Evaluation of the Addition of Pharmacist Management to a Medication Assistance Program in Patients with Hypertension and Diabetes Resistant to Usual Care.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a medication assistance program and the addition of pharmacist management on clinical outcomes in patients with hypertension and diabetes through an Advanced Pharmaceutical Care program.

Methods: This was a prospective quality improvement study on patients with hypertension and/or diabetes resistant to usual care. The primary outcomes were change in A1C, blood glucose, and blood pressure between 3 phases: usual care, free medications, and free medications plus pharmacist management.

Sustainability of Improved Glycemic Control After Diabetes Self-Management Education.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate glycemic control as measured by A1C during a 2-year period after patients received diabetes self-management education (DSME). Methods.

Warfarin-cranberry juice interaction.

Objective: To report a case of warfarin-cranberry juice interaction, which resulted in an international normalized ratio (INR) elevation on 2 separate occasions.

Case Summary: A 46-year-old female was receiving a total weekly dose of 56 mg of warfarin. During the 4 months prior to the incident INR, her average INR was 2.

Results of an intervention in an academic Internal Medicine Clinic to continue, step-down, or discontinue proton pump inhibitor therapy related to a tennessee medicaid formulary change.

Background: In July 2005, the State of Tennessee Medicaid Program (TennCare) announced formulary changes for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to be implemented in August 2005. Prior to these changes, pantoprazole was the only preferred PPI, and there were no restrictions to its use. The revised formulary included 3 preferred PPIs (esomeprazole, lansoprazole, and omeprazole OTC), all of which required prior authorization (PA).