Pharmacist Involvement in a Community Paramedicine Team.

Background: Hospital readmissions have recently gained scrutiny by health systems as a result of their high costs of care and potential for financial penalty in hospital reimbursement. Mobile-integrated health and community paramedicine (MIH-CP) programs have expanded to serve patients at high risk of hospital readmission. Pharmacists have also improved clinical outcomes for patients during in-home visits.

Vibration enhances clearance of solutes with varying molecular weights during in vitro hemodialysis.

This proof of concept pilot study was performed to determine whether vibration can increase solute clearance when applied to an in vitro dialysis model. Urea, creatinine, gentamicin, and vancomycin transmembrane clearances were calculated at a blood flow rate of 200 ml/min, dialysate flow rates of 2 and 8 L/hr, and no concurrent ultrafiltration at various vibration intensities. Dialyzer integrity was determined by measuring transmembrane pressure, filter drop pressure, and albumin clearance, and by visually inspecting the dialysate.

Age-related differences in propofol dosing for procedural sedation in the Emergency Department.

Background: Propofol dose requirements may differ in the elderly due to age-related changes in pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic variables.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of patient age on propofol dose required for procedural sedation in the Emergency Department (ED).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary hospital ED.

Evaluation of discontinuation of atypical antipsychotics prescribed for ICU delirium.

A number of trials suggest that short-term use of atypical antipsychotics may be useful in the treatment of delirium associated with critical illness. However, long-term use of such agents for this indication has not been studied and may be associated with risks of adverse effects as well as unnecessary health care costs. A retrospective study of prescribing patterns of atypical antipsychotics initiated for the treatment of intensive care unit (ICU) delirium was performed to identify whether these agents were being discontinued prior to or upon hospital discharge.

Induction dose of propofol for pediatric patients undergoing procedural sedation in the emergency department.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if patient age is an independent predictor of the propofol dose required for the induction of sedation in pediatric patients for procedures performed in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in an academic, tertiary ED between May 2005 and October 2009. Medical records of patients younger than 18 years who received propofol for procedural sedation were evaluated.

Characteristics of postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency programs at academic medical centers.

Purpose: The training components and other characteristics of postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs at a sample of academic medical centers were evaluated.

Summary: A questionnaire was sent via e-mail to the directors of 98 PGY1 residency programs at academic medical centers in the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) to elicit benchmarking data on issues such as recruitment, learning experiences, resident staffing requirements, resident research projects and professional presentations, opportunities for resident participation in teaching activities, and requirements for faculty service as preceptors; 72 program directors responded to the survey. The residency programs represented in the survey reported an average of approximately 14 applicants for each available position in 2010 and an average of about five candidate interviews per available position.

The role of the emergency pharmacist in trauma resuscitation.

The clinical pharmacist in the emergency department is now commonly incorporated as a member of the emergency department trauma team. As such, the emergency pharmacist needs to have detailed knowledge of the pharmacotherapy of resuscitation and be able to apply the skills needed to function as a valuable member of this team. In addition to the traditional skills of the discipline of clinical pharmacy, the emergency pharmacist must be familiar with the intricacies of treating life-threatening injuries in an emergent setting and be able to anticipate the direction of the patient's care.