Potassium Chloride Sustained Release Dosing Pathway in an Academic Medical Center.

Potassium supplementation can be administered intravenously or orally with either immediate release or sustained release formulations. Sustained release potassium chloride allows for delayed absorption and peak effects. In the inpatient setting, it is important to monitor and prevent both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia.

Assessment of Drug Therapy-Related Issues in an Outpatient Heart Failure Population and the Potential Impact of Pharmacist-Driven Intervention.

Background: The Ambulatory Cardiac Triage, Intervention, and Education (ACTIVE) infusion unit is an outpatient center that aims to provide heart failure (HF) patients with comprehensive multidisciplinary interventions.

Objective: To describe the patient population served in ACTIVE and to document the prevalence of comorbidities and drug therapy-related issues (DRIs) in order to define the most effective role of a pharmacist in the unit.

Methods: Patients who have been interviewed by a pharmacist in ACTIVE were included.

Intravenous Diuretic Therapy for the Management of Heart Failure and Volume Overload in a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Unit.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) diuretic treatment for volume management in heart failure (HF).

Background: Limited data exist regarding IV diuretics for the outpatient treatment of volume overload in HF patients.

Methods: We analyzed 60 consecutive patients with chronic HF and clinical evidence of worsening congestion who received a bolus and 3-h IV infusion of furosemide at an outpatient HF clinic.

Implementation of a dexmedetomidine stewardship program at a tertiary academic medical center.

Background: Brigham and Women's Hospital implemented a dexmedetomidine stewardship program in October 2010 beginning with an institution-specific prescribing guideline. To ensure continued adherence to the prescribing guideline, a pharmacist-driven quality assurance program was implemented in November 2011.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to describe the role and impact of a dexmedetomidine stewardship program on dexmedetomidine use at a tertiary academic medical center.