Impact of a comprehensive pharmacist medication-therapy management service.

Objective: This proof of concept study aimed to determine whether a pharmacist-managed medication therapy management (MTM) program in a private endocrinologist physician's practice reduced healthcare services utilization and related costs 6 months after patients' discharge from an institution with a transition of care service.

Methods: Patients were included in the study if they were English-speaking, ages >18 years, had type 1 or 2 diabetes, and had a recent transition of care experience (inpatient hospital stay or emergency department/urgent care/paramedic or other acute care visit). The study had a non-randomized design where intervention patients, enrolled July 1, 2012-September 30, 2013, were administered MTM at four visits over 6 months and were compared to historical control patients with available electronic medical records from August 8, 2008 to March 15, 2012.

Novel and emerging diabetes mellitus drug therapies for the type 2 diabetes patient.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of deranged fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism resulting in hyperglycemia as a result of insulin resistance and inadequate insulin secretion. Although a wide variety of diabetes therapies is available, yet limited efficacy, adverse effects, cost, contraindications, renal dosage adjustments, inflexible dosing schedules and weight gain significantly limit their use. In addition, many patients in the United States fail to meet the therapeutic HbA1c goal of < 7% set by the American Diabetes Association.

Guidelines for resident teaching experiences.

Postgraduate year one (PGY1) and postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies serve to develop pharmacists into skillful clinicians who provide advanced patient-centered care in various general and specialized areas of pharmacy practice. Pharmacy residencies are a minimum requirement for many clinical pharmacy positions, as well as for positions in academia. The role of clinical pharmacists typically includes teaching, regardless of whether they pursue an academic appointment.

Readiness for self-directed learning and academic performance in an abilities laboratory course.

Objective: To assess the relationship between readiness for self-directed learning, academic performance on self-directed learning activities, and resources used to prepare for an abilities laboratory course.

Methods: The Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) was administered to first-year (P1) doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) candidates at the University of Maryland. Additional data collected included final course grades, quiz scores, resources used to prepare for laboratory activities, and demographics.

Collaborative drug therapy management for initiating and adjusting insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: Collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) by pharmacists for initiating and adjusting insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) is described.

Summary: During 2003-04, the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) at Baltimore reported that 24% of its patients with diabetes had a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) value of >9% or no recently documented HbA(1c) and that 91% of its patients with an HbA(1c) value of >9% were treated with oral antihyperglycemic agents alone. To address this issue, clinical pharmacists at VAMHCS at Baltimore developed the insulin initiation clinic.

The cost effectiveness and budget impact of natalizumab for formulary inclusion.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are debilitating autoimmune diseases, which represent a substantial cost burden in the context of managed care. As a corollary, there is an unmet pharmacotherapeutic need in patient populations with relapsing forms of MS, in addition to populations with moderately to severely active CD with evidence of inflammation who have experienced an inadequate response to other mainstream therapies. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical and economic data associated with natalizumab (Tysabri) and to determine the potential impact of its formulary inclusion in a hypothetical health plan.

Students' perceptions and satisfaction with a web-based human nutrition course.

Objectives: To assess the perceptions and satisfaction of third-year pharmacy students with a Web-based, distance-learning course, Principles of Human Nutrition, and describe the challenges faculty members encountered while implementing the course.

Design: The human nutrition course was redesigned from a traditional classroom-based format to a Web-based format. Precourse and postcourse surveys were administered to 2 consecutive classes of 120 students.