Effective Translation of Research to Practice: Hospital-Based Rehabilitation Program Improves Health-Related Physical Fitness and Quality of Life of Cancer Survivors.

Background: Although exercise has been widely established as an efficacious rehabilitative therapy for cancer survivors in rigorously designed research studies, demonstration of translation of this research into clinical oncology practice is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a real-world cancer rehabilitation program implemented within a healthcare setting.

Patients And Methods: This study involved 299 adult cancer survivors enrolled in a hospital-based, supervised, individualized, cancer rehabilitation program.

Performance of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with a primary prevention indication with and without a reduced ejection fraction versus patients with a secondary prevention indication.

Background: The subcutaneous implantable defibrillator (S-ICD) provides an alternative to the transvenous ICD for the prevention of sudden cardiac death, but has not been well studied in the most commonly treated transvenous ICD patient population, namely, primary prevention (PP) patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Objective: The analyses in the present study were designed to compare clinical outcomes for PP patients with and without a reduced ejection fraction (EF) and secondary prevention (SP) patients implanted with the S-ICD.

Methods: All patients 18 years and older from the S-ICD IDE study and the EFFORTLESS Registry with available data as of November 18, 2013, were included (n = 856; mean follow-up duration 644 days).

Impact of Combination Antibiogram and Related Education on Inpatient Fluoroquinolone Prescribing Patterns for Patients With Health Care-Associated Pneumonia.

Background: Previous studies have shown that development of a unit-specific combination antibiogram improves optimal selection of empiric therapy for Gram-negative infections, yet no published data exist regarding the role of the combination antibiogram as an antimicrobial stewardship program tool for disease-specific prescribing.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of a combination antibiogram to guide antibiotic prescribing for patients with health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP).

Methods: This was a retrospective preprovider and postprovider education intervention study aimed to evaluate fluoroquinolone (FQ) use in patients with HCAP.

Initiation and preliminary evaluation of an oncology pharmacy training course for staff pharmacists.

Introduction: There is currently a disparity between oncology pharmacy job openings and PGY2 trained pharmacists completing residency training each year. As a result, pharmacists without specialized training in oncology are filling much needed oncology positions and may need on-the-job oncology training. To improve oncology knowledge among non-PGY2 trained pharmacists working in oncology positions, Novant Health coordinated an Oncology Pharmacy Training Course (OPTC).

Implementation of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative within comprehensive cancer centers.

Purpose: The progress made by cancer centers across the United States adopting the goals and measures of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) was studied.

Methods: In collaboration with ASHP, the official PPMI hospital self-assessment (HSA) questionnaire and a 10-item supplemental survey specific to oncology pharmacy services were disseminated via e-mail to all 41 National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States.

Results: The HSA results of 26 (63%) of the 41 institutions surveyed were included in the analysis.

A thermal stress treadmill walk for clinic evaluation of candidates for hazardous materials (HazMat) duty.

Unlabelled: U.S. guidance for examining hazmat workers recommends stress testing be considered when heat stress is expected.

Fungal prophylaxis in neonates: a review article.

Fungemia is a serious problem within neonatal intensive care units around the world. Premature infants are at high risk for this complication, which is often fatal. Prophylaxis for invasive fungal infection has been practiced worldwide in different settings and with various patient groups.

Standardized versus custom parenteral nutrition: impact on clinical and cost-related outcomes.

Purpose: Results of a study comparing clinical and cost outcomes with the use of standardized versus custom-prepared parenteral nutrition (PN) in an acute care setting are reported.

Methods: In a retrospective pre-post analysis, nutritional target attainment, electrolyte abnormalities, and other outcomes were compared in patients 15 years of age or older who received custom PN (n = 49) or a standardized PN product (n = 57) for at least 72 hours at a large medical center over a 13-month period; overall, 45% of the cases were intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. A time-and-motion assessment was conducted to determine PN preparation times.