmissions. Pharmacist recommendations were made when necessary and were followed to determine acceptance rate and patient outcomes. Key findings Thirty‐six patients were prescribed sotalol for atrial tachyarrhythmias. Thirty‐two (89%) were dosed inappropriately with respect to renal function. Twenty (56%) had left‐ventricular dysfunction as defined by an ejection fraction of ≤40%. At time of initial assessment, 15 (42%) were exhibiting signs of potential sotalol toxicity. Pharmacists provided recommendations regarding discontinuation or dosage adjustment on 32 patients with a 38% full and a 12% partial acceptance rate. All‐cause readmission rates for patients receiving appropriate therapy, including those after pharmacist recommendations were accepted (Group A; n = 16), were compared to those remaining on inappropriate therapy (Group B; n = 20). Readmission rates within 6 months differed between groups (31% for Group A, 55% for Group B; P = 0.095, odds ratio 3.7). Conclusion This medication safety evaluation suggests the need for pharmacist assessment in patients receiving sotalol. Dosage adjustment or avoidance in patients with renal insufficiency, heart failure and other relative contraindications is often necessary to avoid toxicity. Sotalol was inappropriately prescribed in the majority of patients secondary to renal insufficiency. Based on this evaluation, it was recommended to add sotalol to the institution's pharmacist‐managed renal dosing adjustment programme. Ensuring clinical pharmacist assessment when sotalol is prescribed can help reduce potential life‐threatening ADEs and hospital readmissions.     

Clinical pharmacist impact on parenteral cephalosporin prescribing

A study was undertaken to evaluate clinical pharmacist influence on parenteral cephalosporin prescribing patterns. Two intervention methods were evaluated: (1) publication of pharmacy newsletter for physicians containing specific recommendations and emphasizing the primary use of cefazolin, and (2) personal interaction between the clinical pharmacy staff and physicians promoting the recommendations outlined in the newsletter. These two methods were compared with each other as well as with an initial time span during which no influencing efforts were made. The effect of the pharmacy newsletter as a sole means of influencing physician prescribing of parenteral cephalosporins was minimal. The effect of pharmacist-physician interaction, either as a sole means of in conjunction with a pharmacy newsletter, resulted in an increased use of cefazolin. An annual cost savings of up to $11,265.88 was projected. The results indicate that physicians can be influenced in their prescribing of parenteral cephalosporins, leading to significant cost savings.     

Views of pharmacist prescribers,doctors and patients on pharmacist prescribing implementation

Aim The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of pharmacist supplementary prescribers, their linked independent prescribers and patients, across a range of settings, in Scotland, towards pharmacist prescribing. Method Telephone interviews were conducted with nine pharmacist prescribers, eight linked independent prescribers (doctors) and 18 patients. The setting was primary and secondary care settings in six NHS Health Board areas in Scotland. Key findings In general, all stakeholders were supportive of pharmacists as supplementary prescribers, identifying benefits for patients and the wider health care team. Although patients raised no concerns, they had little idea of what to expect on their first visit, leading initially to feelings of apprehension. Pharmacists and doctors voiced concerns around a potential lack of continued funding, inadequate support networks and continuing professional development. Pharmacists were keen to undertake independent prescribing, although doctors were less supportive, citing issues around inadequate clinical examination skills. Conclusions Pharmacists, doctors and patients were all supportive of developments in pharmacist supplementary prescribing, although doctors raised concerns around independent prescribing by pharmacists. The ability of pharmacists to demonstrate competence, to be aware of levels of competence and to identify learning needs requires further exploration.     

国际多中心临床试验的监查

为贯彻临床试验管理规范，保证多中心临床试验的质量。本文以ADVANCE多中心临床试验为例，简介监查的程序和方法。提出监查员应当具有医药知识和临床试验经验，应当按程序到研究点去核查CRF，研究文件和有关资料。标准化的监查有助于提高多中心临床试验的质量。