Propofol-associated QTc prolongation.

Objectives: Propofol is a preferred agent for sedation in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) due, in part, to its established safety profile. Despite this, recent case reports have suggested a potential for prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) in ICU patients receiving propofol, though limited empirical work has been conducted to evaluate this association. As such, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between propofol infusion and QTc prolongation in a historical cohort of ICU patients.

Pharmacist involvement at discharge with the joint commission heart failure core measure: challenges and lessons learned.

Background: Pharmacists are vital health care providers to patients with heart failure (HF), but their compliance to the HF core measure has not been clearly defined.

Objective: The objective of this study was to measure the impact of pharmacist involvement at discharge on compliance with The Joint Commission HF core measure.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a 361-bed academic teaching institution.

Key articles and guidelines in the management of acute coronary syndrome and in percutaneous coronary intervention: 2012 update.

More than 1 million people in the United States experience an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) every year, and almost 600,000 undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for treatment of cardiovascular disease. There is a large amount of evidence-based literature to guide appropriate management of these patients. There have been a number of advances in the treatment of these patients over the last several years.

An advanced teaching certificate program for postgraduate year 2 residents.

Purpose: The rationale, structure, and elements of a teaching certificate program for second-year pharmacy residents are described.

Summary: Evidence suggests that postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residents generally have limited options for the continued development of their teaching skills after the completion of a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) teaching certificate program. To expand those options, the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy developed a program (implemented during the 2005-06 residency year and formalized during the 2010-11 residency year) of advanced teaching-skills development that allows PGY2 residents to build on the foundational skills acquired in its PGY1 teaching certificate program; the new program also has been adapted to meet the needs of incoming PGY2 residents who earned PGY1-level teaching certificates at other institutions.