Impact of prescribing vancomycin capsules vs liquid at discharge on readmissions for C. difficile infection.

Disclaimer: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Assessment of the utilization of real-time prescription benefits for patient cost savings within an outpatient setting.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of Real-Time Prescription Benefits (RTPB), a tool integrated into electronic health records (EHRs), on patient out-of-pocket costs in an academic institution. RTPB provides prescribers with alternative, less expensive medications based on insurance plans. The primary measure was cost-savings, defined as the difference between the out-of-pocket cost of the prescribed medication and its alternative.

Rapid recognition and optimal management of hemophilia in the emergency department: A quality improvement project.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a continuous quality improvement initiative at the University of Florida Health Physicians practice in reducing the time to administer factor replacement therapy (FRT) for hemophilia patients presenting with bleeding in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: The study, a quasi-experimental, interventional design, was conducted between January 2020 and January 2023. The intervention, implemented in September 2021, involved training ED physicians, creating a specialized medication order set within the electronic health record (EHR), and a rapid triage system.

Prescription Patterns of Adjuvant Pain Medications Following an Opioid Supply Restriction Law: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Background: Florida House Bill 21 (HB21) was implemented in July 2018 to limit prescriptions of Schedule II opioids for acute pain patients, but it is unclear whether such restrictions have a collateral influence on the utilization of commonly prescribed adjuvant pain medications.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether this law was associated with a change in use patterns of gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants.

Methods: We obtained prescription claims for medications dispensed from January 1, 2015, to June 31, 2019, from a health plan serving a large Florida employer.

Chronic Opioid Therapy Utilization Following an Acute Pain Prescription Supply Restriction Law: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Background: Florida House Bill 21 (HB21) was implemented in July 2018 to limit Schedule II opioids prescriptions for patients with acute pain to a 3-day supply. Little is known about the potential unintended effects that such opioid restriction policies may have on chronic pain patients, who are exempt from the law.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of HB21 on opioid utilization measures among a cohort of chronic opioid therapy (COT) patients.

Evaluation of the key prescription sequence symmetry analysis assumption using the calcium channel blocker: Loop diuretic prescribing cascade.

Objectives: To evaluate the prescription sequence symmetry analysis assumption regarding balance between marker drug (i.e., medication used to treat a drug-induced adverse event) initiation rates before and after initiation of an index drug (i.

The Adaptation of a Clinic-Adjacent Parking Garage for Drive-In COVID-19 Vaccination.

Purpose: The distribution and vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines to billions of people worldwide will likely be one of the biggest public health undertakings in history. There has been a large focus on identifying processes to safely, efficiently, and effectively vaccinate large populations. We aimed to describe the development and operationalization of a drive-in COVID-19 vaccine site in a parking garage adjacent to outpatient clinics at University of Florida (UF) Health Physicians and how it was informed by the roll-out of SARS-CoV-2 testing and administration of respiratory vaccinations.

An evaluation of co-use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin on cardiac outcomes: A pharmacoepidemiological study to inform use during the COVID19 pandemic.

Background: Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine (chloroquine) plus azithromycin is considered as therapy for COVID-19. With benefit evaluations underway, safety concerns due to potential additive effects on QTc prolongation should be addressed.

Objective: We compared risk of cardiac adverse events between combinations of chloroquine and azithromycin and chloroquine and amoxicillin.

Characteristics of Patients Using Different Patient Portal Functions and the Impact on Primary Care Service Utilization and Appointment Adherence: Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Patient portals are now widely available and increasingly adopted by patients and providers. Despite the growing research interest in patient portal adoption, there is a lack of follow-up studies describing the following: whether patients use portals actively; how frequently they use distinct portal functions; and, consequently, what the effects of using them are, the understanding of which is paramount to maximizing the potential of patient portals to enhance care delivery.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of primary care patients using different patient portal functions and the impact of various portal usage behaviors on patients' primary care service utilization and appointment adherence.

Duration of Exposure to Antipseudomonal β-Lactam Antibiotics in the Critically Ill and Development of New Resistance.

Study Objective: Minimizing the duration of broad-spectrum antimicrobial exposure in the critically ill is a commonly used strategy aimed at preventing resistance. Our objective was to correlate the duration of exposure to antipseudomonal β-lactam antibiotics with the development of new resistance in critically ill patients.

Design: Single-center, retrospective cohort study.

Antimuscarinic use and discontinuation in an older adult population.

Introduction: Although antimuscarinics are typically the first-line pharmacological treatment option for overactive bladder, patients often discontinue therapy. The aim of this research project is to identify the rate of antimuscarinic discontinuation, switching, and continuation and differences in discontinuation among different antimuscarinics.

Methods: Using the 5% random sample of Medicare Claims Data, we identified a cohort of patients aged ≥ 66 years old who newly initiated antimuscarinics between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012.

Antimuscarinic Use in Men Treated With Bladder Outlet Obstruction Medication Therapy.

Objective: To assess changes over time in the use of antimuscarinics (AM) among visits in adult men treated with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) medication therapy (ie, alpha blocker and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors).

Methods: We used the National Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey database (2006-2014) to identify men aged 40 or older, who initiated or continued on BOO medication therapy. Among these visits, we assessed the percentage of AM and evaluated trends of AM use across between 2006 and 2014 using multivariable logistic regression.