Effect of Average Blood Glucose Greater Than 140 mg/dL on Adverse Patient Outcomes in Adult Medical/Surgical Patients.

Background: In hospitalized patients, hyperglycemia is defined as blood glucose greater than 140 mg/dL. Hyperglycemia can lead to the development of nosocomial infections as well as cardiovascular events. Despite these risks, current guidelines recommend blood glucose be maintained between 140-180 mg/dL.

Evaluation of student perceptions of introductory pharmacy practice experiences.

Introduction: Introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) are focused on sharpening the student's knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes related to becoming an effective member of the healthcare team. Currently, the literature on student pharmacists' perceptions focused only on advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). This study gathered perceptions of IPPEs from pharmacy students in their first through third year professional years.

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Utilization in a Nationally Representative Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction Outpatient Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) improve survival among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF); however, studies have identified low utilization rates. No study has evaluated the prevalence and predictors of MRA prescribing in a nationally representative outpatient cohort.

Study Question: What is the prevalence and predictors of MRA prescribing among outpatients with HFrEF in the United States?

Study Design: A national cross-sectional secondary analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2007 to 2014 including all office visits for HFrEF in patients aged >55 years.

Preparing students for residency interviews through a residency interview boot camp.

Background And Purpose: To describe the offering of the residency boot camp activity at one college of pharmacy for students in their fourth professional year.

Educational Activity And Setting: Student pharmacists in their final professional year of pharmacy school were invited to participate in a voluntary residency boot camp activity. Originally, the activity consisted of four parts: (1) guidance on preparing for residency interviews; (2) a 1:1 mock interview with a resident, faculty member, residency preceptor or area program director; (3) a review of the student's curriculum vitae (CV) and letter of intent; and (4) a review of the application timeline and process.

Toolkit for US colleges/schools of pharmacy to prepare learners for careers in academia.

Introduction: The objective of this article is to provide an academic toolkit for use by colleges/schools of pharmacy to prepare student pharmacists/residents for academic careers.

Methods: Through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmac (AACP) Section of Pharmacy Practice, the Student Resident Engagement Task Force (SRETF) collated teaching materials used by colleges/schools of pharmacy from a previously reported national survey. The SRETF developed a toolkit for student pharmacists/residents interested in academic pharmacy.

Methods Used by Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy to Prepare Student Pharmacists for Careers in Academia.

To identify the methods used by US colleges and schools of pharmacy to prepare student pharmacists for academic careers. An 18-item survey instrument was developed and distributed to US colleges and schools of pharmacy. Representatives were asked about faculty responsibilities, experiences in academia currently offered to student pharmacists, and representatives' perception of their student pharmacists' preparedness for careers in academia, including barriers in current programming.

Prevalence and Predictors of Metformin Prescribing in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Metformin is the first-line oral type 2 diabetes treatment. Despite an abundance of evidence, metformin is routinely underused. This study evaluated the rates of metformin use in an appropriate outpatient type 2 diabetes population and identified predictors of metformin use.

Impact of Tranexamic Acid in Total Knee and Total Hip Replacement.

Objective: To evaluate the net clinical benefit of tranexamic acid use in patients undergoing total knee or total hip replacement.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients undergoing total knee or total hip replacement. The primary outcome was the net clinical benefit of tranexamic acid use.