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.

How Does Cognitive Bias Affect Conversations With Patients About Dietary Supplements?

Many patients use dietary supplements but do not inform their clinicians. Some allopathic clinicians' conscious and unconscious cognitive and emotional biases against complementary and alternative medicine can affect whether patients disclose details about dietary supplement use, the quality of communication during clinical encounters, and the information clinicians draw upon to make decisions and recommendations. This article describes 6 cognitive biases that can influence patient-clinician communication and shared decision making about dietary supplements and suggests 6 ways to mitigate biases' negative effects on patient-clinician relationships.

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.

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.

Reasons for and perceived benefits of utilizing complementary and alternative medicine in U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches.

We estimated prevalence rates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by reason for use (treatment, wellness, or both), and examined perceived benefits of using CAM among U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches.

Complementary and alternative medicine in US adults with diabetes: Reasons for use and perceived benefits.

Background: Although complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly used, little is known about the reasons for CAM use (treatment, wellness, or both), or the self-reported perceived benefits among US adults with diabetes. In this study we estimated prevalence rates of overall and specific types of CAM, as well as the perceived benefits of CAM, by reason for use among US diabetic adults.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, which represents non-institutionalized adults with diabetes (n = 3386 unweighted), were used to estimate prevalence rates of CAM use by reason.

Gender Differences in the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Their Association With Moderate Mental Distress in U.S. Adults With Migraines/Severe Headaches.

Objective: We examined whether the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use varies by gender, and assessed the interaction of gender and CAM use on moderate mental distress (MMD) in U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches.

Tracking Patient Encounters and Clinical Skills to Determine Competency in Ambulatory Care Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

Objective: To determine if the amount of exposure to patient encounters and clinical skills correlates to student clinical competency on ambulatory care advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

Design: Students in ambulatory care APPEs tracked the number of patients encountered by medical condition and the number of patient care skills performed. At the end of the APPE, preceptors evaluated students' competency for each medical condition and skill, referencing the Dreyfus model for skill acquisition.

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.

Clinical pharmacy should adopt a consistent process of direct patient care.

Although the application of a consistent process of care serves as a foundational principle for most health care professions, this is not true for the discipline of clinical pharmacy. Without an explicit, reproducible process of care, it is not possible to demonstrate to patients, caregivers, or health professionals the ways in which the clinical pharmacist can reliably contribute to improved medication-related outcomes. A consistent patient care process should describe the key steps that all clinical pharmacists will follow when they encounter a patient, regardless of the type of practice, the clinical setting, or the medical conditions or medications involved.

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.

Outcomes of medication therapy review in a family medicine clinic.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of pharmacist-conducted medication therapy review (MTR) and intervention on the quality of care of patients in a family medicine clinic.

Design: Prospective, observational, cohort study.

Setting: Family medicine clinic in Minnesota during 2000-2001.

Developing a business-practice model for pharmacy services in ambulatory settings.

A business-practice model is a guide, or toolkit, to assist managers and clinical pharmacy practitioners in the exploration, proposal, development and implementation of new clinical pharmacy services and/or the enhancement of existing services. This document was developed by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Task Force on Ambulatory Practice to assist clinical pharmacy practitioners and administrators in the development of business-practice models for new and existing clinical pharmacy services in ambulatory settings. This document provides detailed instructions, examples, and resources on conducting a market assessment and a needs assessment, types of clinical services, operations, legal and regulatory issues, marketing and promotion, service development and exit plan, evaluation of service outcomes, and financial considerations in the development of a clinical pharmacy service in the ambulatory environment.

Attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine among pharmacy faculty and students.

Objectives: To determine pharmacy faculty members' and students' attitudes and perceptions regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Methods: A survey was used to obtain data on the following information concerning CAM: general attitudes, perceived barriers to use, training received and desired, personal use, and information sources used.

Results: In general, attitudes of pharmacy faculty members and students towards CAM were positive.