Pharmacy access to emergency contraception in rural and frontier communities.

Context: Timely access to emergency contraception (EC) has emerged as a major public health effort in the prevention of unintended pregnancies. The recent FDA decision to allow over-the-counter availability of emergency contraception for adult women presents important rural health implications. American women, especially those living in rural and frontier areas, have one of the highest rates of unintended and teen pregnancy among developed countries.

Reduction in warfarin adverse events requiring patient hospitalization after implementation of a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation service.

Study Objective: To compare adverse events related to anticoagulation in patients assigned to a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation service versus those receiving usual care.

Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: Three hundred-bed community hospital.

Evaluation of a therapeutic conversion from amlodipine to felodipine.

Study Objectives: To determine patient satisfaction with and tolerability of a conversion from a long-acting calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, to felodipine. Secondary objectives were to compare the effect of the change on blood pressure and heart rate and the economic impact of the change.

Design: Retrospective study.

The rational use of diuretics in heart failure.

Congestive heart failure is a progressive hemodynamic disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Concomitant renal dysfunction is frequently seen in patients with heart failure, and can compromise fluid regulation, leading to acute decompensation, and increased morbidity and mortality. Diuretic therapy has been the mainstay for treatment of congestive symptoms, despite documented mortality benefits.