Regional osteoporosis screening, referral, and monitoring program in community pharmacies: findings from Project ImPACT: Osteoporosis.

Objective: (1) To identify patients at risk for osteoporosis through community pharmacy-based bone mineral density (BMD) screening, to refer at-risk patients to primary care and/or specialty practice physicians, and to follow-up with at-risk patients; (2) to treat and manage osteopenic and osteoporotic patients referred to the pharmacy for medication therapy management services; and (3) to test a payment methodology for pharmacists who deliver community health management services to a population at risk for or diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Design: Single-cohort observational study.

Setting: Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc.

Pharmacoeconomic considerations in the health system management of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease.

Anaemia is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease. If left untreated, it greatly affects patient survival, quality of life and functional status. Epoetin and darbepoetin are two biotechnology drugs that effectively stimulate the production of red blood cells.

Role of N-acetylcysteine in the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy.

Objective: To examine the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RIN).

Data Sources: A literature search of MEDLINE (1966-December 2001) was performed using the following search terms: N-acetylcysteine, nephropathy, acute renal failure, and radiocontrast.

Study Selection: Pertinent English-language animal and human studies were reviewed.

Coprescribing proton pump inhibitors with other medications.

Proton pump inhibitors, the treatment of choice for acid-related disorders, are often coadministered with other medications, sometimes with potentially adverse interactions. Although all agents studied may potentially interact with one proton pump inhibitor or another, a literature review documented adverse interactions for 10 medications in particular. Furthermore, 44% of people using proton pump inhibitors received another gastrointestinal drug.

Pre-OBRA '90 Medicaid survey: how community pharmacy practice is changing.

Medicaid pharmacy providers in Virginia were surveyed to estimate the potential impact of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, which mandated prospective drug use review (DUR) beginning January 1, 1993. The data measure which DUR activities were being performed by pharmacists before the law took effect, and the survey compares and contrasts these data with the activities mandated by full compliance with the law. Many respondents already perform several of the required DUR activities, and nearly all agree that full compliance requires more time to process each prescription order.