Antifungal use in hospitalized adults in U.S. academic health centers.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011 Mar 1;68(5):415-418

Authors: Pakyz AL, Gurgle HE, Oinonen MJ

Purpose Use of antifungal agents and predictors of total antifungal use among adult inpatients at U.S. academic health centers was characterized. Methods Claims data obtained from a geographically representative sample of U.S. nonprofit academic health centers were analyzed to characterize use of systemic antifungals during the period 2004-08. Aggregate data were analyzed to identify trends in use of three antifungal classes (azoles, polyenes, echinocandins), as well as individual antifungal agents. Multivariate regression analysis was employed to investigate predictors of total antifungal use and interhospital variability in antifungal use. Results Aggregate antifungal use at health centers included in the data analysis increased from (mean ± S.D.) 82 ± 36 days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient-days in 2004 to 88 ± 39 DOT per 1000 patient-days in 2007 and then declined to 77 ± 36 DOT per 1000 patient-days in 2008. Use of voriconazole increased significantly during the study period (p < 0.0001), while use of caspofungin decreased significantly (p < 0.0001). Higher use of third- or fourth- generation cephalosporins was a significant predictor of higher total antifungal use (p = 0.0005); performance of more stem cell or bone marrow transplants was also significantly associated with greater antifungal use. Conclusion Total antifungal use at a sample of U.S. academic health centers increased from 2004 to 2007 but decreased to below baseline in 2008. Azoles were the most commonly used agents. In 2008, total antifungal use at the centers ranged from 29 to 334 DOT per 1000 patient-days.

PMID: 21330683 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Medication-error alerts for warfarin orders detected by a bar-code-assisted medication administration system.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011 Mar 1;68(5):434-441

Authors: Fitzhenry F, Doran J, Lobo B, Sullivan TM, Potts A, Feldott CC, Matheny ME, McCulloch G, Deppen S, Doulis J

Purpose Medication-error alerts for warfarin orders detected by a bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA) system were evaluated. Methods All patients receiving warfarin who were admitted to a university medical center between July 1, 2008, and February 6, 2009, in inpatient units with BCMA systems were candidates for inclusion in this study. Medication-error alerts displayed to the nurse administering the warfarin were reviewed to determine whether a true potential error was detected. Each alert was converted to a scenario, and its potential to require treatment or cause patient harm was rated using a validated severity scale of 0-10, where a score of 0 indicated no probable effect on the patient and 10 indicated that the error would likely result in patient death. A severity score was obtained by averaging the scores of four pharmacist reviewers. Results Of the 18,393 warfarin doses ordered during the study period for 2,404 patients, error alerts associated with only 99 warfarin doses were found to be clinically meaningful. The mean ± S.D. severity rating of these alerts was low (2.93 ± 1.42), with a standardized Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of 0.845. The mean ± S.D. warfarin dose attempted when the nurse received an alert was 4.10 ± 2.48 mg. The majority of doses with alerts (70%) were for patients who had an active order for warfarin. Conclusion Of the large number of medication-error alerts generated through a BCMA system, only a small proportion were considered clinically significant. This indicated that the rate of false-positive alerts was unexpectedly high, increasing the risk of alert fatigue.

PMID: 21330686 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Effect of serum sodium concentration and tolvaptan treatment on length of hospitalization in patients with heart failure.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011 Feb 15;68(4):328-33

Authors: Cyr PL, Slawsky KA, Olchanski N, Krasa HB, Goss TF, Zimmer C, Hauptman PJ

Purpose The effect of serum sodium concentration and tolvaptan treatment on length of stay (LOS) in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF) was evaluated. Methods Data for this study were derived from a large, international, Phase III trial of patients hospitalized for HF. Two distinct post hoc analyses were performed, analyzing the association between serum sodium concentration and index hospitalization LOS in normonatremic patients and hyponatremic patients treated with placebo plus standard of care versus tolvaptan. Analysis of covariance models were constructed to adjust for potential variation in care delivery and adjusted for hyponatremia status or treatment. Results Patients with a baseline serum sodium concentration of <135 meq/L who received placebo had an adjusted mean LOS that was 3.06 days longer than did normonatremic patients (p < 0.001). More severely hyponatremic patients had an adjusted mean LOS 5.18 days longer than did normonatremic patients (p < 0.001). In an analysis of all hyponatremic patients, those receiving tolvaptan had an adjusted mean LOS that was 1.72 days shorter than patients receiving placebo, though this difference was not significant. In more severely hyponatremic patients (serum sodium concentration of <130 meq/L), patients treated with tolvaptan had an adjusted mean LOS 2.12 days shorter than those receiving placebo, but this difference was not significant. Conclusion A secondary analysis of a large, international, Phase III trial of patients hospitalized for HF demonstrated that comorbid hyponatremia was associated with a significant increase in hospital LOS. Treatment of hyponatremia with tolvaptan was associated with reductions in LOS that were not significant.

PMID: 21289328 [PubMed - in process]

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Effects of therapeutic drug monitoring criteria in a computerized prescriber-order-entry system on the appropriateness of vancomycin level orders.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011 Feb 15;68(4):347-52

Authors: Traugott KA, Maxwell PR, Green K, Frei C, Lewis JS

Purpose The effects of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) criteria in a computerized prescriber-order-entry (CPOE) system on the appropriateness of orders for vancomycin levels were evaluated. Methods Vancomycin TDM criteria were developed and implemented in a CPOE system. These criteria were displayed via a pop-up alert message when vancomycin levels were ordered and included directions for appropriate timing and justification for routine monitoring. Data for two groups of adult inpatients who had vancomycin levels ordered before and after criteria implementation were compared. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for these patients to collect information regarding patient demographics, vancomycin dosage and indication, concurrent antibiotics and nephrotoxic agents during vancomycin therapy, length of stay, duration of vancomycin therapy, and number of vancomycin levels drawn. The primary outcome was the percent change in appropriate vancomycin levels ordered after criteria implementation. Results A total of 200 patients were analyzed, 100 in each group. The percentage of appropriate orders for vancomycin levels significantly increased after criteria implementation (from 58% to 68%, p = 0.02). The greatest effect on appropriateness occurred with the first level ordered (52% versus 70% in the preimplementation and postimplementation groups, respectively; p = 0.01). The majority of inappropriate levels were due to improper timing of sample collections, accounting for 55% of the inappropriate levels evaluated. Conclusion A significant increase in the number of appropriately ordered and drawn serum vancomycin levels occurred after implementation of TDM criteria in the hospital’s CPOE system. The majority of orders that were deemed inappropriate were due to improper timing of laboratory collection.

PMID: 21289330 [PubMed - in process]

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Is there a role for fondaparinux in perioperative bridging?

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011 Jan 1;68(1):36-42

Authors: Garwood CL, Gortney JS, Corbett TL

Purpose A possible role for fondaparinux as a bridging agent in the perioperative setting is explored. Summary Anticoagulation guidelines provide minimal direction on the perioperative use of fondaparinux. Fondaparinux’s extended half-life of 17-21 hours complicates its use as a perioperative bridging therapy. The ideal time for discontinuation before surgery is an issue, particularly in surgeries with a high bleeding risk or in which neuraxial anesthesia is used. Guidance for perioperative bridging with fondaparinux must be derived from pharmacokinetic data, surgical prophylaxis trials, case reports, and anesthesia guidelines. Published trials used fondaparinux sodium 2.5 mg daily for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in surgical patients, and the majority avoided its use before surgery in patients receiving neuraxial anesthesia. Three case reports cited the use of fondaparinux sodium as perioperative bridge therapy; one used a 2.5-mg dose, and the other two used a full treatment dose of 7.5 mg. Furthermore, professional anesthesia guidelines conflict in their recommendations regarding the timing of drug administration with neuraxial catheter use. For these reasons, it may be optimal to avoid fondaparinux use before surgery. In some instances, the use of low-molecular-weight heparin or inpatient use of i.v. unfractionated heparin is not possible, is contraindicated, or has limited efficacy, such as a patient with history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia or antithrombin III deficiency. Fondaparinux may have a role in bridge therapy for these patients. Conclusion The role of fondaparinux in perioperative bridge therapy has not been established, and there are some important limitations to its use as a routine bridging agent.

PMID: 21164063 [PubMed - in process]

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Intensive glucose control in the management of diabetes mellitus and inpatient hyperglycemia.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 May 15;67(10):798-805

Authors: Shogbon AO, Levy SB

PURPOSE: The current evidence on intensive glycemic control in the inpatient and outpatient settings and its implications to practice are reviewed. SUMMARY: Poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes is associated with microvascular and macrovascular complications. Various clinical trials involving patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have revealed the benefits of intensive glycemic control in delaying the onset and progression of microvascular complications of diabetes. However, while long-term epidemiologic trials and a meta-analysis have shown a benefit of intensive glycemic control in reducing the incidence of macrovascular complications, recent clinical trials have not found similar benefits. The American Diabetes Association (ADA), American College of Endocrinology (ACE), and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommend intensive control of glycosylated hemoglobin and plasma glucose at specified goals. Hyperglycemia in the inpatient setting is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. ACE and ADA recommend the use of an i.v. insulin infusion in critically ill inpatients with hyperglycemia. In noncritically ill inpatients, basal and bolus doses of insulin are recommended. The use of sliding-scale insulin as the sole therapy for inpatient hyperglycemia is discouraged. However, caution must be exercised to ensure a balance between controlling hyperglycemia and reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. CONCLUSION: While intensive glycemic control is known to prevent or delay the occurrence of microvascular complications of diabetes, macrovascular benefits are still uncertain. Current evidence suggests that intensive glycemic control should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes in order to maximize potential long-term macrovascular benefits. Inpatient hyperglycemia should be managed appropriately to reduce morbidity and mortality, with great care taken to avoid and appropriately treat hypoglycemia.

PMID: 20479101 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Pharmacists’ role in ensuring safe and effective hospital use of insulin.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Aug;67(16 Suppl 8):S17-21

Authors: Cohen MR

PURPOSE: To highlight the potential errors that may occur with insulin use in the inpatient setting and to describe how pharmacists can be part of the solution by implementing practices that reduce the likelihood of insulin-related medication errors. SUMMARY: Insulin is a drug with a low therapeutic index, and it bears a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error, making it a high-alert medication. Both underdosing and overdosing of insulin may be associated with adverse outcomes. The use of standard insulin order sets for scheduled subcutaneous insulin administration and standard concentrations for i.v. insulin are recommended to ensure the safe use of this medication. Any ambiguous insulin therapy orders should be clarified in writing prior to administration. Preparation of all insulin infusions should occur within the pharmacy. Pharmacists should be aware of possible medication errors related to inappropriate use of abbreviations such as U for units. Safe insulin storage practices are recommended to reduce the risk for insulin error. Insulin pen delivery devices may be used in hospitals, but safe use depends on ongoing oversight by a multidisciplinary committee, introduction of one device at a time, and initial and regular follow-up education of nurses, including agency nurses and those who work part-time. In addition, ongoing monitoring is needed to assure ongoing safety. The use of sliding-scale insulin can lead to hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and is confusing and prone to error; it is not recommended. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists can contribute to the safe use of insulin in the inpatient setting by minimizing the likelihood of medication errors related to prescribing, transcription, dispensing, administration, storage, and communication.

PMID: 20689148 [PubMed - in process]

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Reexamining the evidence for inpatient glucose control: new recommendations for glycemic targets.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Aug;67(16 Suppl 8):S3-8

Authors: Moghissi ES

PURPOSE: To review the risks of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients, data supporting the benefits of treating hyperglycemia, and recommendations from the 2009 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American Diabetes Association consensus statement on the management of inpatient hyperglycemia. SUMMARY: Inpatient hyperglycemia is common, costly, and associated with poor clinical outcomes in many disease states. Despite inconsistencies in clinical trial results, good glucose management in the hospital remains important. Target blood glucose concentrations (BGs) were recently modified to somewhat higher values with the expectation that the benefit of treatment will persist with a lower risk of hypoglycemia, which is itself another marker of poor outcome in critically and non-critically ill patients. In the intensive care unit (ICU), the threshold to start treatment is a BG of <or=180 mg/dL. I.V. insulin is the treatment of choice in critically ill patients because of its rapid onset and offset of action. Once i.v. insulin is started, the BG should be maintained between 140 and 180 mg/ dL; a lower BG target (110-140 mg/dL) may be appropriate in selected patients. Targets of <110 mg/dL or >180 mg/dL are no longer recommended. In non-critically ill patients, premeal BG targets are <140 mg/dL; random BGs of <180 mg/dL are recommended. Scheduled subcutaneous insulin is the treatment of choice for hyperglycemia in non-critically ill patients; use of sliding-scale insulin is strongly discouraged. To avoid hypoglycemia, insulin regimens should be reassessed if BG falls to <100 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: Poor glycemic control in the hospital setting is a quality-of-care, safety, and cost issue. Safe and effective strategies to implement optimal glycemic control require multidisciplinary involvement. Insulin given i.v. in the ICU or subcutaneously on an as-scheduled regimen in other parts of the hospital is the treatment of choice.

PMID: 20689151 [PubMed - in process]

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Ensuring optimal insulin utilization in the hospital setting: role of the pharmacist.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Aug;67(16 Suppl 8):S9-16

Authors: Kelly JL

PURPOSE: To summarize essential information for the hospital pharmacist to support the safe and effective use of insulin for the treatment of inpatient hyperglycemia. SUMMARY: Ensuring optimal insulin utilization in the hospital setting requires collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, including physicians (and endocrinologists specifically), nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, diabetes educators, laboratory staff, quality management staff, and others. The role of pharmacists in this multidisciplinary team is to assist in the standardization of insulin therapy via selection of appropriate insulin treatment protocols, participate in formulary management of insulin products, and contribute to the development of order sets and policies and procedures to minimize the risk of medication errors and misadventures. In addition, pharmacists can provide guidelines or treatment recommendations in special situations, such as those involving patients receiving enteral or parenteral nutrition or high-dose corticosteroids and the transition from i.v. to subcutaneous insulin therapy. Education of patients and providers is another key role for pharmacists. Nurses are important allies in the effort to ensure safe insulin use, as they are at the bedside of patients administering and adjusting insulin therapy. Recommendations are provided for the safe and effective use of insulin for the treatment of inpatient hyperglycemia. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team ensuring the safe and effective implementation of inpatient hyperglycemic control and insulin usage.

PMID: 20689152 [PubMed - in process]

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Effects of an adverse-drug-event alert system on cost and quality outcomes in community hospitals.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Apr 15;67(8):613-20

Authors: Piontek F, Kohli R, Conlon P, Ellis JJ, Jablonski J, Kini N

PURPOSE: The effects of an adverse-drug-event (ADE) alert system on cost and quality outcomes in community hospitals were evaluated. METHODS: This retrospective observational study evaluated the effects of an ADE alert system in seven hospitals in the Trinity Health network. Outcomes for all inpatients admitted to these hospitals after and one year before the deployment of an ADE alert system were evaluated. Inpatients in two network hospitals that lacked any computerized ADE alert system constituted the external control group. Administrative data were gathered for patients from these facilities for the same time frames as for the preimplementation and postimplementation groups. Primary outcomes evaluated included pharmacy department costs, variable drug costs, and mortality rates. Secondary outcomes included total hospitalization costs, length of hospital stay (LOS), rate of readmission, and case-mix index. Mean differences in primary and secondary outcome measures across all four groups were examined using analysis of variance. RESULTS: Significant decreases in mean pharmacy department costs per patient were observed from preimplementation to postimplementation (p < 0.001), while pharmacy department costs increased significantly in the external control group (p = 0.029). Drug costs decreased significantly from baseline (p < 0.001) in the postimplementation group. Drug costs increased significantly in the external control group (p = 0.029). Severity-adjusted mortality rates and LOS decreased significantly in the postimplementation group. Total patient hospitalization costs, both crude and severity adjusted, significantly increased in both groups. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an ADE alert system in seven community hospitals demonstrated significant decreases in pharmacy department costs, variable drug costs, and severity-adjusted mortality rates.

PMID: 20360588 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Clevidipine: a new intravenous option for the management of acute hypertension.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Mar 1;67(5):351-60

Authors: Ndefo UA, Erowele GI, Ebiasah R, Green W

PURPOSE: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, dosage and administration, and place in therapy of clevidipine are reviewed. SUMMARY: Clevidipine is a new lipophilic, short-acting, third-generation dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) approved for use in the management of acute hypertension when oral agents are not feasible. It exerts its hemodynamic effects through selective arterial vasodilation without effects on the venous circulation. Clevidipine has a half-life of approximately two minutes after i.v. administration, resulting in very rapid onset and offset of antihypertensive action. Unlike many current i.v. antihypertensive agents that are metabolized by the kidneys or liver, clevidipine is metabolized in the blood and tissues and does not accumulate in the body. Clevidipine does not appear to inhibit or induce cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes. Several Phase III clinical trials have reported the clinical efficacy and safety of clevidipine in patients with severe hypertension and in cardiac surgical patients with perioperative hypertension. The most frequent adverse events reported in clinical trials of clevidipine were headache, nausea, and vomiting. Risk of rebound hypertension, especially in patients not transitioned from clevidipine to oral antihypertensive therapy after prolonged infusions, should be monitored for at least eight hours after the drug is discontinued. CONCLUSION: Clevidipine, a novel third-generation dihydropyridine CCB, has demonstrated efficacy and safety in patients with acute hypertension and preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative hypertension. While its short duration of action and short half-life are appropriate for use in acute settings, more information on its safety is needed to assess its appropriate use in therapy.

PMID: 20172984 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Estimating aminoglycoside clearance and creatinine clearance in underweight patients.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Feb 15;67(4):274-9

Authors: Khuu T, Bagdasarian G, Leung J, Nguyen N, Lam LD, Han EE, Ambrose PJ

PURPOSE: An adjustment factor (AF) was developed and evaluated to determine the best method for estimating aminoglycoside clearance (CL(amino)) and creatinine clearance (CL(cr)) in underweight patients. METHODS: This study was a retrospective, multicenter, chart analysis of aminoglycoside pharmacokinetic data obtained between January 2000 and August 2006 at the University of Southern California University Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Adult patients were included in this study if they had received inpatient aminoglycoside therapy, were at least 60 inches tall, and were at least 10% below their ideal body weight (IBW). CL(cr) and CL(amino) were estimated and compared to actual CL(amino) using the Cockcroft-Gault equation with actual serum creatinine (SCr) (CG(SCr)), Cockcroft-Gault equation with SCr rounded to 1 mg/dL (CG(rnd)), and Cockcroft-Gault equation multiplied by an AF (CG(AF)). Results An AF of 0.69 was determined from 52 patients and tested in 53 separate patients. The CG(AF) method was more precise and less biased than the CG(SCr) equation; the CG(rnd) equation was less biased than the CG(SCr) equation; the CG(AF) method was more precise and less biased than the CG(rnd) equation, but this difference was not statistically significant. In underweight patients with an SCr concentration of > or = 1 mg/dL, the CG(AF) method had less bias compared with the CG(SCr) equation. CONCLUSION: Both the CG(rnd) and CG(AF) methods of predicting CL(amino) in underweight patients were superior to the CG(SCr) equation. The CG(AF) method was more accurate in patients exhibiting greater differences between IBW and actual body weight.

PMID: 20133531 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Management of loop diuretic resistance in the intensive care unit.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2009 Sep 15;66(18):1635-40

Authors: Asare K

PURPOSE: The management of loop diuretic resistance in the intensive care unit (ICU) is reviewed. SUMMARY: Volume overload, a common complication of fluid resuscitation, is frequently encountered in the ICU and is associated with numerous adverse effects, including pulmonary and peripheral edema, acute lung injury, and pleural effusions. Loop diuretics are used to treat volume overload and acute renal failure and to ameliorate their associated complications. When administered intravenously, these drugs induce vigorous and prompt diuresis, which may result in negative fluid balance. This may also result in significant adverse effects, including electrolyte imbalance, ototoxicity, and volume contraction. Prolonged use of loop diuretics may lead to loop diuretic resistance, a frequent observation in the ICU. Three general mechanisms are used to explain loop diuretic resistance: rebound sodium retention, postdiuretic effect, and diuretic braking. While very few agents have joined the armamentarium and no new strategies have been developed to deal with this phenomenon, several options are available to clinicians for managing loop diuretic resistance, including salt restriction, administration of i.v. loop diuretics, continuous infusion of loop diuretics, and combination therapy using loop diuretics and thiazides. CONCLUSION: Loop diuretic resistance presents a challenge for clinicians in the ICU setting. Strategies to improve patients’ responsiveness to these agents include fluid and salt restriction, switching from oral to i.v. loop diuretics, increasing diuretic dose, continuous infusion, and combination therapy with thiazides. Several of these strategies may be used concurrently to combat diuretic resistance and promote symptomatic relief of edema in the critically ill patient.

PMID: 19729568 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Effect of clinical pharmacists on care in the emergency department: a systematic review.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2009 Aug 1;66(15):1353-61

Authors: Cohen V, Jellinek SP, Hatch A, Motov S

PURPOSE: A systematic literature review was conducted to ascertain the scope of involvement of clinical pharmacists in the emergency department (ED); summarize economic, humanistic, and clinical outcomes data; describe current limitations of these data; and identify areas for future research. METHODS: A search of MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and CINAHL Plus databases was conducted. Articles were included in this review if the title and abstract indicated that the article’s content addressed the scope of involvement of pharmacists in the ED or pharmacist interventions in the ED and their associated outcomes, such as humanistic outcomes, cost avoidance, or improved quality. Qualitative analyses were conducted to characterize pharmacists’ activities and effects in the ED. RESULTS: Of the 533 returned citations, only 17 met the inclusion criteria. Each provided a description of clinical pharmacy services at 12 different institutions. Descriptions of these institutions and job responsibilities of the ED pharmacists are described. Six studies reported information about pharmacist interventions, including the number and types of interventions, time spent per intervention, and acceptance rate of interventions. Four studies reported cost-related outcomes data. CONCLUSION: A review of the literature revealed that pharmacists have been involved in the ED for decades. Services provided by pharmacists in the ED included traditional clinical pharmacy services, responding to medical emergencies, providing consultations on medication issues, identifying and reducing medication errors, and conducting medication histories at hospital admission. Some services were shown to be cost saving or cost avoiding.

PMID: 19635771 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Medication errors resulting from computer entry by nonprescribers.

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2009 May 1;66(9):843-53

Authors: Santell JP, Kowiatek JG, Weber RJ, Hicks RW, Sirio CA

PURPOSE: The characteristics of medication errors associated with the use of computer order-entry systems by nonprescribers are discussed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of records submitted to MEDMARX was conducted for the period from July 1, 2001, to December 31, 2005, to identify all computer-related medication errors made by nonprescribers. Quantitative analysis of the records included the severity of each error, the origin within the medication-use process, the type of error, principal causes, the location within the facility where the error was made, and the therapeutic drug classes frequently involved. Similar data from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) were also analyzed and compared with the national data set. RESULTS: During the 4.5 years, 693 unique facilities submitted 90,001 medication error records that were the result of computer entry by nonprescribers. The national data set and the UPMC data had similar findings for error severity, error origin, and type of error but showed some differences in the rank ordering of error causes, location where the error occurred, and drug classes frequently associated with such errors. The percentage of harm associated with computer-entry errors was small for both the national data set and UPMC data (0.99% and 0.80%, respectively). Both data sets cited performance deficit as the leading cause of computer-entry errors, but large percentage differences were seen with other causes, including inaccurate or omitted transcription (30% versus 12.6%, respectively), documentation (19.5% versus 10.6%, respectively), and procedure or protocol not followed (21.7% versus 30.3%, respectively). Both data sets implicated the inpatient pharmacy department as the location where most computer-entry errors occurred (49.3% versus 69.0%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Analysis of the characteristics of medication errors associated with the use of computer-entry systems by non-prescribers from both MEDMARX and an individual health system database demonstrated that computer systems create new opportunities for errors to occur. Working closely with information technology personnel dedicated to assisting pharmacy departments and vendors, adequate training of pharmacy staff, and development of national standards for drug information displays in computer order-entry systems may help minimize such errors.

PMID: 19386948 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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