Moving forward from Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance to race-free estimated glomerular filtration rate to improve medication-related decision-making in adults across healthcare settings: A consensus of the National Kidney Foundation Workgroup for Implementation of Race-Free eGFR-Based Medication-Related Decisions.

Purpose: The goals of this paper are to (1) provide evidence and expert consensus to support a unified approach to estimating kidney filtration in adults with stable kidney function using race-free estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in place of Cockcroft-Gault estimated creatinine clearance (C-G eCrCL) for medical and medication-related decisions, and (2) demonstrate how adjusting eGFR results for an individual's body surface area (BSA) when it is higher or lower than 1.73 m2 will improve results for medication-related decisions.

Summary: C-G eCrCL is predominantly used by US pharmacists to determine eGFR for the purposes of medication-related decisions, even though more accurate eGFR equations exist.

Implementation of a clinical pharmacist-driven comprehensive medication management program in an outpatient wound healing center.

Background: The role of the pharmacist in wound healing management among patients with diabetic and nondiabetic foot ulcers (DFU) is unclear. We sought to implement and evaluate an integrated pharmacist-driven comprehensive medication management (CMM) program in a multidisciplinary podiatrist-led wound healing center (WHC).

Objectives: The objectives were to determine the role of the clinical pharmacist in a WHC and evaluate the impact of CMM interventions on prescribing rates and wound healing rates.

Cultivating best practices in care transitions through comprehensive medication management.

An estimated 20% of patients experience a postdischarge adverse event in the 30 days after hospital discharge, with approximately two-thirds of these events considered preventable or ameliorable. Numerous transitional care interventions have been developed and implemented by clinical pharmacists to reduce postdischarge adverse drug events and readmissions; however, most efforts are focused on the admission and discharge process. Low-quality evidence and mixed results from evaluations of postdischarge interventions have left health care organizations unsure which interventions provide the greatest value and how to optimize their implementation.

Barriers to and factors influencing the pursuit of pharmacy student research.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to identify perceived barriers and factors influencing student pursuit of research during pharmacy school.

Methods: A voluntary, paper-based or electronic questionnaire was administered to all pharmacy students at a private college of pharmacy in mandatory courses during the 2016-2017 academic year. Survey questions collected information pertaining to demographics, factors influencing student pursuit of research, and barriers to pursuit of research.

PaCIR: A tool to enhance pharmacist patient care intervention reporting.

Objectives: To develop a pharmacist patient care services intervention reporting checklist to be used in conjunction with existing primary reporting tools. The tool should enhance consistent reporting of pharmacist patient care interventions. Tool use in pharmacist-patient care intervention reporting may increase: (1) likelihood for inclusion in higher order analyses and (2) successful replication.

Validity and reliability pilot study of a tool for assessing ambulatory care pharmacist practice.

Purpose: The reliability and validity of a survey tool that aims to assess and stratify patient care services provided by ambulatory care pharmacists were evaluated.

Methods: The Tool for Assessing Ambulatory Care Pharmacist Practice (TAAPP) was developed by updating the Pharmaceutical Care Clinical Pharmacist Questionnaire. The TAAPP is organized into 2 sections that include 5 domains derived from the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process (PPCP).

The Effect of Clinical Pharmacists on Readmission Rates of Heart Failure Patients in the Accountable Care Environment.

Background: Recent changes in the health care delivery landscape have expanded opportunities for clinical pharmacists in the ambulatory care setting. This article describes the successful integration of a clinical pharmacist-led chronic disease management service in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) and accountable care organization (ACO) environment.

Program Description: In 2008, the year before PCMH implementation, 36% of patients who were hospitalized at Advocate Trinity Hospital for a heart failure exacerbation were readmitted within 30 days of their hospital stay for heart failure exacerbation.

Using patient preference to customize a patient's medication list.

Objective: The primary objective was to identify medication-list components preferred by patients. Secondary objectives included identifying a patient-preferred medication-list template, measuring change in patient knowledge and responsibility after using a medication list tailored to patient preference and assessing patient utilization of a personalized medication list.

Design: 12-week prospective presurvey and postsurvey from January 2010 to March 2011.

Outcomes evaluation: striving for excellence in ambulatory care pharmacy practice.

Purpose: Key issues in measuring and improving the quality of healthcare are discussed with an emphasis on applying quality-improvement principles in ambulatory care pharmacy practice.

Summary: The various perspectives on healthcare quality (including those of patients, providers, and payers) are reviewed, and the basic principles of quality measurement and improvement are outlined. Many healthcare practitioners believe that the most effective way to improve healthcare is through balanced consideration of the structure, process, and outcomes of healthcare services.

Pharmacist engagement in medical home practices: report of the APhA-APPM Medical Home Workgroup.

Objectives: To identify factors that have led to successful involvement of pharmacists in patient-centered medical home (PCMH) practices, identify challenges and suggested solutions for pharmacists involved in medical home practices, and disseminate findings.

Data Sources: In July 2011, the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmacy Practice & Management convened a workgroup of pharmacists currently practicing or conducting research in National Committee for Quality Assurance-accredited PCMH practices.

Data Synthesis: A set of guiding questions to explore the early engagement and important process steps of pharmacist engagement with PCMH practices was used to conduct a series of conference calls during an 8-month period.

Impact of health disparities on staff workload in pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinics.

Purpose: Pharmacists' provision of services unrelated to anticoagulant therapy at an anticoagulation clinic in an area of prevalent health disparities (health status differences between minority and nonminority populations) was evaluated.

Summary: A prospective cohort study was conducted to compare the frequency and types of additional services (i.e.

Model for medication therapy management in a university clinic.

Purpose: Experience with a referral-based medication therapy management (MTM) clinic in a university medical center is described.

Summary: The MTM clinic's mission is to assist patients who take multiple medications due to multiple chronic conditions with the management of their drug therapy to improve or maintain their health and prevent or minimize drug-related problems. The clinical services provided at the clinic have evolved into a comprehensive program providing five distinct service areas: access, adherence, coordination of care, medication therapy review, and education.