Pharmacist homicides in the United States: A retrospective review of NVDRS data from 2003 to 2020.

Disclaimer: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Moving forward from Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance to race-free estimated glomerular filtration rate to improve medication-related decision-making in adults across healthcare settings: A consensus of the National Kidney Foundation Workgroup for Implementation of Race-Free eGFR-Based Medication-Related Decisions.

Purpose: The goals of this paper are to (1) provide evidence and expert consensus to support a unified approach to estimating kidney filtration in adults with stable kidney function using race-free estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in place of Cockcroft-Gault estimated creatinine clearance (C-G eCrCL) for medical and medication-related decisions, and (2) demonstrate how adjusting eGFR results for an individual's body surface area (BSA) when it is higher or lower than 1.73 m2 will improve results for medication-related decisions.

Summary: C-G eCrCL is predominantly used by US pharmacists to determine eGFR for the purposes of medication-related decisions, even though more accurate eGFR equations exist.

Practice Faculty Also Need Sabbatical Leaves.

The academic sabbatical in higher education has been used as a tool for personal and professional growth. Although sabbaticals for tenured faculty have been widely accepted and utilized, their use for nontenure, contract, and practice-based faculty are not well-understood. To explore the reason behind this, the authors undertook focus sessions among practice faculty who had taken a sabbatical leave or were considering a sabbatical leave.

Effect of Virtual Versus In Person Interpreting on Diabetes Outcomes in Non-English Language Preference Patients: A Pilot Study.

Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to explore the impact of interpreter format (virtual vs in person) on clinical outcomes in patients with non-English language preference (NELP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a primary care setting. We hypothesized that NELP patients utilizing in person interpreters would have improved HbA1c values, better follow-up rate, and more complex care plans compared to patients utilizing virtual interpreters.

Methods: We completed a retrospective chart review of 137 NELP patients with T2DM who required a medical interpreter (February to June 2021).

Using 15-Minute Serial Blood Pressures as an Alternative to Measuring a Single Blood Pressure.

Thirty-minute office blood pressure (OBP-30) is an alternative to ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurement, yet is impractical to implement. This study aimed to determine whether unattended BP readings over 15 minutes would result in a similar probability of obtaining a BP of <140/90. Sixty-seven adults self-described as having high BP were analyzed.

Evaluating the Clinical Effect of Personal Continuous Glucose Monitoring in a Diverse Population With Type 2 Diabetes.

To determine the clinical effect of personal continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in a diverse population with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A report was created from the electronic health record identifying adults prescribed CGM at an urban family medicine clinic between January 1, 2019, and February 23, 2022. An "index date" was identified as the start of CGM.

Shifts in Pharmacists' Responsibilities in Family Medicine Residency Programs during COVID-19.

: The role of clinical pharmacists in family medicine residency programs (FMRPs) has become increasingly commonplace in the last several years, with mixed responsibilities, however largely involving teaching and patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic affected all facets of healthcare, pharmacists included. Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the role of the pharmacist in FMRPs is needed.

Development and implementation of a COVID-19 Vaccine and Pandemic Planning course: An interprofessional education approach.

We developed an online interprofessional COVID-19 Vaccine and Pandemic Planning course at the height of the pandemic to prepare health science students for future vaccine delivery. Faculty from nursing, pharmacy, medical, and dentistry developed a six-week online co-curricular interprofessional education activity open to all health science students across seven schools on three campuses within the same University system. Total enrollment included 303, with 228 completing the course from 16 programs.

Evaluation of 30-Minute Office Blood Pressure in a Diverse Urban Population.

Background: Previous studies have shown benefits of 30-minute office blood pressure (OBP-30) but did not report on race and gender. The purpose of this study was to determine if similar effects are seen in a diverse urban population.

Methods: Patients with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease (age 18-89) were invited to participate.

Trends in Pharmacy College Admission Test Requirements and Utilization Across Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy.

To identify national trends among US pharmacy schools and colleges in their requirements for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) and underlying rationales for not requiring pharmacy school applicants to take it. An electronic survey regarding the following was sent to all US pharmacy programs: current and future PCAT requirements for applicants, use of the PCAT or other means to assess applicants' written communication skills, use of unofficial PCAT scores, and, if applicable, the rationale for not requiring applicants to submit PCAT scores. Data analysis was performed using Excel.

Education and Attitudes on Medical Cannabis in Family Medicine Residency Programs.

Background And Objectives: Medical cannabis has become increasingly prevalent in the United States, however the extent of family medicine resident education on this topic remains unknown. The objective of this study was to ascertain the current state of medical cannabis education across this population and identify patterns in education based on state legality and program director (PD) practices.

Methods: Survey questions were part of the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) omnibus survey from May 2019 to July 2019.

Tracked Patient Encounters During Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences and Skill Self-assessment Using Entrustable Professional Activities.

To determine if the number of patient encounters during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) relates to student self-assessment of patient care skills using entrustable professional activities (EPAs). During 12-week acute care/institutional (AC/INST) APPEs, 15-week combined community pharmacy and ambulatory care (CPAC) APPEs, and three 5-week AC/INST or CPAC elective APPEs, fourth-year pharmacy students completed patient tracking surveys. Students documented the number of encounters, type of care provided, primary and secondary diagnoses, and special dosing/population considerations.

Educational Prescriptions to Document Evidence-Based Medicine Questions in Ambulatory Care Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

To design, implement, and assess the use of "educational prescriptions" or Education Rx assignments in advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) in ambulatory care, and to assess the impact of the assignments on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students' self-efficacy to practice evidence-based medicine (EBM). Students enrolled in select ambulatory care APPEs completed up to four Education Rx assignments. The assignments required students to report the context of the question, source of information, results, appraisal of validity, and relevance of the evidence, and to answer the clinical question.

Up in smoke: One state's perspective on the affordability of medical cannabis.

Background: Minnesota's medical cannabis program has been praised for being one of the most regulated in the nation. Currently, its use is limited, with one of the reasons being affordability.

Summary: In Minnesota, patients pay an annual enrollment fee of up to $200, and the cost of the actual product can range from $30 to $300 per unit of sale, which can be compounded by increased dosing frequency or the need for several routes of administration.

Successful deprescribing of unnecessary proton pump inhibitors in a primary care clinic.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the rate of successful deprescribing of unnecessary proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) after implementation of a clinical pharmacist- managed program that included detailed tapering instructions, patient education, and follow-up.

Setting: The setting was a family medicine clinic in St. Paul, MN, in an underserved community.

Supporting quality in experiential education through enhanced faculty engagement.

Introduction: There are ongoing assessment and improvement activities related to strategies to improve the quality of education in the complex and resource-intensive area of experiential education (EE). One undescribed approach for design and delivery of EE programs for schools and colleges, with reliance on volunteer preceptors, is to utilize clinical practice faculty in formal partnerships with EE leadership to enhance curriculum and assessment.

Commentary And Implications: Clinical practice faculty, who possess practice setting expertise, can serve as course directors for advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotations.

The Times They Are A-Changin': Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Medical Cannabis in an Academic Family Medicine Department.

Background And Objectives: The United States has seen an evolving perspective on the medical use of cannabis in recent years. Although a majority of states have enacted medical cannabis programs, physicians practicing in these states report a lack of knowledge, lingering concerns, and a need for more training regarding medical cannabis. This study provides a current snapshot of medical cannabis education in an academic family medicine department in a state with a medical cannabis program.

Medication discrepancies associated with subsequent pharmacist-performed medication reconciliations in an ambulatory clinic.

Objective: To describe the number of medication discrepancies associated with subsequent medication reconciliations by a clinical pharmacist in an ambulatory family medicine clinic and the proportion of subsequent medication reconciliation visits that were associated with hospital discharge, long-term anticoagulation management, or both.

Methods: Data on medication reconciliations were collected over a 2-year time period in an ambulatory family medicine clinic for patients taking 10 or more medications.

Results: Medication reconciliation was performed 752 times for 500 patients.

Medication reconciliation by clinical pharmacists in an outpatient family medicine clinic.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the incidence of medication discrepancies in electronic health record (EHR) medication lists in an outpatient family medicine clinic where clinical pharmacists perform medication reconciliation, to classify and resolve the discrepancies, to identify the most common medication classes involved, and to assess the clinical importance of the discrepancies. METHODS This research was conducted at Bethesda Family Medicine Clinic in St. Paul, MN, with data collected from February 2009 to February 2010.

Avoiding serotonin syndrome: the nature of the interaction between tramadol and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Objective: To investigate the nature of the interaction between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tramadol to mitigate or avoid serotonin syndrome.

Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts from January 1990 to August 2012 were searched. Key words used were tramadol, antidepressive agents, antidepressants, drug interactions, selective serotonin uptake inhibitors, and serotonin syndrome.

Metformin use in renal dysfunction: is a serum creatinine threshold appropriate?

Purpose: The relationship among metformin use, plasma lactate levels, and lactic acidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the appropriateness of metformin use in patients with renal dysfunction are discussed.

Summary: A consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes recommends metformin therapy as first-line therapy along with lifestyle modification to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite this recommendation, metformin may be underutilized due to the fear of metformin-associated lactic acidosis and because its use is contraindicated in patients with renal dysfunction.