Smart Pump-Electronic Health Record (EHR) Interoperability with Auto-Documentation is Associated with Increased Submission of Infusion-Therapy Billing Claims at a Community Hospital.

Background: Smart pump-electronic health record (EHR) interoperability has been demonstrated to reduce adverse events and increase documentation and billing accuracy. However, relatively little is known about the impact of interoperability on infusion therapy billing claims and hospital finances.

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the association between smart pump-EHR interoperability with auto-documentation and current procedural terminology (CPT)-coded infusion-therapy billing claims submissions.

Sensitivity and specificity levels of two rapid assays for antibodies to Anaplasma spp. in dogs.

Canine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease of dogs that results following infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Anaplasma platys. The SNAP 4Dx Plus test (IDEXX Laboratories) and the VetScan Canine Anaplasma Rapid test (Abaxis) are commercial in-house rapid tests for the detection of antibody to these 2 antigenically related Anaplasma species. We evaluated 2 tests using serum and whole blood samples obtained from reference laboratories and veterinary hospitals.

Ensuring the safety of sterile admixtures prepared outside of the institution.

Director's Forum is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This article provides an overview of outsourcing sterile products and discusses tools that pharmacy leaders can use to ensure the safety of the medications dispensed in their institution.

Typical and atypical manifestations of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in dogs.

Eighteen clinically ill dogs, naturally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, were examined at a veterinary practice in Baxter, Minnesota. A clinical examination, complete blood cell count, enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for A phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Ehrlichia canis antibodies and Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and a polymerase chain reaction test for A phagocytophilum DNA were obtained for all dogs. Physical examination findings included fever, arthropathy, lymphadenopathy, epistaxis, acute gastritis, cervical hyperpathia, and central nervous system dysfunction.

Health care expenditures and therapeutic outcomes of a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation service versus usual medical care.

Study Objective: To evaluate the differences in health care expenditures and therapeutic outcomes of patients receiving warfarin therapy management by a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation service compared with those receiving warfarin management by usual medical care.

Design: Retrospective, matched-cohort study.

Data Source: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and UPMC Health Plan.

Performance of a commercially available in-clinic ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Borrelia burgdorferi and Dirofilaria immitis antigen in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a commercially available in-clinic ELISA for detection of heartworm infection and tick-borne diseases in dogs.

Sample Population: 846 serum, plasma, or blood samples obtained from dogs.

Procedures: Samples were evaluated via the in-clinic ELISA to detect antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Borrelia burgdorferi and Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) antigen.

Serological and molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia species in dogs from Minnesota.

A population of 731 naturally exposed pet dogs examined at a private practice in Baxter, Minnesota, an area endemic for Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, was tested by serological and molecular methods for evidence of exposure to or infection with selected vector-borne pathogens. Serum samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Ehrlichia canis antibodies and for Dirofilaria immitis antigen. Blood samples from 273 dogs were also analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species DNA.